Marine Legal Bureau

Updates

Selected professional activities, publications and perspectives from Marine Legal Bureau.
Latest Publication · 12 October 2026
When Ship Arrest Becomes a Commercial Weapon — Edward Kuznetsov
Shiparrested.com · 12 October 2026
Author's Article · Ship Arrest & Arbitration

When Ship Arrest Becomes a Commercial Weapon

Wrongful Arrest, Commercial Purpose and Causation in Two Interrelated LMAA Arbitrations

Ship arrest is one of the most powerful remedies in maritime law, designed to provide security for maritime claims. But what happens when arrest is alleged to conceal another commercial objective? This article examines the evidential standard of mala fides under English law from The Evangelismos to The Alkyon and two interrelated LMAA references resulting in USD 4.9 million in damages.

Read full article →
Professional Activity
Edward Kuznetsov moderating Concurrent Session 6 at ICMA XXIII Singapore
ICMA XXIII · Singapore · 22–27 March 2026
ICMA XXIII Singapore · Professional Activity

Maritime Arbitration Beyond the Award Reflections on ICMA XXIII, Singapore 2026

From 22 to 27 March 2026, Edward Kuznetsov participated in the XXIII International Congress of Maritime Arbitrators (ICMA) in Singapore, where he also moderated one of the Congress sessions.

Read more ↓

The Congress brought together more than 250 arbitrators, maritime lawyers and industry practitioners from around the world to discuss current issues in maritime law and arbitration across different jurisdictions.

Insurance, Limitation of Liability & Ship Arrest

Edward moderated the session on Insurance, Limitation of Liability and Ship Arrest. The discussion addressed practical issues arising in maritime disputes, including evidentiary questions in “perils of the sea” cases, limitation of liability and the use of ship arrest to obtain security in support of arbitration.

Panel speakers at Concurrent Session 6, ICMA XXIII Singapore
Concurrent Session 6 Panel: Insurance, Limitations and Arrest
Working session discussion at ICMA XXIII Singapore
Evidentiary challenges in perils of the sea & vessel arrest discussion

Professional Exchange Beyond the Sessions

The ICMA programme also provided valuable opportunities for informal professional exchange among arbitrators, lawyers and maritime practitioners from different jurisdictions. A visit to PSA Horizons offered a particularly relevant perspective on Singapore’s position as one of the world’s leading maritime and logistics centres.

PSA Horizons panoramic view of Singapore container port
PSA Horizons reception — panoramic perspective over the Port of Singapore
Maxwell Chambers and ICMA XXIII Congress materials

Author's article Maritime Arbitration Beyond the Award — Reflections on ICMA XXIII

The discussions in Singapore raised a number of issues extending beyond the individual sessions — including sanctions and contractual risk allocation, jurisdiction, evidence, artificial intelligence, security and enforcement. Some of these themes are considered separately in: Arbitration Beyond the Award Reflections on ICMA XXIII, Singapore 2026

Read reflections →

Selected publications

Shiparrested.com — When Ship Arrest Becomes a Commercial Weapon
Member Article · 12 Oct 2026

When Ship Arrest Becomes a Commercial Weapon

Wrongful arrest, commercial purpose and causation in two interrelated LMAA arbitrations. Published on Shiparrested.com.

Read article →
Chambers Global Practice Guides Shipping 2026 — Contributor Badge
Professional Guide

Chambers Shipping Guide — Latvia

Edward Kuznetsov contributed the Latvia chapter to the Chambers Shipping Guide, providing an overview of the Latvian legal framework and practice relevant to the shipping industry.

View publication →
ICLG Shipping Law 2026 — Latvia
Professional Guide

ICLG Shipping Law 2026 — Latvia

Edward Kuznetsov contributed the Latvia chapter to ICLG – Shipping Law 2026, providing an overview of Latvian shipping law and practice, including marine casualties, cargo claims, ship arrest and security, dispute resolution and enforcement.

View publication →