Maitland was born in 1950. During his secondary schooling he initially did not intend to become a lawyer, but decided in Year 11 to apply to university. He has described having only limited early familiarity with the legal profession through an uncle. He met his wife, Julie, in 1979, and they married in 1980.
Maitland attended the University of Adelaide from 1969 to 1972. After completing his university studies, he undertook articles of clerkship, as was then required for admission to legal practice in South Australia. He was subsequently admitted to the South Australian Bar.
Maitland began his legal career in South Australia after completing articles and being admitted to practice. He joined Finlaysons in the early 1980s, initially working principally in workers’ compensation and industrial law. In 1983 he moved into shipping law after accepting responsibility for Finlaysons’ maritime practice. To strengthen his expertise, he spent a year in London working with Richard Church at Richards Butler and visiting Protection and Indemnity Clubs in London and Scandinavia. He later headed his own practice, Ian Maitland & Associates, before joining Wallmans Lawyers in 2004. At Wallmans he became a partner and developed a practice in commercial litigation, insurance, transport and shipping, representing marine insurance clients and acting for many International Group P&I Clubs. He retired as a Wallmans partner on 20 December 2024 and commenced employment with HFW in Adelaide on 1 January 2025.
(Article published in the August 2016 Bulletin of the Law ...)
2016(Background paper presented through the Maritime Law Assoc...)
2014Maitland has expressed the view that professional challenges should be approached with commitment while retaining an element of enjoyment, summarizing his approach as: “also have fun – enjoy the challenge!”
Maitland has been a member of the Maritime Law Association of Australia and New Zealand since 1972 and served the association as Treasurer and later as President. He was elected an Honorary Member, one of the association’s highest honours, in 2023. He is also a member of the Law Society of South Australia and has been identified as a titulary member of the Comité Maritime International in recognition of contributions to maritime legal affairs.
Served as Treasurer and President; elected an Honorary Member in 2023.
Maritime Law Association of Australia and New Zealand , Australia
1972 - present
Member of the professional body for South Australian lawyers.
Law Society of South Australia , Australia
1974 - present
Titulary member in recognition of contributions to maritime legal affairs.
Comité Maritime International , International
Maitland has described a professional philosophy associated with the late Michael Astley: work hard, enjoy the challenge and have fun. He has also emphasized the value of continuing education and the professional friendships developed through maritime-law practice.
Quotes from others about the person
Maitland has been described as highly regarded within the marine insurance industry and as having a significant number of major clients in that sector. Chambers has characterized him as especially well known for representing marine insurance clients.
Maitland married Julie in 1980. They have three sons and one daughter, as well as three grandsons. Their youngest son, Will, works for the NorthStandard P&I Club, initially in London and later in Melbourne.
