Leading Associates

Shipping in France

Clyde & Co LLP

Clyde & Co LLP‘s global shipping practice boasts an extensive and diverse client base that covers major insurers, P&I clubs, charterers, shipbuilders, governments, and prominent corporations in the oil and energy sectors. The practice provides a comprehensive range of services, addressing a wide spectrum of both wet and dry maritime issues, including contentious and non-contentious matters. Leading the practice is Rozenn Lopin, a seasoned maritime transport expert with over 25 years of experience representing marine insurers and industrial companies, with expertise advising on critical matters such as collisions, ship fires, salvages, and sinkings. Other key contacts include Gildas Rostain, an expert in industrial risks, and Olga Jefremova, whose specialism lies in admiralty law, shipbuilding, and marine employment legislation.

Responsables de la pratique:

Rozenn Lopin


Autres avocats clés:

Gildas Rostain; Olga Jefremova


Les références

‘Excellent technical level.

‘We use Clyde & Co for high-stakes and/or complex cases. The Clyde & Co lawyers working on our cases are very competent.’

‘The Clyde & Co lawyers we use in marine law are all very strong in this matter.’

Principaux clients

Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty


Chubb


Generali IARD


RSA


Tokio Marine


HFW

HFW offers a comprehensive, internationally-focused shipping practice, covering a wide spectrum of wet and dry matters, encompassing both transactional and contentious work. This includes handling issues such as vessel collisions, groundings, and salvages, as well as disputes, sale and purchase matters, and onboard incidents. Stanislas Lequette, with over two decades of experience in commercial and criminal litigation, leads the practice. He is supported by Guillaume Brajeux, known for his expertise in dispute resolution, and Stéphanie Schweitzer, specialising in international transportation and trade, particularly in ship arrests, collisions, and charter party disputes. Other key contacts also include Vincent Bénézech, a dual-qualified French and English lawyer with proficiency in commercial litigation and arbitration; and Mona Dejean, an experienced practitioner in complex shipping and energy law matters, frequently representing clients in French courts and arbitration proceedings.

Responsables de la pratique:

Stanislas Lequette


Autres avocats clés:

Guillaume Brajeux; Stéphanie Schweitzer; Vincent Bénézech; Mona Dejean; Michael Bekkali.


Les références

‘Ultra competent team.’

‘Stanislas Lequette is probably the best maritime law lawyer in France today, not only technically but he is also an exceptional litigator worthy of the greatest criminal lawyers.’

‘Stéphanie Schweitzer is THE reference in maritime labor law and issues related to people on board a ship (crew and passengers). Very pragmatic, she gets straight to the point – a valuable partner.’

Principaux clients

AXA XL


BMRP


CMA CGM


Cogeas


Corsica Linea


Helvetia


Ingepar (BPCE Group)


Jifmar


P&I Clubs: Gard, Skuld , The Shipowners’ Club, The Swedish Club, North of England,


SMBE


Lewis & Co AARPI

With both French and UK Law expertise, Lewis & Co AARPI‘s maritime practice offers comprehensive guidance to insurers, P&I clubs, small businesses, and individuals. The team’s services span the full spectrum of international shipping, addressing everything from routine commercial disputes to high-profile maritime incidents, both domestically and internationally. The team is led by international trade expert Lars Lewis and includes Peter Iglikowski, renowned for his expertise in international trade and commercial litigation, and Leila Esnard, who holds dual qualifications in French and English law, enabling her to handle disputes and initiatives in Francophone North and Western Africa. Another notable figure at the firm is Guillaume De Bascher, who is highly experienced in settlement negotiations and proceedings before French courts and arbitration, with a strong focus on disputes in Francophone Africa.

Responsables de la pratique:

Lars Lewis


Autres avocats clés:

Peter Iglikowski; Leila Esnard; Guillaume De Bascher


Les références

‘High level assistance and full expertise and skills.’

‘Lars Lewis and Leila Esnard and their team are able to provide with full high-level assistance. The top within France jurisdiction.’

