Stephenson Harwood
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.
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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
Rising stars
Leading individuals
Stephenson Harwood
Alain is a highly established figure in France's banking and finance sector, with vast experience working on asset finance matters. Ranked as the number one ship finance lawyer in France by the leading legal directories, he also works on all aspects relating to the transportation industry. Alain acts predominantly in the field of asset finance (ships, corporate jets, industrial equipment, rolling stock), project finance, tax leasing, export credits, acquisition finance, securitisation and commodities financing. He has extensive experience advising banks and other financing institutions, leasing companies, sponsors and operators. A significant part of Alain’s practice involves the structuring of complex tax-based leasing structures. Together with Stéphane Salou, he has spearheaded the development of these types of products in the French legal market. In addition to his banking and finance expertise, Alain covers all aspects of the transportation industry including regulatory, acquisitions and restructurings. Alain speaks English and French and is a member of the Paris, New York and Manitoba (Canada) bars. He has also contributed to the fourth edition of the leading ship finance industry handbook, Shipping Finance.
Next Generation Partners
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Alain Gautron