The highly regarded shipping practice at Norton Rose Fulbright boasts a full-service global offering, and is particularly active in cruise, ferry, industrial shipping, and offshore energy matters. The team is led by banking law expert Christine Ezcutari, who is versed in restructuring, tax, corporate, regulatory, and risk advisory issues. Banking lawyer Ayaka Millet is also a key contact, advising on export financing, infrastructure, and acquisition finance.

 

Watson Farley & Williams LLP is a key port of call for ship owners, operators, and major financial institutions on all aspects of ship finance, including leasing, tax, corporate matters, and litigation. Co-head Alexia Russell harnesses expertise in asset finance, leasing, and project finance, leading the team alongside Laurence Martinez-Bellet, a cross-border transactional expert. Martinez-Bellet also specialises in ECA and DFI-backed transactions, while Philippe Monfort advises on the cross-border aspects of financing transactions.

Lauded for its 'innovation, availability, and work capacity', HFW is particularly well-versed in tax lease structures. The team is led by Jean-Marc Zampa, who is noted for his strength in complex financial transactions, including international syndicated loans, acquisition finance, asset finance, export finance, and tax-advantaged financings. Zampa is well-equipped to advise both shipowners and banks, with extensive experience in big-ticket ship financings under the French tax lease structure, coupled with export credit cover for cruise vessels and container ships. The team is bolstered by the recent addition of Paolo Pinna, who joined from Norton Rose Fulbright in 2024. A banking and finance lawyer, Pinna specialises in shipping and export finance, project finance, restructuring, and acquisition finance.

Hogan Lovells (Paris) LLP advises on the full range of vessel financing, undertaking high-end, structured, and complex transaction work for an impressive roster of clients. The Paris shipping finance practice is also well-equipped to advise on both the financing of individual vessels and portfolios of vessels or as part of large corporate acquisitions, corporate financings, reorganisations, and restructurings. Alexander Premont leads the team, harnessing extensive experience in asset financings, notably representing banks and large shipping groups on large fleet financings. Stephanie Saunders is a specialist in asset financing across the shipping and aviation sectors, including the private wealth market, while Tam Guerout advises on complex asset financings with multijurisdictional elements.

 

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP is a strong choice for French financial investors and London-based alternative asset managers on construction financing for new-build vessels, as well as shipping letters of intent, shipbuilding contracts, and refund guarantees. Brice Pommiès leads the team, offering significant experience in advising shipowners, shipyards, and financial investors on the full range of shipping finance issues, including bank debt, sales and leasebacks, high-yield financings, restructurings, and corporate matters.

A&O Shearman advises financiers, owners, charterers, sponsors, ECAs, as well as oil and gas companies on a range of shipping and offshore finance matters. Adrian Mellor frequently advises on major international transactions within the shipping finance sector, with particular emphasis in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Florent Belin is also a key contact, offering significant experience in asset finance within the maritime sector.

Headed by Richard Hakes, Reed Smith advises on the full spectrum of shipping transactional matters, including tax lease transactions, private equity investments, debt financing, and commercial transactional work. The international firm is also a key port of call for banks and non-bank lenders, export credit agencies, private equity houses, and shipping companies. Romain Farnoux advises investment funds, banks, shipowners, and charterers on debt financing, private equity investment, sales and leasebacks, and joint ventures.

The shipping finance team at Stream – Avocats et Solicitors offers a broad range of financing and transactional services to a range of international clients, including borrowers, financiers and owners. The practice is notable for its involvement in decarbonization projects, as well as its specialised expertise within the wind-propelled vessels sector. Co-lead Aymeric De Tapol is predominantly focused on structured financing in the maritime sector, advising shipowners and banks on the frame of structured tax financings as well as project financing. Co-lead Olivier Challine is also recommended for domestic and cross-border structured and tax-linked financings.