Nick Horton is the director and principal of Dorade Projects Ltd which provides contract and project management for the leisure marine sector.  

Before starting Dorade in 2005 Nick had 20 years' experience as a practising solicitor specialising in the legal issues of the yacht and marine industry. For the last 15 years he was a senior partner first in Grant & Horton, Marine Solicitors, latterly Bond Pearce, a "top 100" law firm. He has been consistently recognised as a leader in the field of marine law by Chambers Directory of the legal profession, by the Legal 500 and by Legal Experts.

As a litigator he was involved in a number of reported landmark legal cases on insurance issues,   boatbuilding disputes, international trade and damages claims. These included one of the most significant constitutional cases of the 20th Century - Factortame.   He has experience of litigation in all courts in the UK (High Court, County Court, Court of Appeal and House of Lords) as well as the Admiralty Court, Commercial Court and Mercantile Court.   Additionally he has experience in the European Court of Justice and commercial arbitration.

Familiar with and involved in mediation as an adviser since 1998 Nick has written and lectured widely on legal issues in the super yacht world both in the UK and Europe.

In resolving disputes Nick brings his project management and consultancy skills together with his deep understanding of the legal system to the different roles of mediator and arbitrator.

Professional qualifications
• MA Jurisprudence - 1982
• Law Society Finals - 1984
• Solicitor of Supreme Court England & Wales 1986- 2005
• Qualified dispute resolver - enrolled with the academy of experts   - 2006

"Peers regard Nick Horton as an inspirational figure while clients appreciate his thorough knowledge of shipbuilding contracts"
(Chambers 2005)