The Law Relating to Brokerage and Boat Retailers
Brokers and boat retailers typically have responsibility for ensuring that the legal framework surrounding the sale and purchase of small craft is fit for purpose and for conducting the transaction successfully within this framework.
Would you like to ensure your business is operating as legally protected as possible?
This course is designed to give brokers the latest updates and legislation on issues covering law when selling new and second-hand boats. It provides invaluable information and guidance to help you minimise legal problems when selling boats.
The course has been updated post Brexit and is under constant review to give you the most updated and relevant information.
- Increase your knowledge and awareness of the legal framework and industry standards relating to the sale and purchase of craft.
- Minimise your commercial risk and help to avoid disputes and the rejection of craft by purchasers.
- Provide you with practical, industry-specific advice and guidance on key areas of the sale and purchase process.
- You get the opportunity to discuss questions and specific examples with other attendees and the Course Leader, who is a Marine Solicitor with extensive experience in this subject.
If you are a broker or boat retailer and you would like good, sound advice from an expert lawyer, thus avoiding any legal pitfalls when selling boats, this course is for you.
Covering topics within Legal Concepts, Consumer Protection and RCR and Title, the course provides invaluable information and guidance to help you minimise legal problems when selling boats.
- Legal Concepts, including:
Legal Framework, Rights and Obligations, Practical Considerations, English Court System, Criminal Law, Potential Defences, Civil Law, Role of EU Law, Law of Tort: Negligence, Law of Contract, Condition vs Warranty, Terms, Law of Agency, Role of the Broker - Consumer Protection, including:
Supply of Goods and Service Act, Sale of Goods Act, Unfair Contract Terms Act, Consumer Protection, Types of Misinterpretation, Risk Management, Dispute Resolution, Handling Deposits and Payments, Anti Money Laundering - RCR, Title, VAT, including:
Vessel Ownership, Proof of Title, UK Registration, Mortgages and Charges, RCR (briefly), VAT (briefly)
LUCY GOFF & JENNIE HARRIS
Jennie and Lucy are the co-founders of Ocean Legal, the first English law firm to operate on a purely fixed-fee basis for both contractual and litigation matters.
Jennie Harris is a leading legal advisor in the maritime and ports sector, specialising in harbour operations, port authority governance, and regulatory compliance. With over a decade of experience, she advises statutory harbour bodies, marina operators, and marine businesses on bespoke contracts, statutory interpretation, and complex regulatory challenges—backed by practical experience across public and private sectors. Jennie was instrumental in developing Ocean Legal’s fixed-fee model, ensuring clients benefit from predictable pricing and service aligned with their objectives.
Lucy Goff complements this with deep expertise in the leisure and superyacht market. She advises clients globally on yacht sale and purchase, construction and refits and commercial contracts. Lucy also has significant experience in dispute resolution—handling marine insurance conflicts, racing collision cases, casualty incidents (e.g. groundings, fires, injuries), enforcement actions, and debt recovery. Recognised as a Rising Star in the 2024 Legal 500 and a Leading Associate in the 2025 edition, she brings a practical, solution-driven approach informed by her sailing background.
JONATHAN HADLEY-PIGGIN
Jonathan Hadley-Piggin is a partner at the London law firm Keystone Law. Jonathan attended Warsash Nautical College sponsored by BP Shipping where he gained a Class III Certificate of Competency (Deck Officer). Following time at sea with BP, he gained a commission in the Royal Navy and attended Britannia Royal Navy College, then, sponsored by the Navy read for a degree in Maritime Economics and Law at Cardiff University. In the Royal Navy, he specialised in navigation, serving in frigates and nuclear submarines before leaving the Navy to pursue a career in law.
Jonathan trained with the city firm Stephenson Harwood where, following qualification, he specialised in commercial charter disputes, collision, and salvage. In 1997, he started to focus on the leisure side of maritime law, acting for yacht owners, insurers, banks, charter companies and other organisation’s in the marine leisure sector both in the UK and abroad, particularly in the super yacht sector.
British Marine Member | £233.60 + VAT
Non-Member | £467.21 + VAT
Please register your interest for this course here