Next Generation Partners

Rising Stars

Firms To Watch: Shipping

Led by Nicolas Demigneux, the Paris shipping team at global firm Stephenson Harwood advises major carriers, insurers and reinsurers on litigation involving maritime matters, industrial risks, construction and banking and finance.
With its experienced team and offices in Paris, Marseille and Ajaccio and a regional office in Douala (Cameroon), Richemont Delviso brings strength to maritime matters.

Shipping in France

Clyde & Co LLP

Clyde & Co LLP, a powerhouse shipping team, leverages the deep bench strength of its global network (London, US, Asia-Pacific, Middle East, Latin America, Australia) to assist a diverse spectrum of clients ranging from major insurers, P&I clubs, charterers and shipbuilders to shipyards, owners, governments and corporates in oil and energy. Led by maritime transport expert Gildas Rostain, the group advises on such major shipping matters as collisions, ship fires, standings, salvages, strandings and sinkings. A key figure is experienced litigator Olga Jefremova (promoted to partner in May 2022), who specialises in admiralty law, shipbuilding and marine employment legislation.

Practice head(s):

Gildas Rostain


Other key lawyers:

Olga Jefremova


HFW

The shipping group at the Paris office of global firm HFW remains a leader in the marketplace, advising major insurers (AXA XL, Helvetia), shipping companies (CMA CGM, Corsica Linea), P&I clubs, charterers and maritime contractors, on a diverse spectrum of matters. Headed by Stanislas Lequette (who brings strength to contractual, corporate and general liability disputes), the team assists clients with transactional and contentious work, including casualty-related cases involving salvages, collisions, wreck removals, cargo claims and vehicle arrests. Other key figures include shipping law expert Guillaume Brajeux, technical maritime employment law specialist Stéphanie Schweitzer, seasoned litigator Vincent Bénézech and senior associate Mona Dejean.

Practice head(s):

Stanislas Lequette


Other key lawyers:

Stéphanie Schweitzer; Guillaume Brajeux; Vincent Bénézech; Mona Dejean


Testimonials

‘Flexible, competent, good team work.’

‘Dynamic, flexible, reactive and inventive team.’

Key clients

AXA XL


BMRP


CMA CGM


Cogeas


Corsica Linea


Helvetia


Ingepar (BPCE Group)


Jifmar


P&I Clubs: Gard, Skuld , The Shipowners’ Club, The Swedish Club, North of England


SMBE


Lewis & Co AARPI

The maritime specialists at market-leading Paris boutique firm Lewis & Co AARPI advises insurers, P&I clubs, small business and individuals, on matters ranging from shipping, ship arrests, pollution and international trade to soft commodities, oil trading personal injury claims and international arbitration.  The team is headed by international trade expert Lars Lewis, with support from Leila Esnard, a seasoned shipping litigator, Peter Iglikowski, who brings strength to East European clients in international CMR road transport disputes, and Guillaume De Bascher, who assists with the handling of cargo claims and charterparty disputes.

Practice head(s):

Lars Lewis


Testimonials

‘Laser-focused on the client.’

‘Excellent knowledge of shipping and commercial English and French law.’

‘Stand-out partners are Lars Lewis and Leila Esnard.’

Reed Smith

Reed Smith is backed by the bench strength of a global network spanning the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia; its shipping group provides a comprehensive service, advising on matters ranging from ship arrests, environmental response and wreck removal to emergency response for yachts and private vessels, terminal damage and unsafe ports. The team’s services also extend to the terminal construction and operation, shipping sanctions and super yachts. The team is led by experienced arbitrator Ana Atallah, transportation and social infrastructure project finance expert Victoria Westcott and Andrew Tetley, who are both dually-qualified to practice under French and English law and counsel Florent Rigaud. The team is supported by counsel Emmanuelle Faivre, who has been a member of the Transportation Industry Group of Reed Smith Paris office since January 2005.

Practice head(s):

Ana Atallah; Victoria Westcott; Andrew Tetley; Florent Rigaud


Other key lawyers:

Emmanuelle Faivre


Stream – Avocats et Solicitors

Stream – Avocats et Solicitors advises shipping and container transport companies (CMA-CGM, Corsica Linea), cruise ship operators (Ponant), shipowners (Louis Dreyfus Armateurs) and insurers (Helvetia), on charterparty disputes, shipbuilding contact disputes, cargo claims, vessel purchases and sales. Alexandre Besnard, Charles de Corbiere (who joined from Villeneau Rohart Simon in January 2022), Jérôme De Sentenac, Aymeric De Tapol, Vy-Loan Huynh-Olivieri and Patrick Evrard (promoted in January 2022) co-lead the shipping team at the Paris office. Freddy Desplanques and Mathieu Croix co-lead the practice in Le Havre. Fabien d’Haussy and Fabien d’Haussy manage the Marseilles group.

