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Geoff Farnsworth

Partner - Sydney

Areas of Expertise

Corporate & Commercial Law, Agribusiness, Dispute Resolution & Litigation, Transport, Shipping & Logistics, Renewable Energy, Governance

Contact Geoff

+61 2 8083 0416 0419 721 221 geoff.farnsworth@holdingredlich.com Connect

Expertise

Geoff is one of Australia’s leading transport and commodities lawyers with 25 years' experience in the field and is recognised in the latest Chambers Asia-Pacific guide for providing strategic and effective legal advice in the shipping space. He has been listed in The Best Lawyers in Australia guide since 2013 and is currently listed as a leading lawyer for 'Transportation Law', 'Shipping & Maritime Law' and 'Trade Law'.

Geoff has also been recognised as a leading ‘Admiralty, Shipping & Maritime Law’ lawyer by Doyle’s Guide since 2016. In 2022, he was named by Who’s Who Legal as a global leader in the shipping space.

Geoff practices in complex commercial, disputes and regulatory matters for clients involved with Transport, Agribusiness and Energy and Resources.

Geoff works closely with industry associations and brings a close working knowledge of industry practices to his legal advice.

He advises clients in relation to dispute resolution (including domestic and international arbitration); Admiralty claims and ship arrest; ship sale and purchase; port logistics; regulatory matters; domestic and international sale of goods; trade finance and insurance; governance, business structures and competition law.

In 2023, Geoff was recognised as a thought leader by Mondaq's Thought Leadership Awards for Australia in autumn for his article 'Managing the agricultural supply chain: Contract negotiation and management'.

Experience

Transport

Geoff represents shipowners and carriers in relation to liability, Admiralty and regulatory matters as well as stevedoring and terminal operator’s agreements and sale and finance of vessels.

He regularly acts for domestic transport operators and their directors in relation to 'Chain of Responsibility' prosecutions and safety related matters.

Geoff also advises providers and consumers of logistics services (including manufacturers and retailers) in relation to long and short-term contractual arrangements. He has drafted various standard-form contract documents including charterparties, contracts of affreightment and bills of lading.

Geoff advises local and international marine insurers in relation to coverage and claims issues.

Energy and resources

Geoff advises resources companies, producers and financiers in relation to logistics and sale of goods and enforcement issues including supply and off-take agreements and issues relating to title to goods.

Appointments

President of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Australia Branch)

Fellow of the Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration

Director and Honorary Life Member of Grain Trade Australia

Publications

13 April 2025 - Knowledge

Powering the future: A review of the NSW Renewable Fuel Scheme

#Renewable Energy

The Renewable Fuel Scheme looks to bridge the divide between the current economics of investment and the environmental benefits of green hydrogen. Scheduled to commence in 2026, the compulsory scheme will see energy producers and users in NSW face consequences for non-compliance.

30 March 2025 - Knowledge

The High Court of Australia and arbitration in 2024: Key insights from Carmichael, Tesseract and Chevron

#Arbitration, #Dispute Resolution & Litigation

We reflect on the key decisions in Carmichael, Tesseract and Chevron and shed light on the relationship between courts and arbitration, particularly the extent and limits of judicial intervention.

03 September 2024 - Knowledge

‘ACCUtually, those are mine’: What happens when an ACCU transaction falls apart?

#Transport, Shipping & Logistics, #Renewable Energy

We discuss the specific requirements which must be met for title in ACCUs to pass at law and how those requirements may affect a purchaser’s claim for ACCUs bought but never received.

11 June 2024 - Knowledge

EU ETS explained: The EU’s green shipping initiative and its impact on Australian industry

#Transport, Shipping & Logistics

Since 1 January 2024, all ships travelling into EU waters are covered by the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), which is directly impacting Australian industry, both in terms of ship owner’s compliance obligations and the cost to exporters.

04 June 2024 - Knowledge

The ACCU scheme: Fuelling carbon reduction in Australia

#Transport, Shipping & Logistics, #Dispute Resolution & Litigation, #Renewable Energy

With projections that the transport sector may become Australia’s largest source of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, we look at how the Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) scheme can incentivise carbon reduction efforts in the sector.

14 March 2024 - Knowledge

Answering the perennial question – when is a ship not a ship?

#Transport, Shipping & Logistics

The High Court of Singapore had to consider ‘what makes a vessel a ship’ in a case involving a floating fish farm. We look at the Court’s findings and whether there are lessons for vessels in Australia.

06 March 2024 - Knowledge

Enforcing foreign court orders in Australia: Four key requirements

#Dispute Resolution & Litigation

While international arbitration has gained popularity due to the ease of enforcing international arbitral awards, a recent case shows that the four requirements in common law also support the enforcement of a foreign court judgment in Australia.

07 June 2023 - Knowledge

HVNL: Contraventions of primary and safety duties

#Transport, Shipping & Logistics, #Administrative Law, #Dispute Resolution & Litigation

A recent tribunal decision gives insight into what is, and will be ‘reasonably practicable’ in the context of establishing potential contraventions of primary and safety duties under the Heavy Vehicle National Law.

17 May 2023 - Knowledge

Managing the agricultural supply chain: Contract negotiation and management

#Agribusiness, #Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), #Transport, Shipping & Logistics, #Procurement

The agribusiness sector is experiencing significant shifts in its supply chain contracts due to changing market dynamics and growing sustainability concerns. What are the key areas undergoing generational change? How can companies adapt to this evolving landscape?

05 May 2023 - Knowledge

International sanctions and contracts under Australian law

#Transport, Shipping & Logistics

We provide a brief overview of Australia’s sanctions regime and share key learnings from a recent case that examined the effectiveness of using ‘reasonable endeavours’ when circumventing contract terms under imposed international sanctions.

Upcoming Seminars

14 May 25 to 14 May 25

Construction contracts update | Construction and Infrastructure Webinar Series

The one-hour online session will look at emerging areas of increased focus in project risk allocation and negotiations and analyse some of the solutions being adopted to address these risks.

Register now

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