STEAMSHIP Mutual, the London-based P&I club, has hired Blank Rome partner Lauren Wilgus to head a new company based in the US.

Details of the exact role of the entity, other than to state that it would “provide additional support to … US and Canadian-based members”, were not contained in a circular announcing the move.

Wilgus, who will join the Club in early 2025, has a high profile in the US shipping law scene after 16 years at one of its best-known firms, with P&I-related litigation among her specialisms.

In 2022, she was included in the Lloyd’s List Top 10 of the most influential shipping lawyers globally.

She has been singled out by a prominent directory of US lawyers as one of the leading women in business law, and is ranked in the US editions of both Chambers and Legal 500.

A graduate of Rutgers Law School, her early career saw her work as a claims associate in the US office of Mitsui OSK Lines and as an account executive with Thomas Miller (Americas).

Separately, SSM has also revealed that Gary Field will step down as head of underwriting in May 2025 and take on a new role as the head of club development and member relationships.

Rupert Harris will take over as chief underwriting officer and remain as head of reinsurance.

He will be working alongside Jerry Westmore (head of European underwriting), Sarah Chase (head of Americas underwriting), Eric Wu (head of Eastern underwriting), Peter Hulyer (chief commercial officer).

Westmore will take over from Harris as chief executive of Cyprus-based Steamship Mutual Underwriting Association (Europe), the club’s Brexit workaround affiliate.

Also promoted are Jamie Taylor, who will assume the role of managing director (Asia Pacific), and Francis Vrettos, who will become SSM’s managing director (Mediterranean).