Stephenson Harwood

Maritime, trade & offshore

Ian Mace is a Partner and Global Head of Maritime Trade and Offshore Finance at Stephenson Harwood, specialising in ship, offshore, and superyacht transactions. He assists a diverse range of clients, including financial institutions, shipowners, operators, investors and private equity groups, in navigating intricate financing structures and transactions. Ian's expertise spans debt finance, lease finance, back leveraging, equity investments, Islamic finance, sale and purchase, and restructuring and enforcement, providing structuring advice as well as tailored solutions that anticipate and address potential challenges.

Ian's practice includes advising on export credit-backed financings, sale and leaseback arrangements and seller's credit transactions. He is adept at handling distressed financings and enforcement actions, such as vessel arrests and auctions across jurisdictions. His clients benefit from his broad experience and his sharp, quick-thinking approach with the ability to deliver clear, convincing arguments, ensuring their interests are protected and optimised. Although based in London, Ian works with clients in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and North America.

Ian is also a core member of the Stephenson Harwood yacht and superyacht team, offering non-contentious advice in the sector.

His contributions to industry handbooks like Shipping Finance further underscore his standing as a leading practitioner in maritime finance.

Ian has been listed as a stand-out lawyer by Thomson Reuters’ 2026.