Advising a diverse range of vessel owners, operators, alongside financial institutions and investors, the team at Cozen O'Connor continues to advise on the full range of shipping financing matters. The group is frequently engaged in asset-based loans, mergers and acquisitions matters, and government-guaranteed credit facilities. Joshua Stein is a key contact for cross-border work, with extensive experience advising on financing vessels registered in jurisdictions outside the US. For matters concerning trade regulation and foreign investment, Matthew Howell is a key point of call. Rachel Schwartz undertakes a range of work in antitrust and wider government-involved matters, where she has experience in handling government investigations and federal grant applications. Kathryn Sobotta is well-placed to advise on a range of vessel charter agreements and private equity investments within the space. In New York, Geoffrey Ferrer handles the full range of shipping matters, including bankruptcies and commercial disputes. Ferrer steers the practice alongside David Heffernan, Robert Magovern, and Jonathon Foglia. Jeff Vogel left the firm in April, 2025. Members of the team are based in Washington DC, unless otherwise stated.

The team at Holland & Knight handles a diverse case load, advising on Jones Act-compliant investments, vessel purchases, and wider ship financing issues. Alongside this, the group is expanding its financing around environmental and sustainability-related issues within the sector, including ship recycling, oil pollutions and carbon dioxide emissions reductions. Mike Timpone jointly leads the team, where he is frequently engaged in a range of distressed asset restructurings, acquistions and joint venture agreements. He leads the team alongside Sophia Agathis, who is a key contact for banks, credit funds, and wider institutional lenders. For global securities offerings and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, Jovi Tenev is a specialist. Nicholas Kaasik further strengthens the team with his expertise in debt financing, where he represents US and international shipowners, banks, and private credit funds. Timpone, Agathis, and Kaasik joined the firm alongside Kurt Plankl from Seward & Kissel LLP in April 2025. All individuals mentioned are based in New York.

Advising clients spanning blue-water vessels to maritime lenders and borrowers, the team at Jones Walker LLP is well-versed in a range of financing work, including divestitures, restructurings, and asset purchases. In particular, the group excels at offshore wind work, supporting clients in joint ventures, vessel construction, and marine supply chain transactions. Leading the group is William Baldwin, who is regarded for his experience in representing lenders and borrowers on the domestic and international markets. Working alongside him is J. Kelly Duncan, who is well-versed in terminal tariffs, marine acquistions and forfeitures. For coastwide trade issues, Cindy Muller in Houston is the first point of call. Undertaking a variety of purchase and sale agreements, Christopher Ulfers also serves as counsel for the marine services division of a midstream energy partnership. Rounding out the team is Ilsa Luther, who advises on a diverse range of matters, including purchase contracts and ship mortgage financings. The team is based in New Orleans, unless stated otherwise.

The Maritime team at Seward & Kissel LLP continues to advise on a broad array of shipping financing matters, including capital market transactions, securitization, and wider commercial shipping mandates. The group specializes in advising public companies, alongside having extensive experience working with the US Coast Guard and the Maritime Administration on a range of US-flag matters. Keith Billotti is frequently engaged by banks, investors, and money managers, where he provides counsel on listings and wider M&A matters. He leads the team alongside Susanne Burstein, who joined the team from Watson Farley & Williams (New York) LLP in July 2025. Focusing on corporate securities, Edward S Horton is well-versed in advising domestic and international issuers and underwriters. Rounding out the team are Madison Pesce and Michael Indelicato, who are key names for capital market transactions in the space. Christopher Belisle and John Benson have both joined the New York-based team.

