Shipping law firm Hill Dickinson has recruited a new partner for its London and Piraeus offices.
Ian Teare will split his time between the UK and Greece, when he joins the marine and trade practice in January.
Teare is managing partner of Wikborg Rein's Singapore office, where he also runs the casualty response team for Asia.
Tony Goldsmith, Hill Dickinson's new head of marine and trade, said: "I am immensely pleased to be able to welcome Ian Teare to Hill Dickinson.
"Ian brings with him an exceptional range of expertise and knowledge that will add further breadth and depth to our existing offering."
The company said the appointment is in line with strategic plans for growth both in London and Piraeus.
"[Teare] is already a well-known and highly regarded lawyer in maritime circles in London and Piraeus, having worked previously in both markets prior to relocating to Singapore in 2012," said Goldsmith, who recently replaced the retired David Wareing.
Teare joins after recent major changes in Hill Dickinson's Pireaus office. The office's boss, Patrick Hawkins, died in August at the age of 59 after suffering a heart attack. He was replaced by Jasel Chauhan.
"The strategic expansion of our offering in Piraeus and London very much puts into action the plans which Patrick Hawkins had already set in motion," Chauhan said.
Crucial hire
Chauhan added that Teare is crucial to maintaining the firm's leading position in casualty and emergency response support, "something for which Patrick and our office in Piraeus has long been renowned".
Teare's expertise spans both wet and dry shipping disputes and marine insurance matters, although he is best known for his investigation and handling of collisions and groundings.
He has a background in naval architecture to degree level and has been investigating marine casualties for almost 30 years.
His high-profile cases include the Antea/Star Centurion collision off Singapore in 2019 and the infamous Rena boxship grounding off New Zealand in 2011.
Legal guide publisher Chambers & Partners rates Teare as "known for his activity in the market and for his expertise in wet matters".
The company also says he is "hugely diligent, fastidiously thorough [with] a fantastic depth of legal knowledge".
