Contact details

Paul Katsouris

T: +971 4 407 3929 M: +971 56 504 8677 Email Paul | vCard Office: Dubai

Awards

Paul Katsouris Managing associate

Contact details

Paul Katsouris

Paul Katsouris
Managing associate

T: +971 4 407 3929 M: +971 56 504 8677 Email Paul | vCard Office: Dubai

Paul is a dual qualified managing associate (England & Wales and Greece) in the marine and international trade team based in Dubai. He advises on a wide range of contentious and non-contentious matters for clients such as ship owners, P&I Clubs, charterers, banks, traders, bunker suppliers, family offices, private investors and energy companies.
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Paul is known for his commercial outlook and has a reputation for managing complex transactions in an entrepreneurial, methodical, and effective manner. He is regularly instructed on vessel and yacht sale and purchase transactions, fleet expansion projects and other commercial contracts.

On the contentious side, he is known for his pragmatic approach to handling and settling legal disputes, which usually focussed around the maritime and trade industries, including cargo, sale and purchase, and bunker disputes. Having spent several years in the Middle East, he has developed a comprehensive knowledge of the UAE laws and systems, allowing him a better understanding of both the Common law jurisdictions of the DIFC and ADGM, as well as the Civil law system of the local UAE courts. Throughout his career he has been involved in matters before the English High Court, the UAE local and DIFC Courts, as well as complex international arbitrations under the LMAA and LCIA Rules.

Paul has received a number of notable accolades throughout his career, including 'DIFC Young Lawyer of the Year' at the DIFC Legal Gala and 'Young Person of the Year' at the Seatrade Maritime Awards. Most recently, he was recognised in Seatrade's annual '20 under 40: Leaders of Tomorrow' list, and has been involved in several deals that have won regional awards as 'Deal of the Year'.

Paul is also an active member of the UAE’s technology and start-up communities.

“Paul Katsouris is excellent and has demonstrated his expertise time and again to us over the course of numerous cases."

The Legal 500 EMEA 2021

  • Shipping litigation
  • Marine and international trade
  • Private wealth
  • Dispute resolution
  • Yacht and superyacht
  • Shipping

Advised a bunker supplier on the recovery of over US$5 million in outstanding receivables, including the arrest of 4 vessels in different jurisdictions.

Advised client on unpaid bunker disputes and assisted with arresting the vessels.

Advised client on S&P dispute and the resulting LMAA arbitration.

Advised and negotiated on behalf of a shipowner for the settlement of over 15 ongoing cases within a 12 month window. Over US$10 million was recovered, with some cases dating back over 12 years.

Advised a leading Greek shipowner on the position with regard to limitation of liability following a collision in UAE waters.

Acted for the cargo interest in a cargo contamination dispute with owners, which lead to the successful arrest of the vessel in favour of the cargo interests, and a full recovery of the claim amount.

Acted for the shareholders of a vessel in a dispute with other shareholders over the vessel ownership.

Advised a P&I club on their responsibilities under the MLC towards a crew that had been abandoned by the member. Worked with the club to arrange for the repatriation of the crew.

Advising offshore service provider on the constructive total loss of a supply barge.

Advised a quasi-governmental entity on the en bloc purchase of four newbuild VLCC’s with a value of approximately US$350 million.

Advised a ship owner on the bareboat of 4 tankers with purchase obligations.

Advised a Saudi group on the sale of aging tonnage and replacement with newer vessels.

Advised a multi-state company on the sale of 5 vessels.

Advised a client on the takeover of a well-known international vessel registry.

Advised and assisted with the drafting of the rules and regulations of various ports and terminals in the gulf region.

Advised a major regional port operator on the financing structure and purchase of a purpose-built dredger and tug.

Advised client on S&P dispute and the resulting LMAA arbitration.

Advised a state company on the implications involved in reflagging their entire fleet.

Advised an energy company on the purchase of several offshore assets.

Advised a bunker supplier on the recovery of over US$5 million in outstanding receivables, including the arrest of 4 vessels in different jurisdictions.

Advised client on unpaid bunker disputes and assisted with arresting the vessels. 

Advised and negotiated on behalf of a shipowner for the settlement of over 15 ongoing cases within a 12 month window. Over US$10 million was recovered, with some cases dating back over 12 years.

Advised a leading Greek shipowner on the position with regard to limitation of liability following a collision in UAE waters.

Acted for the cargo interest in a cargo contamination dispute with owners, which lead to the successful arrest of the vessel in favour of the cargo interests, and a full recovery of the claim amount.

Acted for the shareholders of a vessel in a dispute with other shareholders over the vessel ownership.

