By its very nature transport law is an international field of practice. Both John Wolfs (Wolfs Advocaten, Maastricht, the Netherlands) and Bram Marcus (Van Dam & Kruidenier Advocaten, Rotterdam, the Netherlands) were of the opinion that within the Eurojuris International network a Practice Group on this subject should not be lacking. And since transport cases more often than not include insurance issues, it seemed quite logical to combine these two fields of law in one Practice Group.
Therefore John and Bram set out to find other Eurojuris members who would be enthusiastic about partaking in such a Practice Group. The first contacts were already made at the last Eurojuris convention in Athens, where John met with Spiros Gallos of Pantelidis Law Offices. Spiros was enthusiastic from the start; he has lived in Rotterdam for a few years and now deals mainly with cases in the field of road, rail and air transport.
And indeed, at the occasion of the last Practice Group Days in Düsseldorf, Germany, the new Practice Group on Transport & Insurance Law was founded. Ten Eurojuris International members, from the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Finland and Greece, attended its inaugural meeting. The new PG members are agreed, that future success must be found particularly through specialization of their legal profession; not only specialization in one particular field of law, but also a practical focus on different sectors of trade and industry.
The PG's objective is to combine national and cross border competencies of its members for the benefit of their clients. To this end, the members will share their knowledge about the peculiarities of transport and insurance law in their jurisdictions. Of course the PG will also serve as a meeting platform for its members enabling them to establish a firm network of trustworthy and knowledgeable colleagues in the fields of transport and insurance law. And last but certainly not least, the PG aims to create commercial synergy between its members and their (prospective) clients leading to business development opportunities.
Regarding this last goal, the "Leitfaden zum niederländischen Transportrecht" that was written by Bram and John can serve as an example. The "Leitfaden" (which is also available on the Eurojuris International website) addresses both some fundamental aspects of Dutch transport law, as well as concrete issues such as the arrest of assets, which can be of interest to existing and potential clients. One of the PG's plans is to expand this "Leitfaden" with contributions by its members on their respective jurisdictions and making this document available to their clients and potential clients.
In order to enhance the PG's possibilities to reach out to potential clients and to create business development opportunities, the PG is joined by Liane Allmann of Eurojuris Deutschland, who has a degree in business economics and lots of experience with marketing and business development, especially for lawyers. Liane operates from the Eurojuris-offices (in the law-firm of the German President, Gerhard Frank, Busekist Winter & Partner) in Düsseldorf, Germany. Liane will act part as "press-officer" of the PG and helps us to get in contact with clients. Gerhard Frank himself has also joined the PG and is, as far as Germany is concerned, accompanied by Dr. Christian Bock of RSW Beratung in Münster, who has hands-on experience as a former forwarder. He also wrote his thesis in the field of transport law.
For the upcoming Eurojuris Malta convention the PG plans to organize a visit to the Maltese Ship Register. The Maltese Register is also planning to open a register for commercial corporate jets and this will certainly create new business opportunities for the Maltese PG members at the office of Deguara Farrugia Advocates and their PG colleagues.
Other PG members are Ewoud de Vidts, whose firm, Wiemeersch Steyaert De Donder in Dendermonde, Belgium, mainly deals with commercial law and international litigation cases and represents carriers mainly in the field of road haulage, as well as insurance companies.
Petri Eskola, of Backström & Co Ltd. Attorneys-at-Law, Helsinki Finland also joined. Petri deals with counterfeit cases and is often confronted with transport and insurance related problems.
It is clear that transport and insurance issues will often have cross over aspects with other fields of law, such as corporate, insolvency and employment law and of course international litigation. It is a firm goal of the new PG to seek cooperation with other PGs on those issues and to try to be of mutual benefit. Those lines can be short: PG member Peter van Gog is a colleague of Bart van Rijsbergen, chair of PG Insolvency law.
Of course John and Bram, who (for the first 2 year period) have taken joint presidency over the PG, hope that other Eurojuris International members will join their Practice Group. They are convinced that this PG is an excellent opportunity for every transport or insurance law lawyer, not only to enhance his or her knowledge of international transport and insurance issues, but also to benefit from the commercial opportunities the PG expects to create by involving clients and prospects in the activities of the PG.
The PG is open for experienced (at least 6 or more years of experience) lawyers, who deal with transport and insurance cases on a regular basis. But most of all new members should share the enthusiasm and commercial spirit of the founding members.
