Back to Listing
Andrew Pike

Andrew Pike

Head of Ports, Transport and Logistics
Durban, South Africa
T: +27 31 109 1156
E: andrew.pike@bowmanslaw.com
Download VCard
  • Overview
  • Experience
  • Publications & Insights

Overview

Andrew Pike is the head of our Ports, Transport and Logistics sector.

He has acted for numerous clients in due diligence investigations, risk assessments and transactional work. His expertise covers legal structuring, contractual and transactional issues and service agreements. He also drafts and reviews regulations, trading terms and throughput agreements, and drafts and comments on, South African transport legislation and shipping litigation. He conducts various shipping training and lecturing on behalf of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, the South African Maritime Safety Authority and the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Andrew is frequently invited to speak at international conferences on a variety of subjects.

Andrew is a Fellow of the Institute of Risk Management of South Africa, a past-president of the Maritime Law Association of South Africa and a past-board member of the Ports Regulator of South Africa.

He has BA and LLB degrees from the University of the Witwatersrand.  Andrew is also a Fellow of the Institute of Risk Management of South Africa (F.I.R.M.S.A) (2001), Past-President, Maritime Law Association of South Africa, Past-Board Member, Ports Regulator of South Africa

Specialist Services

Relevant Experience

Andrew has executed and participated in extensive contentious and non-contentious matters, some of which includes:

  • Viability study and PPP transaction advisory services (legal and risk assessment), new Durban dig-out port (2012 – 2014).
  • 30 years shipping litigation experience and consulting in respect of shipping cargo claims, bills of lading disputes, charter party disputes, marine (and non-marine) insurance, logistics matters and shipping casualties (most recently including the “Thor Breeze”, “Dubai Sun”, “Chemstar Jewel” and “Harvest Rising”).
  • Extensive commercial advice and drafting of documents in the shipping, logistics and petrochemical industries.
  • Various shipping training and lecturing (including bills of lading, international sale of goods, charter parties and Courts of Marine Enquiry) on behalf of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, South African Maritime Safety Authority and University of Kwazulu-Natal.
  • Speaking at various international conferences on a variety of topics, most recently in South Africa, Nigeria and China respectively around special economic zones, maritime arbitration and general average.
  • Feasibility, legal and operational structuring, ENRC railway transport system and port coal terminal, Nacala, Mozambique (2012 – 2013).
  • Atuabo Freeport Ghana, drafting Freeport user agreement, port and aerodrome regulations (2013 – 2014).
  • Transaction advisor for South African port bulk handling terminal acquisition, ownership structuring (PPP) and usage conversion (2014 ongoing).
  • Due diligence study (port and terminal sector, commercial and legal) in respect of Grindrod Ltd, a multi-national (listed company) port and terminal operator and logistics provider (2014).
  • Transaction advisor on marine transport project (confidential) in the Great Lakes region (2015 – ongoing).
  • Advising and coordinating bid on proposed Durban Cruise Terminal (2016 – ongoing).
  • Facilitation of annual risk assessment for shipping division of Grindrod Ltd (Island View Shipping) (2009 – 2012).
  • Legal structuring, contractual and transactional advice for Cutler Complex, the national keypoint liquid bulk storage and handling complex in Durban.
  • Transactional work for a turnkey logistics solution for the mining and export of coal from its inland source by rail through East London.  Refurbishment of rail link and building of coal terminal (2011 – 2012).
  • Service agreement for Luba Freeport, Ghana stevedore tender (2014).
  • Transaction Advisor and legal Logistics Consultant, Cato Ridge Inland Terminal (near Durban) (2011).
  • Drafting and review of bulk terminal regulations, trading terms and throughput agreements for Matola (TCM) and Walvis Bay bulk handling terminals (1998 – 2010).
  • Drafting and commenting on South African transport legislation for South African Maritime Safety Authority (2007 – ongoing).
  • Commenting and / or drafting on Maputo and South African port legislation, regulations, throughput agreements, logistics agreements and transport/logistics joint ventures for LBH Group (1995 to date).
  • Ports economic regulation as a Board Member of the Ports regulator of South Africa (2007 – 2011).
  • Conceptualisation, advice, financial and ownership structuring and legal documentation for a number of significant port, rail and logistics projects around Africa (at least eight) which currently remain confidential and are in conceptual or pre-feasibility stages. Users will be well-known international names in mining and commodities trading sectors.
  • Extensive risk assessment facilitation and providing risk management training in petrochemical and mobile telecoms industries.

Signature Matters

Awards

  • Chambers and Partners consistently ranked Andrew in Band 2 for Shipping for the past six years (2017 to 2022) and in Band 1 for the same category in 2023.
  • Member of the team that was awarded the 2019 “Transportation and Infrastructure Team of the Year Award” by the African Legal Awards.
  • Andrew was recognised by Who’s Who Legal 2017 – 2018 for Shipping.
  • Recognised by Best Lawyers, 2017 for Trade Law.

‘Andrew Pike is an outstanding lawyer. He has great industry knowledge and commercial awareness and offers clear and straightforward advice.’

‘He is very sensible and has a good commercial nous.’ – Chambers and Partners, 2023

‘He is a force to be reckoned with.’ – Chambers and Partners, 2022

‘Durban-based Andrew Pike heads the firm’s ports, transport and logistics team. Market commentators regard him as “an expert and very experienced,” with one client describing him as “fair, level-headed and very smart,” adding: “He understands our requirements and tries to accommodate our needs.” He is regularly instructed to handle casualty and cargo disputes, as well as ports and terminals matters.’ – Chambers and Partners, 2021

‘Durban-based Andrew Pike is lauded by his clients as an “exceptional lawyer.” He is particularly well known for his high-profile ports and terminals work, with notable expertise in contentious casualties and cargo matters. Sources additionally praise him as “very approachable and very knowledgeable,” and for his ability to “link commerciality to the law.’– Chambers and Partners 2020

Publications & Insights