HFW‘s teams handle a variety of matters, including in relation to bills of lading, shipbuilding contracts, as well as collisions and fire/explosion cases. The department also covers specialised areas such as shipping sanctions, recycling/decommissioning of ships, marine insurance and global shipping regulation. Managing Partner Dimitri Vassos‘s strength lies in shipping and commercial litigation, however, he also has significant experience in managing transactional matters and handling non-marine contractual disputes. Dimitris Exarchou ‘s focus lies in litigation arising from charterparties, among other matters.
Shipping litigation in Greece
HFW
Practice head(s):
Dimitri Vassos; Dimitris Exarchou
Other key lawyers:
Constantinos Bitounis
Work highlights
Hill Dickinson LLP
Hill Dickinson LLP functions as a full-service law firm, providing an array of support, including in relation to contractual disputes and emergency responses. Its clients include international P&I clubs, ship owners, insurers and commodities traders. One particular matter of recent note involves the team acting for owners, managers, insurers and mortgagee bank of the M/V WIN WIN in High Court proceedings regarding a Claim for $37,500,000.00 under a policy of marine insurance. The team is led by Maria Moisidou, who possesses 26 years of experience dealing with a variety of disputes and legal proceedings, arbitrations and mediations.
Practice head(s):
Jasel Chauhan; Maria Moisidou
Other key lawyers:
Timon Karamanos; Ian Teare; Alexander Freeman; Vassilis Mavrakis; Dimitris Anassis; Mara Zermasli
Testimonials
‘Timon Karamanos is extremely commercial in his approach to matters and does not leap straight to suggesting litigation.’
‘They have a broad range of experience within the team, meaning that they have the capacity to provide cost-effective and prompt service.’
‘I have always felt very comfortable picking up the phone to Timon Karamanos to discuss matters. The team are always available and respond very promptly.’
Key clients
The London P&I Club
UK P&I Club
The Swedish Club
American Club
Skuld P&I
West of England P&I Club
Gard
North of England P&I Club
Britannia P&I Club
Steamship Mutual
Work highlights
Watson Farley & Williams – Greek Branch
Watson Farley & Williams – Greek Branch focuses on a variety of areas, such as dispute resolution arising from shipbuilding and ship sale & purchase contracts, bills of ladings and international sanctions, alongside non-contentious work. Alexia Hatzimichalis leads the team, dealing with a wide range of matters such as the drafting and negotiation of loan facilities. Her clients include Greek and international banks and US-listed companies, among others.
Practice head(s):
Alexia Hatzimichalis
Work highlights
LCI Law
LCI Law‘s ‘deep knowledge and expertise’ covers cargo sale contracts, international sanctions and marine insurance disputes, as well as non-contentious work. Managing Partner Antonis Lagadianos‘s 30 years of experience has led to a broad client base including P&I clubs and leading ship owners. George Iatridis is known for representing clients in cargo and charterparty claims, insurers and reinsurers disputes and litigation arising from casualties at sea.
Practice head(s):
Antonis Lagadianos; George Iatridis
Other key lawyers:
Evangelos Catsambas
Testimonials
‘Instant, prompt advice with very complicated and urgent shipping disputes. The advice is always accurate and to the point.’
‘We value their ability to deal with very complex issues at a short notice in a well detailed manner. LCI is a law firm with deep knowledge and expertise in shipping litigation.’
‘They are our preferred law firm, because not only they are experienced but they understand how the shipping market works and what their clients expect from them. Their prices are competitive compared to the law firms offering similar services.’
‘Antonis Lagadianos has never disappointed us. He has deep knowledge and understanding of the shipping industry and his experience is impressive.’
Key clients
Danaos Corporation
Starbulk S.A.
Technomar Shipping Inc
Cyprus Sea Lines Co Ltd
TMS Bulkers/Tankers Ltd
Navios Shipmanagement Inc.
Eurobulk Ltd
Equinox Maritime Ltd.
Indagro S.A.
Gard P & I (Bermuda) Ltd.
