About Us

About Maritime Lawyers Group

Maritime Lawyers Group is a boutique connection whose entire practice is dedicated to servicing client needs. We model ourselves on the one-to-one approach demonstrated by those who excel in this highly demanding and competitive service sector.

We have advised and worked with individuals and companies in acquiring and financing superyachts, maritime legal solutions, commercial ship acquisition and finance, general marine and general commercial law. We also specialise in Australian immigration law.

Ryan Norval

Ryan is an Australian and South African lawyer currently employed by Pacific Maritime Lawyers (PML) in Australia as Special Counsel. Ryan is a maritime and commercial lawyer with more than 18 years of experience and has particular expertise in:

maritime commercial law,
commercial litigation,
commercial agreements in the maritime sector,
superyacht sale and purchase agreements,
vessel management,
vessel construction,
manning agreements,
brokerage and charter agreements,
private and commercial shipping sectors,

Ryan has acted predominantly for ultra-high net worth individuals in maritime and commercially related matters in the superyacht, financiers, operators, cruise line and ferry companies.

As part of national conscription, Ryan joined the Navy, where he served for two years. Before coming to law, Ryan worked in the offshore oil and gas field as a Barge Master, holding OIM certification. In 2005 Ryan qualified as an Advocate (Barrister) and was called to bar in the same year after completing pupillage through the National Bar Association in South Africa. In 2015 Ryan and his wife emigrated to Australia from Cape Town, where he re-qualified as a Solicitor in Queensland with a special interest in Maritime Law.

Outside of work, Ryan enjoys diving and qualified as an Instructor in 1995 with a particular interest in wreck- and wreck penetration diving. Ryan and his family also enjoy yachting and have owned several yachts, the last being a 43-foot monohull bluewater sloop.

Ryan’s interest and career are aligned with the maritime industry since childhood and has served him well during his legal career in the commercial and maritime legal arena.