HFW > Geneva, Switzerland > Firm Profile
HFW Offices
6TH FLOOR
COURS DE RIVE 13-15
1204 GENEVA
Switzerland
HFW > The Legal 500 Rankings
Switzerland > Transport Tier 1
HFW‘s ‘professional and client oriented’ team collaborates with its international network to advise client such as shipowners, charterers, P&I Clubs, banks, governments, and brokers on commercial, regulatory, and litigation matters. The team has extensive knowledge of the dry shipping, admiralty and crisis management markets as well as transactional work. Practice head Michael Buisset specialises in advising clients on dry shipping litigation and arbitration, including charterparties, bills of lading, ship sale and purchase, marine insurance (hull, cargo and P&I), and contracts of affreightment and is often involved in landmark court cases. Sarah Hunt has extensive experience advising trading companies, charterers and owners on complex shipping and international trade disputes. Hunt also heads a team of lawyers which has advised HFW’s industry clients on shipping, trading, insurance and complex trade finance matters involving multi-jurisdictional sanctions arising out of the Russo-Ukrainian war. Georges Racine and William Hold are also key members of the team.Practice head(s):
Michael Buisset
Other key lawyers:
Sarah Hunt; Georges Racine; William Hold; Caroline West; Christian Iovene
Testimonials
‘The team is very professional and client oriented.’
‘William Hold – super knowledgeable and professional. Replying quickly. Working with big attention to the details.’
Key clients
Arab Bank (Switzerland) Ltd
Apix (Agency for Foreign Investment and Major Works of the Republic of Senegal)
Japan P&I Club
Banque de Commerce et de Placement SA
UniCredit Bank AG
Hafesa Energia SL
Work highlights
- Act for the financing bank in a dispute with the owner of a vessel over an alleged misdelivery of cargo.
- Advising Agence de Promotion des Investissements et Grands Travaux-APIX- of the Republic of Senegal on all corporate issues connected with the high value Dakar-Diamniadio-AIBD Express Regional Train project.
- Acted for Sellers in 8 separate sale & purchase transactions, comprising the client’s entire fleet of trading vessels including advising on the MOA and utilising the team’s cross-jurisdictional expertise in the sale of Swiss-flagged vessels to assure expeditious closings.
Switzerland > Banking and finance: Geneva Tier 3
HFW’s team covers the whole spectrum including trade and asset finance, project and infrastructure finance, and regulatory work. The team is headed by Olivier Bazin who has unrivalled expertise handling complex disputes in the Swiss soft commodities market. Jason Marett often advises trading houses, corporates and financial institutions on a variety of financing transactions in the commodities market. New hire Gibran Alaoui, who joined the firm in April 2023, advises financial institutions and trading houses on all aspects of finance, including trade finance, structured trade finance, and bilateral and syndicated lending markets. Caroline West is an additional key contact at the Geneva office.Practice head(s):
Olivier Bazin
Other key lawyers:
Jason Marett; Gibran Alaoui; Caroline West; Hermance Schaerlig; Christian Iovene; William Hold; Tiffany Monteiro
Testimonials
‘Olivier Bazin and Jason Marrett are great – collaborative and resourceful individuals.’
Key clients
ADM International Sarl
Olam
Bank of China Limited Geneva Branch
BIC-BRED (Suisse) SA
Axpo
Alvean
Credit Agricole CIB
Natixis
Tüpras
Gunvor SA
ING Bank N.V. Lancy/ Geneva Branch
Mauritius Commercial Bank
MUFG Bank Ltd
Trafigura / Puma Energy
Rabobank
Sucafina
UBS Switzerland AG
UniCredit Bank AG
Work highlights
- Advised Sucafina on the, up to $900m, refinancing of its sustainability-linked senior secured borrowing base facility.
HFW > Firm Profile
The firm: HFW is a global, sector-focused law firm providing expert advice to clients in aviation, commodities, construction, energy and resources, insurance and reinsurance, and shipping.
The firm prides itself on the deep industry expertise of its lawyers, and its entrepreneurial, creative and collaborative culture. HFW has over 600 lawyers operating in 20 offices across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia.
Areas of practice: Geneva is considered the most important centre in the world for physical commodity trading, and is home to trading companies, and is also a very important centre for trade finance and for chartering. Since the Geneva office opened in 2010, it has been integral to the continued development of the firm’s world-renowned shipping and commodities practices.
HFW is committed to supporting the trading and shipping interest active in Switzerland and this is reflected in the teaching and seminars the firm’s lawyers undertake in Geneva, Zug, Lugano and elsewhere.
The lawyers in the Geneva office include partners and associates qualified in England and Wales, Switzerland, Canada, France and Australia, who are familiar with the local business environment and have extensive experience in the legal systems within which their clients operate. They have experience in the international sale of goods and shipping, as well as in all those areas of law, which are nowadays vital to thriving trading companies: trade finance, corporate, commercial, regulatory, sanctions and compliance.
Many of the lawyers have worked in the trading and related industries and bring practical experience to the table as well as legal advice.
Main Contacts
Department | Name | Telephone | |
---|---|---|---|
International Arbitration | Michael Buisset | ||
International Arbitration | William Hold | ||
International Arbitration | Sarah Hunt | ||
Corporate/commercial | Georges Racine | ||
Dispute resolution | Michael Buisset | ||
Dispute resolution | Sarah Hunt | ||
International trade/commodities | Michael Buisset | ||
International trade/commodities | Sarah Hunt | ||
Shipping and transport | Michael Buisset | ||
Shipping and transport | Sarah Hunt | ||
Swiss law | William Hold | ||
Trade finance and bank lending (investment grade debt and syndicated loans) | Olivier Bazin |
Lawyer Profiles
Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
---|---|---|---|
Mr Olivier Bazin | Partner | View Profile | |
Mr Michael Buisset | Partner | View Profile | |
Mr William Hold | Partner | View Profile | |
Mme Sarah Hunt | Partner | View Profile | |
Mr Georges Racine | Partner | View Profile |
Staff Figures
Number of lawyers : 615 at this office : 15Languages
English French German Russian SpanishOther
Other offices : Brussels Other offices : Dubai Other offices : Hong Kong Other offices : Houston Other offices : London Other offices : Melbourne Other offices : Paris Other offices : Perth Other offices : Piraeus Other offices : São Paulo Other offices : Shanghai Other offices : Singapore Other offices : Sydney Associations : Abu Dhabi Associations : Beirut Associations : Jakarta Associations : Kuwait Associations : Riyadh Associations : SingaporeComparative Guides
-
United Kingdom: White Collar Crime
Published: September 2023
Authors: Anne-Marie Ottaway Barry VitouCindy Laing
This country-specific Q&A provides an overview of White Collar Crime laws and regulations applicable in United Kingdom.
-
United Arab Emirates: Insurance & Reinsurance
Published: June 2023
Authors: Sam WakerleyJohn Barlow
This country-specific Q&A provides an overview of Insurance & Reinsurance laws and regulations applicable in United Arab Emirates.
- Transport
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Banking and finance: Geneva