Contact details

Max Lemanski

T: +44 20 7809 2224 M: +44 7826 550 715 Email Max | vCard Office: London

Awards

Shipping

Shipping

Shipping and Oil and gas

Shipping and Oil and gas

Winner - The i-law Maritime Law Award

Winner - The i-law Maritime Law Award

Max Lemanski Partner

Contact details

Max Lemanski

Max Lemanski
Partner

T: +44 20 7809 2224 M: +44 7826 550 715 Email Max | vCard Office: London

Max Lemanski is a partner in the marine and international trade department at Stephenson Harwood specialising in offshore energy, shipbuilding and shipping.
  • Profile
  • Services
  • Sectors
  • Locations

He is head of the firm’s offshore energy and construction group, including Stephenson Harwood’s market-leading FPSO team.  Max works primarily for offshore contractors, negotiating bareboat charters and O&M agreements, and EPIC construction and conversion contracts. He has worked on dozens of floating production projects all over the world including offshore Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Nigeria, Norway and the United Kingdom. On the litigation side his cases include many complex, high-value FPSO disputes (including in the English High Court and various LMAA, ICC and LCIA arbitrations) involving, inter alia, detailed technical analysis, variations claims, delay and prolongation issues, hire adjustment clauses, production problems and termination disputes. He is an expert in the decarbonisation of the offshore energy sector, including offshore wind (both fixed and floating turbines), carbon capture and the electrification of offshore assets.

He is the co-author of the leading work on the law of floating production, Offshore Floating Production: Legal and Commercial Risk Management (2023).

Max also heads the firm's shipbuilding practice and has acted in all kinds of negotiations in relation to shipbuilding contracts and related contracts such as refund guarantees, warranty bonds, option agreements and parent company guarantees.  When things go wrong Max regularly advises on all manner of related disputes including liquidated damages, termination, demands under the refund guarantees and post-delivery warranty claims.

On the shipping side, Max has many years’ experience working with owners/charterers and their P&I/FD&D clubs (representing shipping companies involved in dry bulk, containerships and all types of tankers, as well as specialist vessels such as oil spill response ships).   Clients value his considerable expertise in all manner of disputes, which span the full spectrum of dry shipping.

Max also has expertise in the superyacht sphere, working on a number of disputes involving high value, high profile superyachts.  These include construction and refurbishment disputes, as well as chartering issues.

"Max Lemanski is first class. Responsive, approachable and knowledgeable. Sensible, commercial advice and a genuine desire to assist his clients."

The Legal 500 UK 2023

 
  • Shipping
  • Shipowners and operators
  • Shipping litigation
  • Marine and international trade
  • International arbitration
  • Dispute resolution
  • Shipbuilding and offshore construction
  • Yacht and superyacht

Max advises on the full spectrum of dry shipping disputes.

Time charter disputes

Cases include withdrawal from charter, safe-port, off-hire, speed and consumption, and redelivery.

Voyage charter disputes

Cases include laytime and demurrage claims and wrongful cancellation of charter.

Bills of lading

Cases include cargo contamination and advising clients on issues surrounding clausing bills.

General average

Acting in claims for general average contributions.

Shipbuilding disputes

Acting in a wider range of disputes including cancellation disputes and warranty claims.

Super-yacht disputes

Cases include paint problems and re-fit issues.

Ship finance enforcement

Recovery of loaned sums for banks, including enforcement action such as arrest and ship sale.

More: Shipping

Max works for a number of the world's leading shipowners and operators.

Leading LPG trader

Alleged contamination to cargo dispute (and claim for consequential losses).

Leading tanker owner

Multiple laytime and demurrage disputes.

Major bulk carrier operators

Full-spectrum of charter-party disputes (e.g. withdrawal from charter, safe-port, off-hire, speed and consumption and redelivery).

Reviewing terms of shipbuilding contracts and refund guarantees for new-build contracts.

Ro-Ro operators

Advising on the cancellation of shipbuilding contracts and demanding refund of instalments under the refund guarantees.

LNG carriers

Acting for a specialist LNG company in relation to the construction and chartering of two ice-classed LNG tankers.

More: Shipowners and operators

Max has considerable litigation experience, acting mainly in the English Commercial Court.

As well as the trials themselves, Max's expertise includes interim applications, injunctive relief, case management conferences and costs hearings.

