Contact Charlotte
Charlotte Gale founded Cargo Law, a shipping law firm with a strong emphasis on soft commodities. Driven by a passion for providing exceptional service, Charlotte envisioned a law firm where clients receive unparalleled support tailored to their needs. Cargo Law is a trading name of Excello Law.
Charlotte is a leading name in cargo recovery claims, particularly for soft commodities, rice, grains and wheat. She assists insurance companies, traders and brokers when there is loss and damage to cargo during carriage of goods by sea, road and air.
With 20 years’ experience as shipping lawyer, Charlotte has developed a specialism for claims involving bills of lading, charterparties, contracts for the sale of goods and the associated insurance policies.
Charlotte assists clients with claims in High Court litigation, Arbitration as well as mediation.
Charlotte is know for her calm and approachable style, responsiveness and attention to detail. She is frequently called up by clients needing quick yet pragmatic advice when facing complex cargo problems with multiple interests.
Charlotte has her own legal practice within Excello’s House of Brands ‘Cargo Law‘.
Charlotte's Experience
- Acted for a leading chemical company and their insurers to secure a recovery following a contamination of a cargo discovered whilst discharging at a large European port storage facility.
- Securing a recovery from the world’s largest ocean carrier for the insurers of a fleet of vehicles lost following the sinking of the vessel.
- Acting for rice trader and its insurers in securing a recovery from the vessel and its’ P&I Club following ingress of water into the cargo holds.
- Assisting the owners of a cargo of frozen fish damaged following a cold chain failure on a reefer vessel.
- Making a recovery for the shipper of a rice cargo which had been misdelivered by the vessel owners in breach of the bill of lading contract.
- Successfully mediated a dispute surrounding the carriage of blood plasma products resulting in breaking the contractual limitation and recovering the full extent of the cargo insurers’ loss.
In her spare time, Charlotte enjoys walking her Whippet Luca and whizzing around the Hampshire countryside in her coveted convertible Morris Minor.
She has two children aged 10 and 12. She is passionate about spending time outdoors and loves nothing more than a project in the garden.
Charlotte is a keen skier and loves to travel to natural unspoilt places with her husband and children.
A Firm representative for the Admiralty Solicitors Group and organiser of the JVN Annual Dinner.
Southampton Institute of Marine Law – Firm Board Member