The UK Defence Club/UK P&I Club
The Standard Club
Trithorn Bulk A/S
Gleamray Maritime Inc
Mystic Cruises
Louis Cruises
Naftomar
Attica/Blue Star Ferries
Norton Rose Fulbright
Norton Rose Fulbright's areas of work include marine casualties, dispute resolution, ship building and outsourcing. The team has a strong client list, including Arcadia Shipmanagement SA, as well as recent addition AB Maritime Inc. The team is led by the experienced Dimitri Sofianopoulos alongside John Liberopoulos, who has considerable experience of areas such as charterparty and commodity disputes, as well as ship sale and purchase and shipbuilding litigation.
Practice head(s):
Dimitri Sofianopoulos; John Liberopolous
Other key lawyers:
John Agapitos
Key clients
Safe Bulkers Inc.
Alassia NewShips Management Inc.
Cromar Insurance Brokers Ltd
Safety Management Overseas AS
International Trade SA
Skandinaviska Enskilda Bank (AB)
AB Maritime Inc.
Technomar Shipping Inc
Goldenport Shipmanagement Ltd.
Cymona Maritime Holdings Inc.
Byzantine Maritime Corp.
Arcadia Shipmanagement SA
Atlas Maritime Inc.
International Trade SA
Work highlights
Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP
Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP advises on high-end and complex shipping litigation issues, including casualties, cargo claims and shipbuilding disputes, among others. The team has made appearances at the UK Court of Appeal and the UK Supreme Court. Douglas Bateson, who leads the group, has significant experience of a variety of matters, from international trade disputes to superyacht work.
Practice head(s):
Douglas Bateson
Testimonials
‘Amazing response times with comprehensive advice and winning arguments. If you have a really contentious matter, this is the place to go.’
Key clients
Gard
The UK Defence Club / The UK P&I Club
West P&I Club
The Swedish Club
Britannia P&I Club
The London P&I Club
The American P&I Club
Work highlights
Reed Smith LLP
Reed Smith LLP has been present in Greece for close to 20 years, offering on-site expertise in both domestic and English law. Practice head Sally-Ann Underhill splits her time between Athens and London and is well-versed in a wealth of disputes, from charterparty, shipbuilding and sales/purchases through to ship management, logistics issues and bill of lading matters; she is supported by associate Maria Zermasli who is highly regarded by her client roster of owners, charterers and P&I clubs.
Practice head(s):
Sally-Ann Underhill
Other key lawyers:
Maria Zermasli
Testimonials
Sally-Ann Underhill and the team are very competent lawyers who are also very well versed in the commercial aspects and as such provide practical advice in a timely manner.’
Work highlights
Timagenis Law Firm
Timagenis Law Firm has been involved in litigations involving issues of liability in relation to shipping debt, jurisdictional issues, asset tracing and recovery. The ‘highly knowledgeable’ firm has been involved before the Piraeus Courts and before foreign courts in debt recovery claims for banks and other creditors at both domestic and cross-border scale, including shipping shareholders’ disputes. Gregory Timagenis is experienced in international and domestic litigation and arbitration matters, as well as in high value shipping finance transactions. Yiannis Timagenis strengthens the team with a broad shipping practice.
Practice head(s):
Gregory Timagenis; Yiannis Timagenis
Other key lawyers:
Christos Timagenis; Mariangela Vlachou; Zoi Timagenis
Testimonials
‘Very knowledgeable lawyers regarding shipping and Greek regulations and requirements.’
‘Very responsible, thorough, and knowledgeable.’
‘The team are highly knowledgeable and relentless litigators.’
‘Yiannis Timagenis is an outstanding lawyer. He is knowledgeable on Greek procedure, thorough and relentless in the face of a very difficult opponent.’
‘They are extremely good lawyers and also very commercial when it comes to being creative in terms of what is achievable within the Greek legal system.’
‘Yiannis Timagenis is excellent. He is very hard working and also very clever and creative.’
Key clients
Queensway Navigation Co. Ltd
Eurobank S.A.
Environmental Protection Engineering
Lloyd’s Register Group
Ocean Energy Ltd.
Metrostar Management Corp.