‘Always very professional, service-minded and quick.’

Stream – Avocats et Solicitors

The shipping practice at Stream – Avocats et Solicitors provides counsel on a wide range of litigation matters, encompassing charterparty disputes, cargo claims, contract disputes, and insurance-related issues, in addition to handling transactional work across various maritime projects. Managing and founding partner Matthieu Croix co-heads the team alongside several fellow maritime experts, including co-founding partners Alexandre Besnard and Freddy Desplanques, as well as commercial dispute expert Vy-Loan Huynh Olivieri. Other key contacts within the practice include Patrick Evrard, well-versed in litigation work, Anne-Cécile Bannier Mathieu, with a focus on shipping, international trade, contracts, and ethics and compliance matters, and Marie-Noëlle Raynaud.

Responsables de la pratique:

Alexandre Besnard; Mathieu Croix; Charles de Corbiere; Jérôme de Sentenac; Aymeric de Tapol; Fabien d’Haussy; Freddy Desplanques; Patrick Evrard; Vy-Loan Huynh-Olivieri; Laurianne Ribes


Autres avocats clés:

Anne-Cecile Bannier Mathieu


Les références

‘Great responsiveness. Strong interpersonal skills characterized by listening and sensitivity to customer needs. The advice, strategies and means put into play are thus adapted both to the client’s expectations and to the challenges of the files.’

‘Emergencies are prioritized and handled in an efficient and relevant manner. Complete legal and strategic analyses are built in dialogue with the client. Negotiations with opposing parties are always implemented and continued throughout the amicable and contentious phases with a view to allowing matters to be resolved quickly in the best interests of all.’

‘Patrick Evrard is particularly responsive, available, provides structured and detailed analyses, he is oriented towards negotiation and best adopts his strategy based on the elements of the file while maintaining a global vision of the commercial issue.’

Principaux clients

CMA-CGM


Louis Dreyfus Armateurs


Corsica Linea


Sea Tankers Shipping


Bourbon


Clasquin


Axa


Chambon


Eyssautier-Verlingue


Club Med


Principaux dossiers


  • Advising Total Energy LNG Services France on the implementation of the 1st FSRU in France (port of le Havre).
  • Advising a global corporate insurance carrier on the request for a court survey and the arrest of a vessel in following an alleged pollution damage.
  • Advised Louis Dreyfus Armateurs on the sale of their bunker vessels fleet to JP Morgan, in the frame of the restructuring of their commercial activities.

Reed Smith

Reed Smith‘s shipping practice is composed of a diverse team of lawyers with varied backgrounds, providing comprehensive counsel to domestic and international clients across the entire spectrum of shipping transport and logistics, international trade, and customs law. Their advisory services cover ship arrests, collisions, criminal law, disputes, as well as areas such as insurance, arbitration, competition, customs law, tourism, and European community law. Co-led by litigation and arbitration specialist Ana Atallah, and Andrew Tetley, a dual-qualified French avocat and English solicitor, the team also includes notable contacts such as Emmanuelle Faivre, skilled in commercial disputes and arbitration; Antoine Guillemot, highly experienced in international, contract, and liability law; Romain Farnoux, focused on transactional matters; and Aurelie Lopez, whose expertise in transportation, energy, and construction disputes makes her a representative for both French and international clients.

Responsables de la pratique:

Ana Atallah; Andrew Tetley


Autres avocats clés:

Emmanuelle Faivre; Antoine Guillemot; Romain Farnoux; Aurelie Lopez


Les références

‘Antoine Guillemot is assistive, supportive and responsive.’

‘Antoine Guillemot is dedicated and strives to answer inquiries in an understandable and comprehensive manner. Especially when talking to clients not being familiar with the French legal system, this is an important attitude and advantage for ship owners and operators.’

Principaux dossiers


Nicolas & Associés

The Paris-based international team at Nicolas & Associés specialises in a wide range of maritime law matters, including casualties, charter party disputes, arrests, ship purchases and acquisitions, insurance, and pollution issues. With a diverse portfolio that extends to international trade law, commercial law, and insurance and industrial risks, Christophe Nicolas leads the practice. The firm’s operations encompass France, French overseas territories, and Francophone African countries.

