Dr. Harald Zeller, Captain (Master Mariner)
Independent Consultant & Arbitrator
Specialization
Instruments
- Arbitration
Languages
- English
- German
Practice areas
- Commercial law
- Insurance law
- Maritime law
Industries
- Insurance
- Logistics and transportation
- Trade
Qualification
Experience
For many years, Mr. Zeller has been involved in advising German and international companies legally and commercially in settling disputes, incl. full arbitration proceedings (mostly as Umpire but also as sole arbitrator or as co-arbitrator), with special emphasis and experience in cross-border or interculturally difficult problems.
Curriculum vitae
- Since 2019
Independent Consultant - 2018 - 1997
Founder & Managing Partner of Zeller Associates Group - 1997 - 1983
Munich Re (Tty, Fac and Claims) - 1985
Dr iuris (Thesis in Marine Insurance Law) (summa cum laude) - 1983
Bar Admission - 1982
Full Law Degree (University of Hamburg) (with honours) - 1976
Licensing as (Full Foreign Going) Master in the Merchant Marine - 1974
Economic Engineer in Marine Transportation / Nautical Officer’s First Mate Certificate (both with distinction) - 1962 - 2013
Wide-spread practical seafaring experience on ships of various types and sizes in coastal and international trade
Memberships
- DIS Deutsche Institution für Schiedsgerichtsbarkeit, Berlin
- ASA Swiss Arbitration Association, Geneva
- GMAA German Maritime Arbitration Association, Hamburg
- HAC Hamburg Arbitration Circle, Hamburg
- DRJV Deutsch-Russische Juristenvereinigung, Hamburg
- DNV / NV Deutscher Nautischer Verein, Hamburg / NI The Nautical Institute, London
Publications
- The Legal Status of Refugees at Sea, 1982 (in German)
- The Cover of Liability Risks in Marine Insurance, 1985 (Dissertation at the University of Hamburg - in German; summa cum laude)
- A Classification of Charter Parties, 1986 (in German)
- Containerization, 2000 (published by Munich Re)
- Charterers‘ Liability Ins., 2007 (in German; co-author Dr. Jan. T. Eichhorn)
- Problems of State Supervision in Marine Defence / Legal Costs Insurance, 2011 (in German)
- The New German Law on the Arrest of Ships, 2013 (in German)
Numerous papers, lectures and speeches given on various subjects on international forums, amongst them
- Insurance and Reinsurance (markets, players and legal issues)
- Run Off (market and services)
- Polar Shipping – navigational, legal and practical aspects
- Recoveries & Debt Collection in Trade, Shipping and Marine Insurance
- Ship Operation – Claims & Insurances
- Large Marine Liability Claims (i.a. Costa Concordia)
- P&I and Defence Insurance
- Piracy / War Insurance
- Oil Pollution
- Insurance of Shipbuilding and Repair