English High Court litigation

Representing owners in a claim for wrongful cancellation of a voyage charter.

Acting for a seller (an LPG shipowner) in claims for unpaid deposits under a series of ship sale agreements.

Acting for a shipyard in a commission dispute relating to the construction contracts for a series of LNG carriers.

Claiming unpaid hire for Norwegian owners.

European Court of Justice

Advising owners in relation to the sanctions regime and a referral to the ECJ.

More: Shipping litigation

Max advises on the full spectrum of dry shipping disputes.

Time charter disputes

Cases include withdrawal from charter, safe-port, off-hire, speed and consumption and redelivery.

Voyage charter disputes

Cases include laytime and demurrage claims and wrongful cancellation of charter.

Bills of lading

Cases include cargo contamination and advising clients on issues surrounding clausing bills.

General average

Acting in claims for general average contributions.

Shipbuilding disputes

Acting in a wider range of disputes including cancellation disputes and warranty claims.

Super-yacht disputes

Cases include paint problems and re-fit issues.

Ship finance enforcement

Recovery of loaned sums for banks, including enforcement action such as arrest and ship sale.

More: Marine and international trade

Much of Max's work is in the field of international arbitration. He advises clients on all stages of the arbitral process from appointment to obtaining arbitral awards, and subsequent appeals and enforcement.

LMAA arbitrations

Acting for LPG shipowner in claim for damages further to alleged cargo contamination.

Acting for a Korean shipyard in a multi-million dollar dispute pursuant to the repudiation of a shipbuilding contract for a container ship.

Representing a Chinese shipowner in proceedings against a Chinese refund guarantor.

Assisting Norwegian owners in proceedings against Norwegian Charterers, in delivery dispute under a time charter.

Assisting a German platform supply vessel operator in claims against an Indian shipyard.

ICC arbitrations

Advising a major international bank in ICC arbitration proceedings pursuant to demands made under performance guarantees.

More: International ​arbitration 

Primarily a litigator, Max has wide experience in many areas of dispute resolution.

English High Court proceedings

Max has considerable litigation experience, acting mainly in the English Commercial Court.

As well as the trials themselves, Max's expertise includes interim applications, injunctive relief, case management conferences and costs hearings.

International arbitrations (with a focus on the LMAA and the ICC)

Much of Max's work is in the field of international arbitration. He advises clients on all stages of the arbitral process from appointment to obtaining arbitral awards and subsequent appeals and enforcement.

The European Court of Justice

Max has litigated a number of cases in the ECJ (including before a Grand Chamber of judges).

Mediation and ADR

Max has represented clients in a number of successful mediations avoiding the cost of a full hearing or trial, as well as other ad hoc 'without prejudice' meetings.

More: Dispute resolution

Max has considerable expertise and specialise knowledge in the field of shipbuilding and offshore construction.

Shipbuilding cancellations and refund guarantees

Acting for a Korean shipyard in a multi-million dollar dispute pursuant to the repudiation of a shipbuilding contract for a container ship.

Acting for a Chinese shipowner in arbitration proceedings against a Chinese refund guarantor.

Assisting a major European bank (and their borrower shipowner client) in the cancellation of a number of shipbuilding contracts and subsequent demands under various refund guarantees.

Shipbuilding warranty claims

Representing a Norwegian shipowner in an Article IX warranty claim.

Acting for a Korean shipyard, fighting a number of claims brought by owners (including issues relating to the yard's sub-contractors).

Non-contentious negotiation

Max also negotiates documents such as shipbuilding contracts, refund guarantees and time charters.

Acting for a specialist LNG shipowner in relation to the construction and chartering of two ice-classed LNG tankers.

Acting for a major investment bank in a joint venture for acquisition of a series of new-build container ships.

Reviewing and redrafting a standard form shipbuilding contract for a major Korean shipyard.

More: Shipbuilding and offshore construction

Advised in relation to preventing the sale of a yacht, in relation to a high-value divorce litigation.

Advising a high-net worth owner in relation to a yacht refurbishment dispute (settled via mediation).

Advising on a charterparty dispute and obtaining a commercial settlement, following a passenger accident on board a superyacht.

Advising clients in relation to superyacht building disputes (from the points of view of buyer and builder), including termination of build contracts.

Advising an ultra-high net worth superyacht owner in relation to disputes arising out of a refit contract.

