Nikki is a Partner in the dispute resolution group.

Nikki has over 11 years’ 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 value her dedication to cases and attention to detail and say that “Nikki Chu has the capacity to delve to the bottom of the legal issues at hand. She would leave no stone unturned to research all the available authorities and academic writings, and to consider the matter from all possible angles.”

She is passionate about improving diversity within the legal industry and was shortlisted as a finalist in the ‘Rising Star in Diversity Change’ category of the Women, Influence & Power in Law UK Awards 2022.

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  • Advising various clients on obtaining injunctive relief. She has successfully obtained anti-suit injunctive relief to restrain foreign proceedings and other interim routine injunctions on an urgent basis.
  • Experienced in handling FD&D and P&I claims. Successfully resolved a high-value unsafe berth dispute claim through mediation. She routinely pursues demurrage claims for owners.
  • Advising on the dry shipping aspects of major incidents, including stack collapses, cargo and engine room fires. Handling numerous cargo claims, advising on contractual liabilities and Limitation Fund.
  • Instructed by a maritime investment company to advise on complex issues arising from a multi-million ship finance transaction.
  • Advising LNG shipping clients on the drafting of LNG Charterparties and contracts. Also, guiding clients on LNG claims, including performance warranties, cargo shortage and termination issues.

Education

  1. 2008 – 2009 · BPP Law School, London – LPC
  2. 2005 – 2008 · London School of Economics and Political Sciences – LLB Law (Hons)