Shipping and Marine specialist Andrew Higgs, a consultant solicitor at Setfords has spoken to the Law Society Gazette about his career, and his interest in new technologies such as autonomous shipping. 

Andrew joined Setfords in March 2017, having practiced with a leading City of London law firm for more than 30 years, and as a partner for more than 20 years.  More recently, he worked as the Liaison Officer and legal risk management consultant for the International Union of Marine Insurance, at the International Maritime Organisation.

With an unrivalled knowledge of the sector, Andrew is now focused on the future, and is one of the experts spear-heading the development of regulations for unmanned ships. He said: 

“The last major revolution in international shipping law involved the ‘rules of the road’ in the 1830s, when steamships were sailing among wooden sailing ships and rowing boats. Autonomous, unmanned and remotely controlled ships are being constructed in Asia, Europe and the US. There is no appropriate framework for these ships in international waters. Technology is moving at a much faster pace than regulation.”

Read Andrew’s ‘My Legal Life’, or visit his profile.