Practice head(s):

Alexandre Besnard; Mathieu Croix; Charles de Corbiere; Jérôme de Sentenac; Aymeric de Tapol; Fabien d’Haussy; Freddy Desplanques; Vy-Loan Huynh-Olivieri; Laurianne Ribes; Patrick Evrard


Testimonials

‘I call on Stream mainly because of Charles de Corbière. His expertise in insurance law, maritime law and his undeniable qualities as a litigator, make him an excellent lawyer, one of the best.’

Key clients

CMA-CGM


Louis Dreyfus Armateur


Corsica Linea


Sea Tankers Shipping


Helvetia


Les Abeilles/Econocom


Ponant


Seasecure


Sogestran


Work highlights


  • Assisting Les Abeilles in connection with the acquisition, the financing and the refit of two intervention and assistance vessels: Abeille Normandie and Abeille Méditerranée.
  • Assistance of a private owner in the frame of the purchase of a 50m luxury yacht.

Nicolas & Associés

Nicolas & Associés, a Paris-based international firm, brings expertise to maritime matters, advising shipping companies (Grimaldi, Hapag-Lloyd), insurers (Zurich, Helvetia) and freight companies on ship purchase and acquisitions, marine insurance, yachting, pollution, marine casualty and contracts of carriage and charter parties disputes. Christophe Nicolas, a specialist in cargo claims and ship seizures, heads the team, and is supported by associate Thomas Godener.

Practice head(s):

Christophe Nicolas


Testimonials

‘The firm has a competent and dynamic team which allows them to tailor personalised and effective approaches and strategies to suit the needs of their clients.’

‘Our law firm has had the pleasure to work mostly with Christophe Nicholas. The collaborations have always been pleasant and professionally outstanding, and we have shared successful results.’

‘We appreciate Christophe and his team for their speed of response, the accuracy of their work and their ability to work easily in English.’

Key clients

Grimaldi


Zurich


Siaci


Cogeas


Hapag Lloyd


Dachser


Gard


Skuld


Steamship Mutual


Helvetia


Tarin Lemarié

Coordinating offices in Paris and Marseille, the shipping practice at specialist firm Tarin Lemarié provides advice on maritime matters to clients ranging from shipowners, cruise ship operators and corporates in logistics and financial services to insurers, cargo interests, port operators, freight forwarders and shipyards. The team is led in Marseille by founding partner Guillaume Tarin, who brings strength to collision and admiralty cases, and Alexis Lemarié in Paris, who brings experience to the negotiation and drafting of contracts for entire fleets.

Practice head(s):

Guillaume Tarin; Alexis Lemarié


Testimonials

‘We appreciate working with Tarin Lemarié. Their services and advice are always of excellent quality.’

‘We have worked with Guillaume Tarin for many years, he is incredibly hard-working and knowledgeable. He is someone you would want on your side, who has a solid background in marine law.’

‘Team on a human scale, accessible and available and professional.’

Key clients

Asco Services


Collectivite de Corse


Compagnie du Ponant


Convelio


France Messagerie


Jean Verheyen


Generali


Ms Amlin Marine NV


Ifremer


Samap


Villeneau Rohart Simon

Villeneau Rohart Simon, an independent transport and shipping firm, combines the bench strength of locations in Paris and Marseilles to assist ship owning companies, P&I clubs, classifications societies and corporates within the commodities trading industry, on a broad range of maritime matters. Patrick Simon brings expertise to admiralty issues, international arbitrations, charter party disputes, pollution cases and strikes and boycotts. Sébastien Lootgieter specialises in commodities market clients, and Jean-Serge Rohart manages classification society disputes. Bertrand Coste in Marseilles brings experience to work surrounding mega yachts. Charles de Corbiere left the firm in January 2022. All lawyers mentioned are at the Paris office, unless noted.

Other key lawyers:

Patrick Simon; Sébastien Lootgieter; Bertrand Coste; Jean-Serge Rohart


Testimonials

‘They stand out for their business-oriented attitude and for their excellent technical knowledge and approach.’

‘Mr Sebastien Lootgieter and Mr Jean Serge Rohart – they understand the industry and the needs of their clients.’

‘Patrick Simon is exceptionally-efficient.’

Work highlights


  • Assisting an international Swiss metal trading company in a dispute between French war risk underwriters.
  • Advising a French classification society (Bureau Veritas) in various cases including casualties following a fire on the vessel “Boreal”.
  • Acting for the owners of the m/v Da An (Cosco) and its P & I Club (West of England) following damage suffered by a crane.