Rhys Clift

Background

About Rhys Clift

My specialist expertise is insurance and reinsurance, transportation and commercial dispute resolution. English Solicitor with more than 40 years’ experience much of which in complex, high-value disputes, inc Piracy, Political Violence, Terrorism, Marine Hull and War claims (for example arising from seizure, detention, fire, explosion, structural failure), Aviation, Energy, carriage of goods and transportation. Also drafted foreign market yacht cover, edited foreign market hull package cover and fixed premium P&I cover. Legal 500 2023 reports: ‘he has decades of experience in insurance and particularly marine insurance. His technical knowledge and understanding of principles of insurance is second to none, and far superior to that of partners at other comparable firms, in my experience. He is also extremely committed and dedicated to his clients, frequently working around the clock to get the job done’; and ‘The key person from my perspective is Rhys Clift. He has enormous experience and is a shrewd and highly competent litigator, a real force to be reckoned with, and a veteran of some huge cases particularly in the marine sector.’ Legal 500 2025 reports: I have worked with Rhys Clift.on some challenging marine insurance total loss claims. Rhys is a highly experienced practitioner who has been involved in key marine insurance cases. He is very knowledgeable about the law of marine insurance, and has excellent judgement." I am listed as a Global Leader by the Who’s Who Legal in Transport- Shipping, 2024 I am a Commercial Mediator at SeaMediation Chambers, in Shipping and Insurance, and Distinguished Neutral at CPR International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution, New York. My articles and papers notably on insurance, maritime business and dispute resolution are published and cited widely, nationally and internationally, certain in several languages. My recent papers on COVID and its enduring impact are published by the Journal of International Maritime Law (2021), CPR (2022/23), and loaded on the World Intellectual Property Organisation Knowledge Repository. Certain of my main articles, papers and presentations are published on the Social Science Research Network, by le Droit Maritime Francois and by the International Union of Marine Insurance I joined Hill Dickinson in 1981, later Hill Taylor Dickinson, Managing Partner at 41. I joined Hill Dickinson LLP on merger in 2006, joined Thomas Cooper LLP in 2018, then Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP on merger in 2019.