Shipping-focused law firm Campbell Johnston Clark (CJC) has hired two new associate solicitors at its UK offices.
Cecilie Rezutka has joined in the firm's London headquarters from rival Holman Fenwick Willan (HFW), and Keeley Edmondson has been hired in Newcastle from her previous firm, Ward Hadaway.
Allen Marks, a director at the law firm's office in north-east England, said the recruitment "further enhances CJC’s reputation as a market leader".
"At CJC, we continue to support our clients’ requirements by providing the highest calibre of legal and commercial support," he said.
Rezutka, who speaks eight languages, specialises in resolving shipping disputes that arise from charter contracts and bills of lading, focusing particularly on dry-cargo shipping and commodity contract problems.
She was part of the shipping litigation team at HFW that last year successfully represented the London Maritime Arbitrators Association (LMAA) as an intervening party in the Supreme Court proceedings between oilfield service company Halliburton in a dispute with Chubb Bermuda Insurance.
Rezutka acts for shipowners, charterers and commodity traders, plus their insurers and protection and indemnity clubs in both English Court proceedings and arbitration.
CJC said she has specific expertise in resolving complex matters with multi-jurisdictional aspects.
Rezutka is fluent in German, French, Norwegian, Czech and Slovak, and has a working knowledge of Danish and Swedish.
She is qualified in England and Wales.
Edmondson works closely with shipowners and P&I clubs on charter contracts, bills of lading, laytime and demurrage disputes.
CJC said she has experience in cross-jurisdictional claims and enforcement issues involving High Court litigation, London arbitration and multi-jurisdictional disputes.
The law firm promoted two lawyers to directors at its Singapore and Newcastle offices in March.
But CJC lost a high-profile partner in April, when Kirsty MacHardy left to join the shipping and international trade team at rival law firm Stephenson Harwood in London.
Jonathan Campbell, one of CJC's founding partners, told TradeWinds last year that the firm has hopes to establish an office in the Mediterranean region in 2021.
