Our reputation is based on a strong track record of transactions for clients, who include nearly all the major international banks which are active in the shipping market. Our lawyers have experience of acting for arrangers, lenders, ship owners and offshore service providers – which means that they are familiar with issues on all sides of the table. The team also acts in the private equity space.
Being specialists in the shipping sector means that we are also regularly advising our clients on refinancings and restructurings. Our role ranges from providing strategic advice on handling problem loans from the time issues first emerge, through to workouts and enforcements.
With some 100 specialist lawyers spread across all our offices, we have one of the world's leading shipping and offshore finance practices.
We can help you with:
- ship finance - including ship sale and purchase, shipbuilding contracts, ship registration, construction and operation
- restructuring / workouts
- UK and European tax leasing
- construction and financing of private yachts
- Islamic finance
- international trade
- offshore and energy
- UK tonnage tax
- tax structuring and tax investigations.
"They are commercial, hard-working, very skilled and knowledgeable."
Chambers UK 2022
Deutsche Bank AG, $1.2 billion loan for 12 container ships
Advised on a multi-tranche syndicated K-sure backed loan facility for the partial financing of seven 14,500 and five 18,800 TEU container ships for wholly-owned subsidiaries of United Arab Shipping Company.
Deutsche Bank AG lenders in a US Chapter 11 restructuring case
We advised the lenders of a US$253 million syndicated facility for Genco Shipping & Trading Limited who filed for a US Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization. Our team led the successful Chapter 11 exit without any loss of capital for the client.
Tax project transfer of 250 secured loan facilities
We advised on the transfer of 250 secured loan facilities secured against shipping, offshore and energy related assets with combined total commitments of US$16 billion.
DVB Bank America N.V. senior multi-tranche facility
We advised the bank on a US$1.32 billion senior multi-tranche facility made available to a Norwegian drilling company with ECA support to finance the construction of two semi-submersible rigs.
DNB Bank ASA revolving credit facility for a special investment vehicle
We acted for the agent of a syndicate of banks for a US$300 million revolving credit facility to a newly incorporated special investment vehicle created to capitalise on the tanker market surge by acquiring and operating tanker vessels.
Export credit agency backed tranches and commercial bank tranche with pooled security
We represented lenders of three facilities financing the Bonny Gas Transport purchase of six liquefied natural gas vessels. The complex financing arrangements involved two separate export credit agency backed tranches and a commercial bank tranche with pooled security.
DNB Bank ASA and Mizuho Corporate Bank
We acted for both banks for the US$608 million restructuring of the 2011 joint venture vehicle established by Teekay Corporation and Marubeni Corporation for the acquisition of AP Moeller-Maersk's LNG shipping business.
HSH Nordbank leading shipping Chapter 11 restructuring case
We acted for HSH Nordbank and syndicate lenders on this leading Chapter 11 shipping case concerning claims against Omega Navigation Enterprises for their default under a syndicated loan facility secured against eight product tanker vessels owned by Omega subsidiaries.
Export-import Asian bank sale and leaseback deal
We acted on a $1 billion post-delivery loan to a subsidiary of a financial leasing company for the acquisition of 51 vessels to be bareboat chartered to the Bourbon Offshore Group of France.
Joint venture international private equity planning
We advised a tax-efficient joint venture between a ship owner and operator and a leading global investment firm, formed to invest in the shipping sector through the acquisition of vessels that are the subject of distressed loan facilities.