Berning Robertson

Berning Robertson is a Director at Thomson Wilks and a litigation and corporate attorney with a particular focus on the shipping and logistics sector. With more than a decade of experience in practice, he advises and represents clients in complex commercial disputes, High Court litigation and private arbitrations, with particular depth in maritime, import and export and insurance-related matters.

His maritime practice includes the enforcement of maritime claims, disputes arising from the international sale of goods, clearing and forwarding matters and goods-in-transit insurance. Berning also advises on customs and excise issues, including the seizure and detention of vessels and cargo, customs compliance, bonded warehouses, tariff classification disputes and litigation involving the South African Revenue Service.

Beyond shipping and logistics, Berning regularly acts in corporate, commercial, professional liability insurance and administrative law disputes. His experience also extends to property-related litigation and transactions, including commercial and agricultural property agreements, as well as the drafting and review of corporate and commercial contracts, cross-border transactions, corporate governance, restructuring, due diligence and compliance.

Berning holds an LLB and an LLM in Import and Export Law from North-West University. He was admitted as an attorney in 2007 and as a conveyancer in 2009 and holds a right of appearance in the High Court of South Africa.

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Berning’s experience includes:

Berning advises and represents clients in maritime, commercial and insurance-related disputes, including High Court litigation and private arbitration. His work encompasses maritime claims, international trade and the sale of goods, clearing and forwarding, customs and excise compliance, tariff classification and disputes involving detained vessels or cargo. He also assists clients with professional liability insurance matters, property disputes, commercial agreements, cross-border transactions, corporate restructuring, due diligence and governance and compliance requirements.

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Berning’s areas of speciality

• Maritime & Admiralty Law
• Shipping & Logistics
• Commercial Litigation
• Arbitration & Dispute Resolution
• Customs & Excise
• Import & Export Law
• Insurance Law
• Professional Liability Insurance
• Corporate & Commercial Law
• Cross-Border Transactions
• Corporate Governance & Compliance
• Property Law

Berning combines extensive dispute resolution experience with specialist knowledge of shipping, logistics and international trade, enabling him to advise clients on both contentious matters and the commercial and regulatory issues that underpin their operations.

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Publications and Insights:

1. Cracking down on illegal fishing
2. Incoterms and purchasing goods abroad
3. Who is liable in a Marine Crash
4. Important to correctly classify imported goods
5. Is the arrest of a ship’s master necessary?
6. Heavy weather at sea and the ship’s protest