Jeremy Prain
Partner | Cape Town
Contact
T: +27 21 480 7811
Overview
Jeremy Prain is a solution-orientated lawyer, who is sought out by clients for his proactive approach to dealing with urgent and complex cases. He strives to build long term relationships based on trust and clients value his responsiveness and “top-notch” service.
Jeremy has a deep understanding of the shipping and logistics sector in South Africa and also works closely with colleagues across the African continent to provide a comprehensive service to clients in these areas of law, whether it be commercial, litigious or casualty response.
Experience
Jurisdictions worked in: South Africa, Angola, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania and Zambia
Languages fluent in: English
* Indicates experience gained prior to joining Bowmans.
He works with:
- Ship Owners and Operators
- Charterers
- P&I Clubs
- Marine Insurers
- Commodities Traders
- Logistics Operators
- Shipping and Trade Finance Lenders
Jeremy has been involved in various contentious matters, including acting for:
- A leading international bunker supplier in judicial review proceedings before the Supreme Court of Appeal in South Africa.
- Various ship owners and international commodities traders in the offshore bunkering industry in relation to disputes with the South African Revenue Service arising from the detention of vessels and fuel, and related High Court proceedings.
- International banks and financiers in workouts in both South Africa and Namibia, to sell vessels and administer the resultant sale funds, including resolving complex cross-border insolvency issues. The vessels concerned have included the Lewek Teal, Tarik III, Niger Delta King, Mighty Deliverer, Rig Deliverer and Ruby Deliverer.
- Owners and charterers in complex arrest proceedings before the High Court and Supreme Court of Appeal, including most recently the vessels Haralambos, New Elly and New Endevor.
Jeremy also has extensive experience in relation to marine casualties, including advising:
- Marine liability insurers in a complex wreck removal operation off the South African coast involving the fishing trawler “Elke M”.
- Owners and underwriters of the “Cosco Sao Paulo” after a container explosion and fire on board the vessel while en route to Cape Town.
Jeremy’s commercial shipping and logistics experience includes advising:
- Lenders in a complex loan facility transaction for the acquisition of a substantial two floating drydocks situated in the Port of Durban, forming a key aspect of the port’s infrastructure and service offering to the market.
- International bunker operators in relation to operations in South Africa covering commercial structuring, licencing, tax and regulatory advice.
Awards
- Chambers Global recognised Jeremy for his work in Shipping law in South Africa for the past 10 years, most recently, in Band 2 (2023-2026).
- Jeremy “stands out for his contribution on shipping” according to Legal500 2023.
- Recognised by the 2023 Business Today Lawyer Awards as a pioneering shipping lawyer.
‘The most important thing for us is that he is responsive, always there to update us, to respond and to agree on next steps.’ – Chambers and Partners, 2025
AREA OF EXPERTISE
Qualifications
- LLM from the University of Cape Town (Shipping Law).
- BA and LLB degrees from Stellenbosch University.
Professional Memberships
- Admitted as an attorney of the High Court of South Africa.
- Admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales.
- Member of the Maritime Law Association of South Africa.
INSIGHTS
Overview
Jeremy Prain is a solution-orientated lawyer, who is sought out by clients for his proactive approach to dealing with urgent and complex cases. He strives to build long term relationships based on trust and clients value his responsiveness and “top-notch” service.
Jeremy has a deep understanding of the shipping and logistics sector in South Africa and also works closely with colleagues across the African continent to provide a comprehensive service to clients in these areas of law, whether it be commercial, litigious or casualty response.
Experience
Jurisdictions worked in: South Africa, Angola, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania and Zambia
Languages fluent in: English
* Indicates experience gained prior to joining Bowmans.
He works with:
- Ship Owners and Operators
- Charterers
- P&I Clubs
- Marine Insurers
- Commodities Traders
- Logistics Operators
- Shipping and Trade Finance Lenders
Jeremy has been involved in various contentious matters, including acting for:
- A leading international bunker supplier in judicial review proceedings before the Supreme Court of Appeal in South Africa.
- Various ship owners and international commodities traders in the offshore bunkering industry in relation to disputes with the South African Revenue Service arising from the detention of vessels and fuel, and related High Court proceedings.
- International banks and financiers in workouts in both South Africa and Namibia, to sell vessels and administer the resultant sale funds, including resolving complex cross-border insolvency issues. The vessels concerned have included the Lewek Teal, Tarik III, Niger Delta King, Mighty Deliverer, Rig Deliverer and Ruby Deliverer.
- Owners and charterers in complex arrest proceedings before the High Court and Supreme Court of Appeal, including most recently the vessels Haralambos, New Elly and New Endevor.
Jeremy also has extensive experience in relation to marine casualties, including advising:
- Marine liability insurers in a complex wreck removal operation off the South African coast involving the fishing trawler “Elke M”.
- Owners and underwriters of the “Cosco Sao Paulo” after a container explosion and fire on board the vessel while en route to Cape Town.
Jeremy’s commercial shipping and logistics experience includes advising:
- Lenders in a complex loan facility transaction for the acquisition of a substantial two floating drydocks situated in the Port of Durban, forming a key aspect of the port’s infrastructure and service offering to the market.
- International bunker operators in relation to operations in South Africa covering commercial structuring, licencing, tax and regulatory advice.
Awards
- Chambers Global recognised Jeremy for his work in Shipping law in South Africa for the past 10 years, most recently, in Band 2 (2023-2026).
- Jeremy “stands out for his contribution on shipping” according to Legal500 2023.
- Recognised by the 2023 Business Today Lawyer Awards as a pioneering shipping lawyer.
‘The most important thing for us is that he is responsive, always there to update us, to respond and to agree on next steps.’ – Chambers and Partners, 2025
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