Tony Norton is an Executive at ENS in the Shipping, Ports, and Logistics practice at ENS, and specialises in maritime law.

Tony has acted for the owners and operators of vessels as well as the various trade associations that represent their interests, their insurers (including Hull Underwriters and Protection and Indemnity Clubs), mortgagee banks, ships’ agents as well as clearing and forwarding agents.

Tony’s experience includes the processing and defending of maritime claims in the High Court in the exercise of its admiralty jurisdiction as well as logistics related claims in the high court in the exercise of its parochial jurisdiction.  He also advises and deals with policy issues relating to various trade associations in the shipping industry.  He also has experience in protecting the interests of owners and operators of vessels in respect of maritime casualties in the event of sinkings, groundings, collisions, marine pollution, salvage and general average situations.

He has been a member of the Maritime Law Association of South Africa for 23 years, and spent two of them as president.  He is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers and has been Chairman of the South African Branch.  He has been chairperson of the National Port Users Forum, an association of trade associations in the broader shipping industry.  He has also lectured and spoken on Maritime Law and Commodity Trading matters at various seminars and forums

Education

• BA (University of KwaZulu-Natal)
• LLB (summa cum laude) (University of KwaZulu-Natal)
• Diploma in Maritime Law (University of KwaZulu-Natal)
• Admitted as an attorney of the High Court of South Africa

Tony is recognised as a leading/recommended lawyer by:

• Chambers Global Guide 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017 – Shipping (South Africa)
• Client Choice Awards 2019, 2017: Shipping and Transport (South Africa)
• The Legal 500 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015 – Shipping and Transport (South Africa)
• Who’s Who Legal 2019, Thought Leaders Global Elite – Shipping (South Africa)
• Who’s Who Legal 2018, 2015 – Shipping (South Africa) 
• Best Lawyers® 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020 – Maritime law; 2023, 2022 - Insurance Law (South Africa)