Firm Profile

Stephenson Harwood’s shipping group comprises its shipping litigation team and its shipping finance team. It has one of the most prominent and experienced shipping practices with shipping lawyers in all the major maritime centres, including Beijing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, Piraeus and London as part of an integrated global shipping practice. The combined strength of its shipping finance and shipping litigation capability is unparalleled amongst our competitors.

The shipping litigation team specialise in all aspects of maritime dispute resolution including mediation, high court litigation in Hong Kong and England, interim relief and security measures (arrest  of ships and property, Mareva and Anton Pillar injunctions), arbitration under HKIAC, LOF, LMAA, and GAFTA rules, and on an ad-hoc basis. 

The shipping finance team is recognised for its commerciality and ability to solve problem using innovative financing structures. 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 also have experience of acting for ship owners / operators – so they are familiar with issues on both sides of the table. The team also acts for lessors and arrangers, export credit agencies and lessees.