Peter Dawson

 

Peter Dawson

Director, LLM, LLB, BA

<i class="fas fa-mobile-alt"></i> +64 27 229 9624

<i class="fas fa-phone-alt"></i> +64 3 544 1967

<i class="far fa-envelope"></i> peter@maritimelaw.co.nz

Peter’s exclusive focus for the past 3 decades has been maritime law.  He has a strong commercial background with strengths in ship/boat flagging and registration, vessel sale and purchase contracts, drafting of complex international vessel sale contracts, advocacy and lobbying, vessel build agreements, maritime health and safety issues, and the rights of foreign fishing crew.

Peter provides maritime law services to national and international clients, and works regularly in the superyacht, coastal shipping, offshore oil and gas support, restricted limits, and fishing industry sectors.

Peter regularly manages complex litigation and has been involved in challenges to offshore mining, crew litigation, and the defence of maritime and fisheries prosecutions.  In the past year, he has been heavily involved in managing investigations into accidents on vessels, and defending prosecutions of vessel owners and skippers under the Health and Safety in Employment Act and its successor, the Health and Safety at Work Act.

Originally from South Africa, Peter spent seven years at a Cape Town law firm establishing a foundation for practice in maritime law, before leaving to set up his own dedicated maritime law practice in Cape Town (Dawson Edwards & Associates).

In 2002, Peter and his family immigrated to New Zealand, and in 2007 Peter set up the first dedicated maritime law practice in New Zealand.  Dawson & Associates has grown quickly and is at the forefront of developments in the rapidly evolving maritime sector in New Zealand and the South Pacific.

Peter speaks regularly at conferences on maritime legal issues, particularly in the context of the effects of legislative change on the industry.

Outside of work, Peter is a keen sportsman and enjoys surf skiing, mountain biking and off-road running.  He is married to Karen and they have four children.  Peter is a committed Christian and seeks to apply the principles of Christianity to all aspects of his practice and business life.

 
 

Qualifications

  • LLM (Shipping Law), University of Cape Town

  • LLB, University of Natal

  • BA, University of Stellenbosch

 

Admitted

  • 2003 New Zealand

  • 1990 South Africa

Nick IppolitoDirector