Scott Oakes

Associate, Eversheds LLP

Scott Oakes is a Solicitor in Eversheds’ Shipping Group and works predominantly in contentious matters arising from the carriage of oil and chemicals by sea. He advises regularly in connection with cargo contamination matters and other maritime disputes. Non contentious matters include advising in connection with piracy and the deployment of armed guards onboard oil tankers.

Scott's particular specialism is onboard ship/installation investigations which involves travelling to the location of a maritime incident and conducting an investigation. For example, he recently spent 2 weeks in Kenya investigating a US$15m oil contamination/asset seizure issue for a Greek shipowner client and 2 weeks in Sri Lanka investigating a collision between a US$70m container-ship and a US$3m gantry crane for a Sydney based insurer client. 

Before joining Eversheds LLP Scott trained and worked at Linklaters for 4 years in London and Amsterdam. The highlight of his career at Linklaters was working as part of the Lehman Brothers insolvency team. Prior to qualifying as a solicitor, Scott was a police officer for 10 years during which time he was involved in criminal investigations both within the UK and internationally, including a 3 year secondment to the Bermuda Government. Scott also trained and sailed as an engineer in the merchant navy with Shell Tankers. During this time he sailed onboard massive ships known as “VLCCs” in the transportation of crude oil (one of which appeared on Superman III in the infamous oil spill scene!).