  • P&I clubs
  • Offshore
  • Shipbuilders

Max represents many P&I and Defence clubs (including many of the IG Clubs) working closely with their claims teams on a wide range of shipping disputes.

Time charter disputes

Cases include withdrawal from charter, safe-port, off-hire, speed and consumption, and redelivery.

Voyage charter disputes

Cases include laytime and demurrage claims and wrongful cancellation of charter.

Bills of lading

Cases include cargo contamination and advising clients on issues surrounding clausing bills.

General average

Acting in claims for general average contributions.

Shipbuilding disputes

Acting in a wider range of disputes including cancellation disputes and warranty claims.

Super-yacht disputes

Cases include paint problems and re-fit issues.

More: P&I clubs

Max regularly advises owners in the offshore sector. His recent work has included:

Offshore charter disputes

Recovery of sums due under Supplytime charters (and other specialist forms used in the offshore industry).

Assisting Owners withdraw from various time charters.

Non contentious contract negotiation

Max also negotiates documents such as shipbuilding contracts, refund guarantees and time charters.

Acting for a specialist LNG company in relation to the construction and chartering of two ice-classed LNG tankers.

Acting for a major investment bank in a joint venture for a series of container ships.

More: Offshore

Max has considerable expertise and specialist knowledge in the field of shipbuilding and offshore construction, often acting for shipyards.

Shipbuilding cancellations

Acting for a Korean yard in a multi-million dollar dispute pursuant to the repudiation of a shipbuilding contract for a container ship.

Representing a Korean shipyard in relation to a series of cancelled shipbuilding contracts.

Shipbuilding warranty claims

Acting for a Korean yard, fighting a number of claims brought by owners (including issues relating to the yard's sub-contractors).

Commission dispute

Representing a Korean yard in a commission dispute relating to the construction contracts for a series of LNG carriers.

Contract review (non-contentious)

Reviewing and redrafting a standard form shipbuilding contract for a major Korean shipyard.

  • Europe
  • India
  • Singapore
  • Korea

Max works with many of the leading players in the Scandinavian market, and regularly travels to Norway, Sweden and Finland.

Key clients are also situated in Monaco, an important jurisdiction for Max.

Examples include:

Assisting Norwegian owners in proceedings against Norwegian charterers, in delivery dispute under a time charter.

Assisting a major European bank (and their borrower shipowner client) in the cancellation of a number of shipbuilding contracts and subsequent demands under various refund guarantees.

Acting for a LPG shipowner in claim for damages further to alleged cargo contamination.

Assisting a German platform supply vessel operator in claims against an Indian shipyard.

Acting for a specialist LNG shipowner in relation to the construction and chartering of two ice-classed LNG tankers.

Acting for a major investment bank in a joint venture for a series of container ships.

Recovery of loaned sums for a major German bank, including enforcement action such as arrest and ship sale.

More: Europe

Max has a number of clients in the important maritime city of Mumbai.

Max continues to develop his practice, working with international shipowners (and in particular, their claims teams based in Mumbai) and Indian shipping lawyers.

Examples include:

Acting for the Mumbai claims team of major international owner, regularly advising on a wide range of issues (such as time and voyage charter disputes). Max has also worked at this client's offices in Mumbai.

Advising a major Indian owner in relation to ship financing issues.

Representing major Indian manufacturer in London based arbitration proceedings (a speed and consumption charter dispute).

More: India

Max represents a number of Singapore based clients when they need to issue legal proceedings in the English High Court. He has also represented clients in Singapore based arbitrations.

Examples include:

Acting for a seller (an LPG shipowner) in claims for unpaid deposits under a series of ship sale agreements.

Advising a major international bank in Singapore based ICC arbitration proceedings pursuant to demands made under performance guarantees (the arbitration proceedings were situated in Singapore).

Acting for LPG shipowner in a claim for damages further to alleged cargo contamination.

More: Singapore

Through his work with international shipyards, leading maritime law firms and our market-leading Seoul office, Max is well known to the South Korean shipbuilding market.

Examples include:

Acting for a Korean shipyard, fighting a number of claims brought by owners (including issues relating to the yard's sub-contractors).

Acting for a Korean shipyard in a multi-million dollar dispute pursuant to the repudiation of a shipbuilding contract for a container ship.

Reviewing and redrafting a standard form shipbuilding contract for a major Korean shipyard.

