ETA. HFW is a lawyering company
Former HFW Partner James Gosling (previously head of the Admiralty department and now a Consultant ) has been appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the New Year's Honours announced on 30 December 2016.
An OBE is a Queen's honour given to an individual for a major role in any activity such as business, charity or the public sector. This honour relates to James's role in pioneering the global shipping industry's response to maritime piracy in Somalia. Over a period of 11 years, James and the HFW team, including in particular Partners Richard Neylon and George Lamplough and Associate Michael Ritter, worked with organisations in the City of London and the global shipping industry to bring about the release of more than 1,750 seafarers, many of whom were subjected to mistreatment and torture during their ordeals. This included providing pro bono legal services and support to secure the release of the 48 "forgotten" seafarer hostages from four vessels, some of whom had been held hostage on land in Somalia for more than four years.