Wikborg Rein Appoints LNG Specialist (UK)

Law firm Wikborg Rein announced that on 1 January 2012 Joe McGladdery joined the London office of Wikborg Rein as a Partner.

Joe joined Wikborg Rein from Qatar Gas Transport Company Limited (Nakilat) where he acted as the company’s General Counsel and as a board member for a number of its subsidiary companies and joint ventures. Joe was responsible for developing Nakilat’s legal and insurance department and formed part of the senior management team which oversaw the expansion of the company into what it is today – one of the world’s leading shipowners.

Before joining Nakilat, Joe worked as a shipbroker for H. Clarkson & Co. in London and Hong Kong before practising law at Simmons & Simmons and thereafter at Curtis Davis Garrard. He has specialised in non-contentious shipping matters, ranging from LNG transportation projects to ship finance transactions, newbuilding programmes, sale and purchase transactions and chartering arrangements. Companies which Joe has successfully represented include Kuwait Oil Tanker Company, Novorossiysk Shipping Company, Yemen LNG Company and Woodside Energy.

Finn Bjornstad, senior partner at the Company’s London office, says, “We are delighted to have recruited a person of Joe’s experience, reputation and ability. He will form an important part of the team we are continuing to develop in London which is offering global English law capability in the maritime and offshore sector. In addition to his qualities as a lawyer, Joe has experience as a shipbroker and as part of the management team of a leading ship owner and operator. We believe this practical shipping industry experience will be of great value to the firm’s clients, and supplement the knowledge base within the firm.”

[mappress]
LNG World News Staff, January 23, 2012