Nikki Chu

Partner, Watson Farley & Williams

Nikki is a Partner in the dispute resolution group. She has significant experience as a disputes lawyer in the marine and international trade sectors. She adopts a practical and commercial approach to ensure that disputes are resolved efficiently.

She specialises in dry shipping, including charterparty, bill of lading, cargo and shipbuilding disputes and assisting clients with LNG shipping issues. Nikki has also advised on commercial disputes including injunctive relief and issues arising from ship finance contracts. She has worked on cases involving major incidents such as container stack collapses and fires. On the non-contentious side, she advises on the drafting and negotiation of shipping contracts (including LNG charterparties).

She has acted for a wide range of clients including owners, charterers, P&I Clubs, insurers, traders, cargo interests and maritime investment companies. Having spent a year at an International Group P&I Club in London, she is well-experienced in dealing with FD&D and P&I matters, often with a real-time element.

Nikki is ranked as a Next Generation Partner in Legal 500 UK 2025 and was listed as a Rising Star by Legal 500 UK 2024. Clients say that she, “has a magnificent work ethic, fantastic attention to detail, and an unerring instinct for victory” and is “excellent at dealing directly with individuals in the business, thus helping to relieve the pressure on in-house counsel and making advisory work quicker and more efficient”.

She was shortlisted as a finalist in The Rising Star in Diversity Change category of Women, Influence & Power in Law UK Awards 2022.

Contributed to

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Carriage of LNG cargoes—an introduction

Practice Notes

The evolving and maturing liquified natural gas (LNG) market is likely to give rise to an increasing number of disputes concerning LNG cargoes. These may include cargo claims from third party owners (rather than charterers) under bills of lading in respect of loss or damaged/contaminated LNG. Additionally, Owners may pursue claims for damage, delay or overconsumption, arising from the physical characteristics of the particular LNG cargo.For more information on:•LNG generally, see Practice Note: LNG—an introduction•LNG chartering, generally, see Practice Note: LNG Chartering—an introduction•LNG chartering disputes, see Practice Note: LNG Chartering Disputes—an introductionThe nature of LNGDue to its unique physical properties, the carriage of LNG by sea in comparison with most other cargoes is quite different in terms of handling and transportation, requiring specialised carriers and terminals. LNG must be carried at cryogenic temperatures of around -162°C (-260°F).LNG is clear and colourless and usually composed of about 85–95% methane with the remaining components typically including ethane, propane, butane and nitrogen in

Energy

LNG Chartering Disputes—an introduction

Practice Notes

Natural gas is a valuable commodity that has a wide variety of uses, including power generation, heating and cooking. When cooled to roughly -162°C, the gas liquefies and reduces in volume by a factor of 600, thereby enabling the liquefied natural gas (LNG) to be more easily transported, for example by sea on ships. This is especially important when geopolitical factors, such as war or other instability, affect the viability of land-based pipelines.The physical properties of LNG mean that issues arise from its carriage which are not encountered in the case of other commodities transported by sea. This Practice Note provides an introduction to these various issues and the types of disputes that arise as a result.For more general information on:•LNG, see Practice Note: LNG—an introduction•carriage of LNG cargoes, see Practice Note: Carriage of LNG cargoes—an introduction•LNG project structures, see Practice Notes: LNG—Structuring LNG projects•common forms and key legal issues in LNG sale and purchase agreements, see Practice Notes: LNG sale and

Energy

LNG Chartering—an introduction

Practice Notes

This Practice Note provides an introduction to the transportation of liquefied natural gas (LNG) by sea, the technical and commercial issues faced and the types of charterparty contracts used to facilitate the movement of LNG.

Energy