Cargo Law has appointed maritime disputes specialist Francesca Santoro as the boutique marine law firm continues to grow following its launch in partnership with Excello Law in 2024. Founded by marine lawyer Charlotte Gale, the firm specialises in cargo recovery claims, particularly in the soft commodities sector, acting for insurers, traders, brokers and logistics operators.
Santoro joins with experience advising on complex disputes across the maritime, logistics and supply chain sectors. Drawing on previous in-house experience with the United Nations World Food Programme, she has worked on legal issues linked to commercial cargo transportation and humanitarian food aid operations. Her recent work includes advising on the salvage of the FSO SAFER off Yemen and supporting fuel transportation arrangements between the Dominican Republic and Haiti during civil unrest.
Cargo Law operates as part of Excello Law’s House of Brands model, which supports entrepreneurial lawyers launching specialist firms with operational backing from the wider platform. The business is one of several boutique firms established under the model, alongside practices specialising in family law, intellectual property and technology.
Santoro said: ‘I enjoy the freedom of being able to engage in intellectually stimulating legal work, without the targets and pressures of a traditional law firm.’ Charlotte Gale, founder of Cargo Law, said Santoro’s experience was ‘exceptional’ and brought ‘a unique international and humanitarian dimension’ to the firm’s disputes practice.
