Lester Aldridge is delighted to welcome Nicky Nelson as a Partner in its specialist marine law team, LA Marine. Based in Southampton, Nicky brings over 35 years of experience in the marine, charity, and commercial sectors, most recently as a director and General Counsel of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), where she has worked for the last 22 years.
Nicky’s extensive background includes working in private practice at leading London shipping firms and serving as General Counsel for a major maritime charity. Her international experience spans Singapore and Greece, where she has advised shipbuilders, shipowners, and operators. Over the course of her career, she has worked with a diverse range of clients, including insurers, P&I Clubs, riparian owners, and high-profile companies. Her expertise covers commercial shipping, contentious and non-contentious regulatory matters, and the leisure marine sector.
Having spent many years in-house instructing external counsel, Nicky brings a unique client-focused perspective to her new role at LA Marine. She understands first-hand the needs of in-house legal teams and the level of support they require from external advisors.
LA Marine, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, is the specialist marine law team at Lester Aldridge, offering expert legal advice to the shipping, logistics, superyacht, and leisure marine sectors. LA Marine provides a practical, client-focused approach to marine and maritime law and is independently ranked in leading legal directories, including as a Tier 1 firm in The Legal 500 UK 2025 and UK-wide for Shipping in Chambers UK 2025.
Nicky said, “I am delighted to join this vibrant top-tier team at such an exciting time as LA Marine celebrates 25 years of supporting the marine and shipping sector.”
Philippa Langton, Partner in LA Marine, commented: “We are pleased to welcome Nicky to the team. Her extensive experience and deep understanding of the marine industry will be invaluable to our clients. We look forward to working with her and continuing to provide the high-quality legal support that LA Marine is known for.”
