The Legal 500

Norton Rose has few rivals when it comes to advising lenders and borrowers on ship finance and shipbuilding contracts. It acted for Safe Bulkers regarding three credit agreements with Japan Bank of International Cooperation, and Citibank Japan in the $122m financing of the acquisition of three ships. Dimitri Sofianopoulos and Yianni Cheilas are among the best in the market.

Watson, Farley & Williams – Greek Branch’s well-respected ship finance practice is headed by George Paleokrassas in Piraeus. It advised BNP Paribas on the acquisition of the shipping portfolios of Fortis Bank, and also represented a syndicate of banks on the restructuring of a $207m shipbuilding facility.

Vangelis Bairactaris and John Valfadis at Bairactaris & Partners are noted ship finance experts. The firm also acts for a mix of borrowers and lenders on sale and purchase transactions.

Constant & Constant, The Maritime And International Trade Division Of TLT LLP acts for borrowers and lenders, including ABN AMRO, which it has been advising on the financing of newbuilds in Korea. Practice head Jeremy Watson has ‘an in-depth knowledge of the business’, and ‘a reputation for hitting challenging deadlines’.

Ince & Co’s Robin Parry enjoys a very good reputation for ship finance. The firm regularly advises lenders on restructurings and loan facilities.

KGDI Law Firm has a good track record in ship finance work and has represented clients in the rescheduling of shipbuilding contracts and related finance agreements. Clients include Andriaki Shipping and Samos Navigation. Basil Spiliopoulos is highly recommended for his ‘sound, practical advice’.

Sarantitis Law Firm has a rich pedigree in shipping work and this extends to the finance side where it acts for borrowers and lenders. Recently it advised an international bank on the $50m financing of the acquisition of two bulk carriers.

Stephenson Harwood’s Alexandros Damianidis and Nigel Bowen-Morris are highly recommended for ship finance. The team primarily advises lenders, including Deutsche Bank, DnB NOR Bank, Emporiki Bank and RBS. Highlights included advising a bank on a $95m loan facility to refinance four container vessels and five T-type vessels.

Theo V. Sioufas & Co. Law Offices has a strong finance arm that is on a par with many of its international rivals. Clients include Alpha Bank and EFG Eurobank. Theo Sioufas, Constantinos Emmanuel and Charalambos Sioufas are recommended.

Timagenis Law Firm advises borrowers and lenders and was involved in 80 different financings in 2011. Clients include UniCredit Group, Emporiki Bank, and Proton Bank, as well as new client Credit Suisse, which it advised on a multimillion-dollar newbuild financing.

John Papapetros’ team at V&P Law Firm advised Navios Maritime and Marfin Bank on a $55m facility involving the sale and leaseback of vessels from Allied Maritime to the Diolkos group of companies.

G. C. Economou & Associates has strong links to the Cypriot market and regularly represents Bank of Cyprus in ship finance matters.

Holman Fenwick Willan LLP’s Alexia Kleonakos has an active ship finance practice, mainly for borrowers. Recent highlights include advising on a $180m financing for three newbuilds. The firm also represented NewLead Holdings in a $87m sale-and-leaseback agreement for four drybulk vessels.

PotamitisVekris acts for numerous ship management companies, including Minerva Marine and Omicron Ship Management. Ioannis Vekris’ well-regarded team recently advised on several shareholder agreements.

Scorinis Law Offices has a strong finance practice to complement its well-regarded shipping litigation offering. Clients have included BNP Paribas and Bank of Cyprus.

A. S. Papadimitriou & Partners Law Firm’s experienced team runs a lender-oriented ship finance practice. The firm was involved in several vessel sales in 2011.

Avramopoulos & Partners Law Firm advised Attica Bank on a loan to Laumzis Sun Cruises for the acquisition of several vessels. Athanassios Avgeros heads the team.

Piraeus-based Law Offices of Basil T Patkos represents several Greek clients in ship financings.

Tsibanoulis & Partners Law Firm primarily advises lenders such as BNP Paribas and EFG Eurobank on ship finance.