The Legal 500

CMS Hasche Sigle acts for clients from across the maritime industry on an ‘exceptionally broad range of matters’. The team features renowned lawyers, including Jan Wölper and Jost Kienzle, who advise ‘on the big ticket deals’. Highlights included representing a German shipyard in its capacity as partner under a consortium for the construction of various vessels, and representing a German ship owner towards hull underwriters after loss of vessel. It also acted for a Danish logistics company in relation to a major cargo damage, and English loss of hire insurers were assisted in the litigation after the loss of a vessel.

Dabelstein & Passehl has been busy advising on renewable energy matters, notably offshore windparks, and has taken on significant mandates in the marine insurance sector, in which insurance specialist Dieter Schwampe is noted. International shipping law, land and air transport and freight forwarding matters complete the offering. P&I Clubs, recovery agents, shipyards, brokers, ship banks, financial services providers and port authorities instruct the team on both domestic and international matters. Jan Dreyer is singled out.

Ince & Co’s team of ‘famous names’ is noted for its strong English practice, advising German and international clients on both German and English law. Highlights included advising an international group P&I Insurer on numerous cargo claims, and German ship owners regarding the litigation of various piracy-related issues under charterparties. A global energy company instructed the firm regarding chartering contracts for an off shore wind farm. Global reinsurance group head Jan Heuvels joined the Hamburg office as managing partner, strengthening the team’s insurance expertise. Axel Salander, Detlef Zschoche and Jan Hungar are noted in a team which advises on contentious and non-contentious matters.

Lebuhn & Puchta has been kept busy with arbitration proceedings in London regarding the rescission of ship building contracts, and maintains a steady workflow in the insurance sector, in which several well-known insurers count among the clients. The full-service approach includes advice on charterparty claims, collisions, ship finance, and ship arrests. Offshore energy projects are a new area of work for the team, which has recently been strengthened with the arrival of Hans-Heinrich Nöll, previously managing director of the German Ship Owners’ Association. Heinrich-Werner Goltz and Christian Breitzke are recommended.

Dr Schackow & Partner counts among the leading firms for maritime work, traditionally advising shipowners, charterers, shipping agents, and ship managers, but the team increasingly acts in the renewable energy arena and maintains a busy maritime project development practice. Julius Drumm is rated as ‘tough opponent’; further noted are Thomas Brinkmann and Kai Busch. Ship financing and advising P&I clubs and both German and foreign insurers in the marine hull insurance business complements the well-rounded practice.

‘Recommended without hesitation’, Ahlers & Vogel impresses through the team’s ‘professionalism’ and several ‘very skilled’ young lawyers. The team advises on shipping and transport law, and counts shipyards, marine and transport insurance companies, P&I Clubs, funds initiators, and forwarding agents among its clients. Bernd Laudien ‘knows how to tackle a problem’, and Rolf Herber is ‘an authority on transport law’.

Arnecke Siebold Rechtsanwälte Partnerschaftsgesellschaft is a major player in the aviation industry arena, representing a carrier before the Civil Aviation Administration of China regarding a bilateral air service agreement, and various carriers before the German Civil Aviation Authority regarding the defence against administrative offence procedures. Holger Buerskens and Ulrich Steppler are well regarded.

Ehlermann Rindfleisch Gadow Lawyers Rechtsanwälte Partnerschaft is still leading in the maritime finance market, an area of focus for the firm for the past 30 yeas. Financing, purchase, sale and registration of ships and containers keep the team busy. Further areas of expertise include advising on cases of forced sale, restructuring and reorganising of existing financing transactions, and the firm is active in the area of secondary markets for maritime fund participation.

Taylor Wessing advises on restructuring, charterparty defaults and shipbuilding contract disputes. The team, headed by recognised Klaus Kostka, acted for Skuld in connection with a casualty, advising the client on liability risks and the possible constitution of a limitation fund in Germany. Experienced arbitrator Christoph Hasche acted in a dispute concerning pools to cover losses of shipowners suffered by unemployment and lack of hire income.

Chartering and transport law are areas of focus for Blaum Dettmers Rabstein; its team has significant experience in advising on insurance and financing matters as well. Noted are Kay Uwe Bahnsen and Joachim Bartels.

Cyrus Makowski’s practice has considerable breadth, advising clients from the insurance, banking, and maritime sector. Ulf André Bertheau and Christine Wegner focus on shipping law.

Carsten Grau is DLA Piper’s key contact when it comes to marine work, advising Samskip Group on shipping, chartering, and logistics matters, and acting for Stiftung Hamburg Maritim on ship sale and purchase, and in litigation.

Remé Rechtsanwälte ‘repeatedly impresses’ competitors. Vessel operators and ships’ crews instruct the team on cross-border matters, with advice on the building, selling and flagging of ships a further area of expertise. Transport and forwarding law expert Ingo Gercke is rated.