Captain Rajiv Thakar joined W.E. Cox Claims Group in 2017, bringing extensive experience from the marine claims market. Before this role, he spent sixteen years at sea, serving on tankers and OBOs, including in command positions. He holds a Master’s in Maritime Law from the prestigious University of Southampton in England.

Captain Thakar handles and advises on all aspects of large marine casualties, including salvage, general average, cargo claims, recoveries, and settlements, focusing on cost minimization. He has represented cases in arbitrations, mediations, and courts in England and other jurisdictions, achieving significant recoveries in cases involving fire, explosion, collision, grounding, sinking, capsizing, charter party disputes, engine failures, rudder/propeller failures, heavy weather, piracy, cargo shifting/overboard, cargo contamination, shortages, and fraud.

His practical seafaring experience, legal expertise from his LL.M. in Maritime Law, and investigative and negotiation skills make him an expert in preparing and developing cases on unseaworthiness, deviation, and other contract breaches. He excels at challenging the “fire,” “negligence in navigation and management of the vessel,” and “perils of the sea” exceptions under the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act/Hague-Visby Rules.