Shipping | Europe

HFW boasts a highly regarded Greek practice, which is a key contributor to the firm's superb global reputation for shipping litigation. The 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 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 boasts a notable shipping team that has gained recognition for its expertise in handling maritime law and litigation matters. The firm handles disputes and compensation claims arising from groundings, unsafe ports, wreck removals and other maritime accidents. LCI's clients include ship management companies, cruise lines and ship owners and operators. 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 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 NPL and 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.

Timagenis Law Firm maintains its established presence as a leading shipping disputes practice with experience in both litigation and arbitration mandates. The firm acts for a range of national and international clients, including ship owners, P&I clubs and shipyards. The team earns particular praise for contentious work on behalf of key banks. The firm has additional expertise in advising on the registration of ships in Greece and other jurisdictions, as well as charter party disputes and the negotiation of loan agreements.

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 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.

Penningtons Manches Cooper represents leading P&I clubs and ship owners based around the world, with a notable presence in high-end litigation and arbitration proceedings that are typically heard before UK courts. The firm is well respected for its work on charter party disputes and other dry shipping litigation. It also handles wet shipping matters, such as casualty and cargo damage claims, as well as maritime accidents and explosions. The team has proven experience in claims arising from licensing and discharge issues in foreign ports.

Sarantitis offers a wide range of services for shipping sector clients. The 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.