The Legal 500

Hiratsuka & Co has strong experience in contentious shipping work, with a particular niche in marine casualties. Makoto Hiratsuka ‘knows all there is to know about shipping’ and Shinichiro Yamashita is highlighted for insurance litigation.

Toda & Co has recently handled cases involving environmental claims, ship arrests and insurance claims. However collision-related work is the backbone of the practice, and Takeya Yamamoto specialises in advising both domestic and international clients on collision cases.

Tokyo Sanno Law Office’s ship finance offering has expanded to include structured finance and capital markets following a significant increase in work. The firm specialises in advising domestic banks, shipowners, shipbuilders and chartered operators across dry and wet shipping issues and it is currently involved in three international arbitrations.

Yoshida & Partners is a ‘maritime specialist’ and remains ‘one of the first port of calls for shipping advice in Japan’. The firm fields an enviable client list of shipowners, P&O Clubs, financial institutions and trading houses and regularly acts for multinational clients. Casualty, cargo claims, litigation and finance are all active areas.

Transport niche Okabe & Yamaguchi maintains a reliable reputation in the admiralty field. The firm receives a regular flow of instructions relating to bills of lading, environmental issues, vessel collisions and insurance claims.

Wikborg Rein specialises in shipping, focusing on casualty work and the sale/purchase of vessels. The firm is acting for a Norwegian/Singaporean shipowner regarding the delivery and sale/leaseback of two LPG carriers from a Japanese shipyard; advising the world’s largest P&I Clubs regarding a $3m claim following a collision with an SBM in Yokohama bay; and acting for a Japanese shipowner regarding the sale of a subsidiary shipowning company. Head of the practice Torgeir Willumsen garners high praise. ‘His contribution to the transaction was of huge importance. He offered great service and impeccable working skills’.

John McClenahan’s team at Ashurst includes Harvey Weaver and Rupert Burrows. In 2010/2011, the aggregate value of the deals the firm advised on in the shipping space in this period is in excess of $2.5bn. The firm represented Tupi Pilot MV22, MODEC, Mitsui & Co, Mitsubishi Corporation and Mitsui OSK Lines in the development and financing of a floating production storage and offloading vessel to be chartered by Petróleo Brasileiro SA - Petrobras and used for oil and gas production at the pre-salt area oil field off the Brazilian coast.

At Norton Rose Gaikokuho Jimu Bengoshi Jimusho, Jeremy Gibb and Chris Viner have built an impressive transport practice, and advise on both banking and M&A-related maritime deals. The firms advised Mizuho Corporate Bank as agent on behalf of a syndicate of Japanese lenders on the financing of three offshore support vessels for K Line Offshore AS; and acted for Mitsui & Co on its acquisition of a 49% strategic stake in a Chinese shipyard in Jingjiang, Jiangsu Province in China. Peter Glover has relocated to London.

Hendrik Gordenker’s shipping team at White & Case LLP- White & Case Law Offices (Registered Association) has experience in financing all types of vessels, through debt or structured lease financing or on a project finance basis, as well as advising clients on all commercial shipping transactions. Shipping and ship finance expert Simon Collins and LNG specialist Alexander Woody are also recommended.

Allen & Overy Gaikokuho Kyodo Jigyo Horitsu Jimusho’s Adam Moncrieff is establishing a reputation in shipping finance. His team advised JBIC and other lenders on the ship financing to a Norwegian ship owning company in relation to two roll-on/roll off vessels that are to be registered in Malta; and acted for a Swedish ship owning company in relation to two roll on/roll off vessels which are to be registered in Singapore