Further information on the Practice Group Transport & Insurance Law can be obtained from Bram or John. Just send an email to marcus@damkru.nl or j.wolfs@wolfsadvocaten.nl.
For more information: www.eurojuris.nl
Therefore John and Bram set out to find other Eurojuris members who would be enthusiastic about partaking in such a Practice Group. The first contacts were already made at the last Eurojuris convention in Athens, where John met with Spiros Gallos of Pantelidis Law Offices. Spiros was enthusiastic from the start; he has lived in Rotterdam for a few years and now deals mainly with cases in the field of road, rail and air transport.
And indeed, at the occasion of the last Practice Group Days in Düsseldorf, Germany, the new Practice Group on Transport & Insurance Law was founded. Ten Eurojuris International members, from the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Finland and Greece, attended its inaugural meeting. The new PG members are agreed, that future success must be found particularly through specialization of their legal profession; not only specialization in one particular field of law, but also a practical focus on different sectors of trade and industry.
The PG's objective is to combine national and cross border competencies of its members for the benefit of their clients. To this end, the members will share their knowledge about the peculiarities of transport and insurance law in their jurisdictions. Of course the PG will also serve as a meeting platform for its members enabling them to establish a firm network of trustworthy and knowledgeable colleagues in the fields of transport and insurance law. And last but certainly not least, the PG aims to create commercial synergy between its members and their (prospective) clients leading to business development opportunities.
Regarding this last goal, the "Leitfaden zum niederländischen Transportrecht" that was written by Bram and John can serve as an example. The "Leitfaden" (which is also available on the Eurojuris International website) addresses both some fundamental aspects of Dutch transport law, as well as concrete issues such as the arrest of assets, which can be of interest to existing and potential clients. One of the PG's plans is to expand this "Leitfaden" with contributions by its members on their respective jurisdictions and making this document available to their clients and potential clients.
In order to enhance the PG's possibilities to reach out to potential clients and to create business development opportunities, the PG is joined by Liane Allmann of Eurojuris Deutschland, who has a degree in business economics and lots of experience with marketing and business development, especially for lawyers. Liane operates from the Eurojuris-offices (in the law-firm of the German President, Gerhard Frank, Busekist Winter & Partner) in Düsseldorf, Germany. Liane will act part as "press-officer" of the PG and helps us to get in contact with clients. Gerhard Frank himself has also joined the PG and is, as far as Germany is concerned, accompanied by Dr. Christian Bock of RSW Beratung in Münster, who has hands-on experience as a former forwarder. He also wrote his thesis in the field of transport law.
For the upcoming Eurojuris Malta convention the PG plans to organize a visit to the Maltese Ship Register. The Maltese Register is also planning to open a register for commercial corporate jets and this will certainly create new business opportunities for the Maltese PG members at the office of Deguara Farrugia Advocates and their PG colleagues.
Other PG members are Ewoud de Vidts, whose firm, Wiemeersch Steyaert De Donder in Dendermonde, Belgium, mainly deals with commercial law and international litigation cases and represents carriers mainly in the field of road haulage, as well as insurance companies.
Petri Eskola, of Backström & Co Ltd. Attorneys-at-Law, Helsinki Finland also joined. Petri deals with counterfeit cases and is often confronted with transport and insurance related problems.
It is clear that transport and insurance issues will often have cross over aspects with other fields of law, such as corporate, insolvency and employment law and of course international litigation. It is a firm goal of the new PG to seek cooperation with other PGs on those issues and to try to be of mutual benefit. Those lines can be short: PG member Peter van Gog is a colleague of Bart van Rijsbergen, chair of PG Insolvency law.
Of course John and Bram, who (for the first 2 year period) have taken joint presidency over the PG, hope that other Eurojuris International members will join their Practice Group. They are convinced that this PG is an excellent opportunity for every transport or insurance law lawyer, not only to enhance his or her knowledge of international transport and insurance issues, but also to benefit from the commercial opportunities the PG expects to create by involving clients and prospects in the activities of the PG.
The PG is open for experienced (at least 6 or more years of experience) lawyers, who deal with transport and insurance cases on a regular basis. But most of all new members should share the enthusiasm and commercial spirit of the founding members.
Further information on the Practice Group Transport & Insurance Law can be obtained from Bram or John. Just send an email to marcus@damkru.nl or j.wolfs@wolfsadvocaten.nl.
For more information: www.eurojuris.nl
