Following his promotion to Director, Campbell Johnston, Clark at the beginning of 2025, Neil Jackson offers insight into his professional background, expertise and outlook, and the career path to his appointment as a partner with the firm.
What new perspectives or skills do you hope to bring to the firm in your new role as a director?
Prior to joining CJC I spent eight years in the FD&D department of a leading International Group P&I Club. In addition to the experience of dealing with the legal aspects of a high volume of shipping disputes, this has also given me a good understanding of the P&I Club’s perspective on the efficient stewardship and resolution of claims. My main area of expertise lies in dry shipping law disputes and I have extensive experience of acting for both owners and charterers. In my new role as Director, I hope to be able to share the benefit of my experience with clients and colleagues alike.
The Role and Vision
What areas of the business are you most excited to develop or innovate?
I really enjoy the business development aspect of the job, whether that be meeting with clients, attending industry events, or anything else that I can do to help raise CJC’s profile within the industry. I particularly enjoy delivering presentations and workshops to clients.
Personal Insights
What’s the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received?
The book “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen R. Covey is full of excellent professional advice, such as choosing how to respond to situations rather than reacting impulsively, prioritising what is most likely to bring you closer to accomplishing whatever it is you are trying to achieve, understanding problems before trying to solve them and not blaming circumstances for setbacks.
Industry insights
What are some of the biggest challenges facing clients in the shipping and maritime industry today?
Ensuring compliance with environmental regulations, for example regarding decarbonisation, is set to remain a big challenge – both in terms of the technical modifications that are required in order to reduce emissions and achieve compliance and ensuring that appropriate provisions are included in contractual documents. Geopolitical tensions will no doubt continue to evolve, a recent example being the attacks on ships transiting the Red Sea by Houthi rebels in Yemen causing many vessels to sail via the longer Cape of Good Hope resulting in significantly higher costs. Complying with the ever-evolving sanctions landscape is also set to remain a big challenge, necessitating rigorous due diligence checks on counterparties.
Fun and Personal
If you weren’t in maritime law, what career path might you have pursued?
If I wasn’t a maritime lawyer then I would be a musician. I originally studied at the Royal Northern College of Music and have played in professional orchestras. I still enjoy attending concerts and musical theatre, but I haven’t been involved in a performing capacity for many years now. I may take it up again once I have retired!