Responsables de la pratique:

Christophe Nicolas


Les références

‘The firm is very hands-on and proactive, whilst being practical and realistic in its advice.’

‘The team is very experienced in its field of work and has a down to earth approach which enables solutions to be found more easily, thereby saving unnecessary costs.’

‘The speed of response and the effectiveness of the advice from Christophe Nicolas and his team are appreciable. They work very well, fluent in English, for our international clients.’

Principaux clients

GRIMALDI


ZURICH


SIACI


COGEAS


HAPAG LLOYD


DACHSER


GARD


SKULD


STEAMSHIP MUTUAL


HELVETIA


Principaux dossiers


Stephenson Harwood

With over 20 years of experience in litigation and dispute resolution, Stephenson Harwood‘s shipping practice continues its steady growth, supported by a robust cross-disciplinary team with notable expertise in insurance and industrial risks. Managed by Nicolas Demigneux, the team has cultivated a specialised practice in maritime matters, providing assistance to shipowners, ship managers, charterers, shipyards, insurers, reinsurers, and P&I clubs. Their work this year has been particularly noteworthy in addressing international insurance issues.

Responsables de la pratique:

Nicolas Demigneux


Autres avocats clés:

Alexandre Koenig; Viviane Tse; Deborah Attias; Guerin Loisel, Marion Jaeck; Marion Eichwald


Les références

‘Stephenson Harwood is one of the world-renowned law firms that can provide comprehensive services under different legal jurisdictions around the world.’

‘Stephenson Harwood provides extremely professional and meticulous legal services, including introduction and analysis of French litigation procedures.’

‘They are efficient, offering timely follow-ups of case processes and proactive risk analysis and reminders, so clients have a clear understanding of the involved disputes.’ 

 

Principaux clients

The Hartford (Formerly Navigators), RSA and Talbot Underwriting


Hiscox MGA LTD.


Louis Dreyfus Armateurs SAS and LD Ports & Logistics PTE LTD.


Columbia Shipmanagement


Maersk Line A/S


RSA Insurance Group PLC, RSA France and RSA Luxembourg


Principaux dossiers


  • Advising insurers of a European naval defense company on its coverage discussions with the lead underwriter, the broker and the insured following the fire that destroyed part of a nuclear attack submarine.
  • Advising a ship manager and maritime service provider on criminal proceedings against crew members following the interception of a vessel and the discovery by French customs of 2 tons of cocaine on board.
  • Advising and representing the owner of a multi-million megayacht, facing approximatively 10 proceedings.

Villeneau Rohart Simon

The independent shipping practice at Villeneau Rohart Simon, with offices in Paris and Marseille, provides comprehensive assistance to ship owning companies, P&I clubs, classification societies, and corporates in the commodities trading industry. Bertrand Coste, based in Marseille, specialises in mega yachts and has significant dispute experience related to ship finance and customs regulations. Sébastien Lootgieter, located in Paris, is a specialist in maritime law and commodity trading, complemented by Patrick Simon, who brings expertise in admiralty issues, international arbitrations, pollution cases, and strikes. Jean-Serge Rohart, an expert in classification society disputes, further enhances the practice’s capabilities.

Autres avocats clés:

Bertrand Coste; Sebastien Lootgieter; Patrick Simon; Jean-Serge Rohart


Principaux dossiers


  • Advising an international trading house based in Geneve on an action brought by trader against war-risk underwriters following arrest and seizure of a consignment of metals in Chinese port following global fraud in the amount of $180m.
  • Assisting a French trading house specialising in trading of sugar in an action against war-risk underwriters following forced sale of a cargo of sugar in West Africa in the amount of $3m.
  • Advising Bureau Veritas on an action issued by owners / hull and cargo underwriters / P&I underwriters of a cruise vessel following major accident which occurred in 2015 off the coast of the Falkland Islands.