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Ince shipping rainmaker makes swift return from major client

Ince & Co has re-hired former partner and shipping heavyweight Faz Peermohamed to head its maritime practice from the Norwegian Hull Club, where he served as chief executive.

Peermohamed is an ex-ship’s master and formerly the global head of shipping and admiralty at Ince & Co, where he worked for over 20 years, becoming established as one of the City’s leading contentious shipping lawyers. Peermohamed left Ince last year for client Norwegian Hull Club.

During his time at Ince, Peermohamed advised on complex maritime cases, including the Costa Concordia capsize in Italy and the Prestige oil spill in Spain. A specialist in establishing new clauses to improve underwriting performance, he is experienced in dealing with loss prevention terms.

The appointment comes amid a turbulent recent period for Ince, which has been hard hit by the slowdown in its core shipping market in the last three years. In response the firm has moved to bring in a number of senior recruits following a restructuring last year that impacted on six partners.

The firm has made seven laterals so far this year, including aviation partner Anna Anatolitou from Bird & Bird, Shanghai-based corporate partner Paul-Emmanuel Benachi from Gide Loyrette Nouel, and TLT’s former head of marine, Duncan Bateson.

Senior partner Jan Heuvels (pictured) said: ‘I am delighted that Faz is returning to Ince & Co, both from a professional and personal perspective. His reappointment is the latest in a series of high-profile hires that we have made that form part of our strategy of growing our business in our core sectors.’

Ince chairman Paul Herring added: ‘Faz’s experience and contacts would be a major boost to any firm that specialises in the maritime industry. His return adds considerable strength to our shipping practice.’

sarah.downey@legalease.co.uk