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Michael Kingston, DWF LLP, Global Maritime Lawyer of the Year Award accetance
seech, Lancaster !otel, London" #$th %etember &$1'
Thank you Susanne and David.
I came here tonight knowing that in being shortlisted in
such an esteemed category standing against such fne law
frms and lawyers, that it was a demonstration in any
event with those that I am with and who I have worked
with at DWF and elsewhere that we were making some
sort of a dierence.
It is astonishing to actually win. I have been honoured to
work with this industry, and I thank those who nominated
me and the !udging "anel for their decision which is an
endorsement that an integrated a""roach to risk can
work.
I sincerely thank #anadian De"uty $igh #ommissioner
%lan &essel, for being here with us this evening, and
acting %rctic %mbassador 'ikael %n(en from Sweden, who
demonstrated such leadershi" during their %rctic #ouncil
#hairmanshi". The )ritish *ovt are here too, ably led by
+ane ,umble, $ead of the -olar o.ce, and the /S%
through 0anessa 1scobar of 2%S%, the Science and
Technology #ommunity through the "resence of Dr Dougal
*oodman, and Sinead Farrell from Washington, and of
course 3loyd4s of 3ondon and several other key
re"resentatives of all that is great about this industry in
this city, this country, and internationally, including
re"resentatives from my home country Ireland, my #ounty
of #ork and my home village of *oleen, demonstrating a
collective a""roach. I have worked with e5traordinarily
"ositive "eo"le e"itomised by the leadershi" of my 0iking
friends, #a"tain %nders )ackman, the frst 'aster of the
ice breaker 6den 7 8ke ,ohl9n of %rctic 'arine Solutions.
I dedicate this award to the indigenous communities of the
%rctic and to all seafarers who have lost their lives in
tragic circumstances, who have been in!ured, or are in
di.culty, and their families. -articularly tonight I think of
my father Tim &ingston and those who he died with in
)antry )ay in :;<; now almost => years ago, in an
Michael Kingston
Lancaster !otel
London #$ %etember &$1'
&
Michael Kingston, DWF LLP, Global Maritime Lawyer of the Year Award accetance
seech, Lancaster !otel, London" #$th %etember &$1'
incident where 4safety case4 and 4best "ractice4 were non?
e5istent.
We can learn from the lessons of history?we must always
em"loy best "ractice in our industry and not wait for
regulation to arrive when it is too late and we must hel"
our *overnments and International regulators to get it
right. This award shows that we can all make a "ositive
contribution, no matter what hills we have to climb, and
that very im"ortantly when there are great "eo"le around
you with a "ositive a""roach, T6*1T$1, W1 #%2 indeed
'%&1 % DIFF1,12#1.
Thank you 3loyd4s 3ist, all those who have been short
listed and acclaimed tonight, all those who I have worked
with, and again those who nominated me, and the +udges.
@ou are, indeed, true and honourable friends of the sea
and those that work there.
Thank you very much.
'ichael &ingston
3loydAs 3ist *lobal %wards
3ancaster $otel
3ondon =B Se"tember CB:D
Michael Kingston
Lancaster !otel
London #$ %etember &$1'