Ince overseas offices undergo sea change

Ince & Co has returned to its maritime roots with four new partners, all based in the firm's foreign offices.

The promotions see the firm moving away from the trend of recent years, where the bulk of new partners have been based in the UK. It is the second year running that Ince has made up four assistants to partner.

Senior partner Peter Rogan said the firm's UK-based operations had not been deliberately ignored, adding: "We see it very much as one firm."

Three of the new partners are based in Ince's Asian offices, including Hong Kong-based Harry Hirst, who is also a master mariner and who focuses on ship casualty and admiralty cases in addition to general shipping work.

Maritime and energy specialist Chris Grieveson is to be a partner in Singapore, where he previously spent three years as an assistant. He is returning to the office from London to develop the energy team.

In Shanghai, Ince is making up Paul Ho, whose broad practice covers shipping, international trade, banking and finance.

The promotions are completed with shipping, transport and insurance litigator Mathieu Croix in Le Havre.