Advised a P&I club on their responsibilities under the MLC towards a crew that had been abandoned by the member. Worked with the club to arrange for the repatriation of the crew.

Advising offshore service provider on the constructive total loss of a supply barge.

Negotiated the entry of a private investor into a multi-million dollar venture capital fund.

Advised a private office on the sale of a 50m Benetti superyacht.

Advised a UAE royal office on the sale of a superyacht.

Assisted a client with the purchase of a 50m Mangusta superyacht.

Advised a bunker supplier on the recovery of over US$5 million in outstanding receivables, including the arrest of 4 vessels in different jurisdictions.

Advised a client on unpaid bunker disputes and assisted with the arrest of the debtors vessels.

Advised a client on an S&P dispute and the resulting LMAA arbitration.

Advised and negotiated on behalf of a shipowner for the settlement of over 15 ongoing cases within a 12 month window. Over US$10 million was recovered, with some cases dating back over 12 years.

Advised a leading Greek shipowner on the position with regard to limitation of liability following a collision in UAE waters.

Acted for the cargo interest in a cargo contamination dispute with owners, which lead to the successful arrest of the vessel in favour of the cargo interests, and a full recovery of the claim amount.

Represented the shareholders of a vessel in a dispute with other shareholders over the vessels ownership.

Advised international commodities group on delivery disputes. 

Advised a client on unpaid bunker disputes and assisted with arresting the vessels.

Advising offshore service provider on the constructive total loss of a supply barge.

Advised a private office on the sale of a 50-metre Benetti superyacht.

Advised a royal office on the sale of a superyacht.

Assisted a client with the purchase of a 50-metre Mangusta superyacht.

More: Yacht and superyacht

Structured and advised on the en bloc purchase and then resale and lease back of four newbuild VLCC’s with a value of approximately US$400 million.

Advised a client on the takeover of a well-known international vessel registry.

Advised a ship owner on the bareboat of 4 tankers with purchase obligations.

Advised a multi-state company on the sale of 5 vessels.

Advised a major regional port operator on the financing structure and purchase of a purpose built dredger and tug.

Advised a Saudi group on the sale of aging tonnage and replacement with newer vessels.

Advised and assisting with the drafting of the rules and regulations of various ports and terminals in the gulf region.

Advised client on S&P dispute and the resulting LMAA arbitration.

Advised a ship owner and negotiating on his behalf for the settlement of over 15 ongoing cases within a 12 month window. Over US$10 million was recovered despite some of the cases dating back over 12 years.

Advised a leading Greek shipowner on the position with regard to limitation of liability following a collision in UAE waters.

Acted for the cargo interest in a cargo contamination dispute with owners, which lead to the successful arrest of the vessel in favour of the cargo interests, and a full recovery of the claim amount.

Represented the shareholders of a vessel in a dispute with other shareholders over the vessel ownership.

Advising offshore service provider on the constructive total loss of a supply barge.

Acted for the shareholders of a vessel in a dispute with other shareholders over the vessel ownership.

Advised a P&I club on their responsibilities under the MLC towards a crew that had been abandoned by the member. Worked with the club to arrange for the repatriation of the crew.

More: Shipping

  • International trade
  • Energy and natural resources

Advised an international commodities group on off-hire, demurrage, and delivery disputes.

Advised a bunker supplier on the recovery of over US$5 million in outstanding receivables, including the arrest of 4 vessels in different jurisdictions.

Advised client on unpaid bunker disputes and assisting with arresting the vessels.

Acted for the cargo interest in a cargo contamination dispute with owners, which lead to the successful arrest of the vessel in favour of the cargo interests, and a full recovery of the claim amount.

Advising offshore service provider on the constructive total loss of a supply barge

More: International trade

Advised an upstream oil and gas exploration, development and production business on the purchase of a jack-up rig.

Advised one of the Middle East's largest offshore service providers on the sale of two OSV's.

Advised a global offshore service provider on the purchase of 1 rig and 5 OSV's.

Advised an offshore service provider based in Abu Dhabi on the purchase of a jack-up rig.

Advised an oil and gas company servicing the Middle East, North Africa and Caspian regions, on the charter of a jack-up rig.

Advised an offshore service provider on the purchase of two tugs.

Reviewing and advising a state-owned oil and gas company on charterparty terms under shelltime and asbatankvoy.

Awards

Latest news & insights

19 May 2023

From News

Mark Lakin and Paul Katsouris named in Seatrade Maritime Middle East's '20 under 40' 2023 list

Stephenson Harwood Dubai-based partner Mark Lakin and managing associate Paul Katsouris have been included in Seatrade Maritime Middle East's '20 under 40 ' 2023 list...

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