Representing a Korean yard in a commission dispute relating to the construction contracts for a series of LNG carriers.

Advising a major Korean bank in ICC arbitration proceedings pursuant to demands made under performance guarantees.

More: Korea

Awards

Shipping

Shipping

Shipping and Oil and gas

Shipping and Oil and gas

Winner - The i-law Maritime Law Award

Winner - The i-law Maritime Law Award

Latest news & insights

13 Sep 2023

From News

Stephenson Harwood retains 83% of September qualifying trainees

Law firm Stephenson Harwood LLP has announced that it is retaining 83% of trainees who qualify under English and Welsh law in September 2023. 10 of the 12 qualifying t..

More

07 Jul 2023

From News

Stephenson Harwood supports Jan De Nul Group on long-term partnership agreement with RWE

Law firm Stephenson Harwood LLP has supported Jan De Nul Group, a leading expert in the offshore energy market, on its long-term partnership agreement with RWE, a Germ..

More

12 Apr 2023

From Insights

Well Spoken podcast

Hosted by members of Stephenson Harwood’s leading oil and gas team, our podcast series, Well Spoken, provides an overview of key legal developments and topical issues ..

More

02 Mar 2023

From News

Stephenson Harwood advises on US$685 million syndicated loan

Law firm Stephenson Harwood LLP has advised Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank (CACIB), in its role as agent on behalf of a syndicate of finance parties, on..

More

27 Feb 2023

From News

Stephenson Harwood's offshore energy team writes seminal offshore floating production book

Stephenson Harwood partners Max Lemanski, Stuart Beadnall and Simon Moore have written the 'Offshore Floating Production: Legal and Commercial Risk Management' legal t..

More

02 Sep 2022

From Insights

Chartering superyachts in the summer of 2022 – key trends and issues to watch out for

On Thursday 16 June 2022, the Stephenson Harwood superyacht team hosted a webinar discussing the key trends and issues to watch out for when it comes to chartering sup..

More

23 Jun 2022

From Insights

Chartering superyachts in the summer of 2022 – key trends and issues to watch out for webinar

The superyacht team recently hosted its fifth panel discussion on 'Chartering superyachts in the summer of 2022 – key trends and issues to watch out for'.

More

27 May 2022

From Insights

Chartering superyachts in the summer of 2022 – key trends and issues to watch out webinar

On Thursday 16 June, our superyacht team will host their 5th superyacht panel discussion, chaired by partner, Max Lemanski and of counsel Ezio Dal Maso.

More

01 Feb 2022

From News

Stephenson Harwood kicks off 2022 with hat-trick of green deals

Law firm Stephenson Harwood LLP has completed a hat-trick of green deals within one week, demonstrating the firm's credentials in one of its five strategic areas of fo..

More

30 Sep 2021

From Insights

Well Connected - September 2021

Welcome to this latest edition of Well Connected – our specialist newsletter for clients engaged in oil and gas floating production.

More

29 Sep 2021

From News

Stephenson Harwood advises on Vitters yacht deal

Law firm Stephenson Harwood LLP has advised a private client in the negotiation of a construction contract for a 44 metre Vitters sailing yacht.

More

08 Jul 2021

From Insights

Key points on what you need to know on construction and refit contracts, including owner's security for superyachts

On Thursday 8 July 2021 the Stephenson Harwood superyacht team hosted a panel discussion, chaired by Max Lemanski on pitfalls and traps of refit and construction contr..

More

08 Jul 2021

From Insights

Superyachts – pitfalls of construction and refit contracts, including the crucial question of owner's security

The Stephenson Harwood superyacht team recently hosted the second episode of a series of virtual events.

More

01 Jun 2021

From Insights

Virtual hearings: here to stay?

In this article, we consider the reaction to the use of virtual hearings by the Courts of England and Wales and the response from arbitral institutions and trade assoc..

More

26 Apr 2021

From Insights

Stephenson Harwood superyacht webinar #1: The post COVID on-board experience

The Stephenson Harwood superyacht team recently hosted the first episode of a series of virtual events. The event was moderated by Neil Noble with the contribution of ..

More

print-footer
logo
© Stephenson Harwood LLP 2016. Any reference to Stephenson Harwood in this document means Stephenson Harwood LLP and/or its affiliated undertakings. Any reference to a partner is used to refer to a member of Stephenson Harwood LLP.