The shipping finance practice at Stephenson Harwood represents major French banks in significant vessel financings, restructurings, and transactions within the French market, as well as international transactions involving domestic banks, leveraging their global network of offices in key maritime jurisdictions such as China, London, Dubai, Singapore, and Seoul. Leading the team is Alain Gautron, a recognised expert in the field, known for his regular counsel to banks and financial institutions, covering French tax lease financings, export credits, securitisation, multi-lateral facilities, and banking support. The team also includes recently promoted partner (May 2023) Ezio Dal Maso, who heads the superyacht practice, specialising in non-contentious work related to financing, ownership structuring, and ship registration. Additionally, Hortense Atthenont-Duret, a managing associate, brings her expertise in asset finance, export finance, and transportation to the practice.
Key clients
- BNP Paribas
- Compagnie du Ponant
- Caisse d'Epargne Languedoc-Roussillon|Caisse d'Epargne Bretagne Pays de Loire
- Accor
- Rubis Energie
- Fimar
- Corsica Ferries
- Crédit Industriel et Commercial (CIC)
- Ingépar (Bred subsidiary)
- CEPAC
- Caisse d’Epargne Ile de France
- Socatra
- JP Morgan Asset Management
- Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank (CACIB)
Work highlights
- Advising CIC as lease arrangers and tax investors on the legal and tax aspects of a leasing transaction for five $180m LNG carriers.
- Assisting Accor Hotel group with the creation of an UltraLuxury offering under the brand name Orient Express Cruise Lines.
- Assisting JP Morgan Asset Management, through its Global Transportation Group, with the establishment of a fully-fledged French ship operator.
Lawyers
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Alain Gautron