The International Salvage Union’s (ISU) long-standing legal adviser, Rob Wallis, consultant to, and former partner of international law firm, Hill Dickinson, is to retire from the position in early 2021. The Executive Committee of the ISU has selected Richard Gunn, partner of international law firm, Reed Smith LLP, to take on the role.

Commenting on the move, ISU President, Richard Janssen, said: “We thank Rob for his ten years of excellent service to the ISU. He has always been a trusted advisor and has represented the interests of the industry and the members of the ISU extremely diligently and effectively throughout that time and in many different fora. We shall miss his calm, authoritative manner and his vast experience.”

“We are delighted to have secured the services of Richard Gunn to succeed Rob. He is a well-known lawyer in our industry with an impressive track record of handling numerous salvage and wreck cases, sometimes representing salvage contractors and sometimes owners and insurers. We are sure that his broad and practical experience, knowledge of the industry and many well-established relationships across shipping and the law will be of great value to ISU and we are looking forward to working with him.”

The timing of Mr Wallis’ move is to be determined but it is expected that the two will begin their handover towards the end of this year with Mr Gunn taking up the position in the first quarter of 2021.

Mr Gunn is Reed Smith’s global head of marine casualty. He is a qualified master mariner and served in the merchant navy for 12 years before coming ashore to work in shipping operations. He then trained as an English solicitor and qualified in 1996.