Shipping | Global

HFW boasts a highly regarded Greek practice, which is a key contributor to the law firm's superb global reputation for shipping litigation. The law firm advises on collisions and groundings and handles subsequent salvage procedures and constructive loss claims, with further notable experience in shipbuilding disputes. It acts in cases that require coordination between Piraeus, London and other leading international offices and also represents clients in international arbitrations. The team acts for a broad range of P&I clubs and shipping companies.

Hill Dickinson has a longstanding presence in the shipping industry, with an excellent reputation for work representing ship owners, charterers and P&I clubs in contentious cases and arbitration. The team offers broad coverage of wet shipping mandates, with cases frequently involving cargo disputes, salvage and vessel detentions. The law firm has further experience in dry shipping litigation such as charter party, MOA and bill of lading disputes. Hill Dickinson also assists clients with ship finance mandates, including vessel acquisitions and sales, refinancing transactions and sustainability-linked bond issuances.

LCI Law fields a respected shipping practice with a strong focus on maritime law and litigation. The law firm is well-versed in handling disputes and compensation claims arising from groundings, unsafe ports, wreck removals and other accidents. Its client base includes ship management companies, cruise lines and vessel owners. Clients benefit from the firm's cross-border capabilities, which allow it to handle international arbitration and enforcement proceedings.

Norton Rose Fulbright has a longstanding presence at the top of the ship finance market, with a varied client list consisting of ship owners and leading global banks. The law firm advises on the agreement of facilities with finance shipbuilding contracts, also acting for lenders on refinancing mandates involving Greek shipping sector borrowers. The team has further expertise acting on sale and leaseback transactions. It also handles arbitration and litigation arising between owners and charterers, being a particularly strong choice for international shipping mandates.

PPT Legal advises on ship finance transactions that involve the repayment or discharge of mortgages over vessels, as well as the amendment and restructuring of shipping loans. The group handles other forms of corporate and contractual work, such as acquisitions of vessels and sale and leaseback transactions. It also assists with a variety of contentious mandates, including disputes over vessel arrests. PPT Legal regularly acts for banks, ship owners and brokers.

Stephenson Harwood is a focused asset finance practice popular among international lenders looking to refinance shipping sector debt. The law firm also frequently acts for domestic banks. It is well placed to assist with acquisitions and credit facility agreements. The team leverages capabilities in both English and Greek law and is able to offer support on all aspects of global loan transactions. It is also active in mandates involving Turkish entities.

Watson Farley & Williams offers an acclaimed shipping finance practice specialising in high-value and cross-border transactions. The team assists bank syndicates and individual lenders with the financing of new vessel acquisitions and sale and leaseback transactions, also acting for creditors on the restructuring and refinancing of existing shipping loans. The law firm also handles sustainable financing work, acting for banks and other financial institutions on sustainability-linked facilities and relevant regulatory issues. Watson Farley & Williams further assists notable maritime clients with public offerings and bond issuances.

Sarantitis offers a wide range of services for shipping sector clients. The law firm assists with all issues relating to the purchase or sale of vessels, restructuring processes and the negotiation of finance agreements, as well as compliance matters. The team has further experience in defending insurers in high-profile cross-border litigation, often acting alongside international law firms in disputes.