The team at Watson Farley & Williams (New York) LLP continues to advise a global client base, including international banks and major cruise liners, on a broad spectrum of financing matters. In particular, the group is frequently engaged in matters involving Greece-based US public shipping companies, including advising Greece-based ship owners on New York capital market listings. Steven Hollander primarily handles equity investments and public and private securities offerings. For matters involving the Securities Exchange Act and stock exchange rules, Filana Silberberg is the first point of call. Also well-versed in the stock market, Will Vogel advises clients on IPOs, private placements, and follow-on public offerings. Maxi Adamski-De Visser is another notable name in the group, where she works on cross-border and domestic asset-based finance transactions. Rounding out the team is C J Chido, who frequently advises on matters involving Marshall Islands and Liberian corporate and maritime law.  The group is based in New York. Susanne Burstein left the team in September 2025. Christopher Belisle and John Benson have both left the firm.

Advising on the full gamut of shipping finance transactions, the team at Norton Rose Fulbright has significant cross-border capabilities, supporting clients in the Marshall Islands, Norway, and Singapore. Recently, the group has been advising on a range of liquified natural gas projects, including the financing of new LNG and LPG carriers and floating storage regasification units. Based in New York, heading the team is Brian Devine whose expertise spans insolvency matters to international commercial transactions and disputes. Devine is licensed to practice in the Marshall Islands and frequently consults on transactions based in Liberia. Houston’s Josh Agrons is well-placed to handle the full spectrum of capital markets-related issues, including advising on high-yield note offerings and debt restructurings. Kassandra Savicki, based in New York, is a key point of contact for public companies, where she routinely advises on compliance matters and venture structuring.

The transportation team at Reed Smith LLP has a global reach, leveraging its network to act on matters spanning the Marshall Islands to the UAE. The group has experience advising on matters involving the US Jones Act, alongside supporting clients in navigating current US tariffs. New York’s Han Deng is the first port of call for shipowners, operators, and financial institutions due to her experience in complex financing matters and advising in financial compliance matters. Working alongside her in New York is Alice Colarossi, who undertakes a range of work in financing vessels, M&A transactions involving shipping companies, and the chartering of vessels. John McWilliams acts from Tysons and is well-versed in handling commercial agreements, including vendor and supplier contracts and structuring partnerships. Rounding out the team in New York is Josephine Chang, who is a key name for asset and equipment finance transactions. Richard Hakes leads the team from London.

Leveraging a global network, Vedder‘s shipping finance offering is comprehensive, advising clients on a broad range of maritime and offshore assets, including offshore construction to ferries. The group adeptly handles a diverse array of matters, including debt capital market transactions, cross-border leases, and export-credit facilities. John Imhof Jr is a key contact for investors, drawing on his three decades of experience to advise clients on investing in companies, joint ventures, and distressed debt. Working alongside him is Hoyoon Nam, who is qualified in New York, England & Wales, and the Marshall Islands; Nam specializes in asset financing. In Washington DC, Anthony Renzi frequently undertakes matters regarding clients in public and private equity. For large-scale vessel financing and refinancings, John Geager is a notable name. Geoffrey Kass leads the team from Chicago. All individuals mentioned are based in New York, unless otherwise stated.

The maritime and offshore team at Vinson & Elkins LLP remains active, advising on a range of renewable and clean energy projects, including representing clients in transactions involving liquefied natural gas, natural gas liquids, and the development of floating liquefied natural gas facilities. Other areas of expertise for the team include advising on Jones Act compliance and on matters relating to offshore supply and other support vessels. Recent highlights for the team include advising on an asset-based senior secured bridge loan credit facility and the acquisition and financing of an LNG tanker. John Michael, based in Houston, leads the team, where he has extensive experience in wider maritime transactions alongside advising on the export of crude oil and dry-bulk commodities.

The Maritime & Admiralty group at Winston Taylor are particularly strong in project finance transactions, working alongside public and private lenders, project sponsors, and equity investors. Beyond this, the team also has experience advising on Jones Act financing and foreign investments in Jones Act vessels and companies. The group also has expertise in offshore wind. A recent highlight for the group includes representing investors in the operation and maintenance of two floating production offshore storage vessels. Charlie Papavizas heads the team, where he frequently represents shipowners, marine construction companies, and financial institutions. Bryant Gardner, who specializes in maritime government contract negotiations and disputes. Both Gardener and Papavizas act from Washington DC.