our team

IAN S. NICHOLAS (Managing Director, Lawyer and Cargo Surveyor) was born in Bristol (UK) and was brought up in Valencia (Spain). He studied law at the CEU San Pablo University in Valencia (Spain) and obtained a Faculty Extraordinary Graduate Award. He completed a post-graduate Master in Business Administration of the CEU San Pablo University in 1999. He was part of the Erasmus Exchange Program in 1996, and received law classes in the Johannes Gutemberg Universität of Mainz (Germany). He worked three years for a multinational Spanish law firm, both in the Commercial and Maritime Law departments. Ian is a registered Spanish Lawyer since 1998 and is a member of the Maritime Law Section of the Valencia Bar Association.

He obtained a diploma on marine surveying by the Spanish Merchant Marine Officers' College in 1994 and has a yacht skipper's licence.

Ian has over 15 years experience in P&I related cases and speaks English, Spanish, German and Valencian.

MAGDALENA ETCHEVERRIA (Lawyer) was born in Madrid and was brought up in La Coruña (Spain). She obtained a Law Degree at La Coruña University and completed a Master in Maritime Law and Business at ICADE University and Instituto Marítimo Español (Spanish Maritime Institute) in Madrid in 1995. She is a registered Spanish Lawyer since 1995.

Magdalena is a Professor of the Master in Maritime Law and Business (Charter Parties) and of the On-line Course of Specialist in International Maritime Law, both of ICADE University and Instituto Marítimo Español.

She has 15 years experience in transport, logistics and maritime law, having practiced as a maritime lawyer in Algeciras, Valencia, Madrid, New York and La Coruña.

She speaks Spanish, English, Portuguese and Galician.

TREVOR W. NICHOLAS (Chairman and Chief Engineer) was born in Nottingham (UK) and studied at the Nottingham Trent, Aston, Birmingham and Bristol Universities, gaining an Honours Degree in Electrical Engineering, D.Tech in Engineering. He was trained in Engineering as a student and Graduate, with Rolls Royce in Derby, C.A. Parsons in Newcastle and in Power Stations throughout the UK with the CEGB. He was elected a Chartered Engineer in 1967, M.I.E.E., and subsequently F.I. Mar.E., F.I, Nuc. E.

In 1971 he moved to Spain and undertook a further course of study at the University of Valencia in Spanish Studies and Doctorate Courses in Thermodynamics and Industrial Physics. After four years teaching and undertaking technical consultancy work in hospitals, steel works and an automobile plant in Valencia, he participated in the formation of Nimes España, S.L.

During the last 30 years he has been principally involved in inspection and survey work for P&I Clubs and dealing with all aspects of marine insurance claims in Spain.
He is Chairman of the Company and speaks English and Spanish.

JULIA R. NICHOLAS (Medical Consultant) was born in Chatham, Kent (UK). She studied medicine in the University of Valencia and obtained a Diploma in Advanced Studies. She is a registered medical practitioner and has been principal of an analytical laboratory for over 14 years.

She speaks English and Spanish.

JOSÉ M. MONTIEL (Dental and Medical Consultant) was born in Valencia. He studied medicine and dentistry in the University of Valencia and subsequently obtained a doctorate in Dentistry. He has a dental practice and is an assistant Professor in Community and Preventive Dentistry at the University of Valencia.

our HISTORY

Nimes España, S.L. was founded in Valencia in 1982 as an Engineering Consultancy and Medical and Technical Service Business, based on the previous experience of the founder Directors, a British Chartered Engineer, a Spanish Technical Engineer and a Spanish Medical Consultant, each of which had of the order of 28 years experience in their respective professions, in England and/or Spain.

Technical experience in England (principally in the construction, inspection, commissioning, operation and maintenance of a wide variety of electrical and mechanical plants) logically led to the use of the company's inspection services in power plants in Spain. Experience in the reception of sea-borne coal and fuel oil supplies, led to technical inspections of sea-borne crude oil deliveries on "maquila" operations for Spanish Oil Refineries on behalf of Lloyds of London through local Agents, and this in turn to inspections of containers, technical cargoes, IMCO cargoes, contamination claims, pollution claims, dock damage, etc.

The local correspondents, who were also Lloyds Agents, of a number of Protection & Indemnity Clubs decided at about this time to resign from P&I Club work, and as this work on their behalf had begun to form an important section of our marine related activities we offered ourselves to the P&I Clubs as their Correspondents in the Valencia, Castellón, and Alicante regions of Spain to replace their retiring correspondents. Additionally we have carried out assignments for other Clubs, shipowners and P&I or H&M insurers which has been referred to us by correspondents or brokers in other areas of Spain and abroad.

Since acting as P&I Club Correspondents we have been involved in cargo claims, collisions, salvage claims, sinking inquiries, stowaway repatriation, medical emergencies and treatments, for which we have very good relationship with local hospitals due to the specific experience of one of our founder Directors, negotiation and settlement of labour disputes, discharge and preloading surveys on steel cargoes, inspection of a variety of general cargoes and commodities, representation of shipowners before Spanish civil, criminal, marine and labour courts, drug smuggling by crew members, etc.

In 1993, growth of legal related matters (such as cargo claims or disciplinary proceedings initiated by Maritime Authorities) led to the opening of a Legal Department. Since then, our Legal Department has been dealing directly with such matters or monitoring the legal services rendered by external lawyers.

Following our clients' requests to provide our services in the North West of Spain, in 2010 we opened our first office outside Valencia, located in La Coruña, from where we cover all Galician ports.