Prior to joining the firm, Joanne was based in Singapore, and before that worked for a number of years with another international shipping practice in Hong Kong. She has also spent a period working as in-house legal counsel at a well-known international group P&I club in Japan.

Joanne acts for shipowners, charterers, and their insurers in relation to both P&I and FD&D matters, as well as in related international trade disputes. She has successfully represented clients before the English and Hong Kong courts, and in international arbitration in LMAA, HKIAC, SCMA, SIAC, and ICC proceedings.

Featured experience:

• Representing a container line in the defence of cargo claims arising from a cyber-attack 
• Advising a manufacturer of maritime technology on the risks and liabilities connected with a new autonomous product 
• Successfully recovering multi-million-dollar demurrage for a shipowner, defeating arguments regarding force majeure said to have arisen from adverse weather events at the load port and mine 

Endorsements:

• “Joanne Waters is recognised for her all-encompassing shipping law expertise. She is highly diligent, consistently reliable, and regularly delivers advice that is tailored to our needs.” - Legal 500 UK, 2025/2026