Europe - Switzerland

HFW

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HFW‘s ’professional and client oriented’ team collaborates with its international network to advise client such as shipowners, charterers, P&I Clubs, banks, governments, and brokers on commercial, regulatory, and litigation matters. The team has extensive knowledge of the dry shipping, admiralty and crisis management markets as well as transactional work. Practice head Michael Buisset specialises in advising clients on dry shipping litigation and arbitration, including charterparties, bills of lading, ship sale and purchase, marine insurance (hull, cargo and P&I), and contracts of affreightment and is often involved in landmark court cases. Sarah Hunt has extensive experience advising trading companies, charterers and owners on complex shipping and international trade disputes. Hunt also heads a team of lawyers which has advised HFW’s industry clients on shipping, trading, insurance and complex trade finance matters involving multi-jurisdictional sanctions arising out of the Russo-Ukrainian war. Georges Racine and William Hold are also key members of the team.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘The team is very professional and client oriented.’

  • ‘William Hold - super knowledgeable and professional. Replying quickly. Working with big attention to the details.’

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Key clients

  • Arab Bank (Switzerland) Ltd
  • Apix (Agency for Foreign Investment and Major Works of the Republic of Senegal)
  • Japan P&I Club
  • Banque de Commerce et de Placement SA
  • UniCredit Bank AG
  • Hafesa Energia SL

Work highlights

  • Act for the financing bank in a dispute with the owner of a vessel over an alleged misdelivery of cargo.
  • Advising Agence de Promotion des Investissements et Grands Travaux-APIX- of the Republic of Senegal on all corporate issues connected with the high value Dakar-Diamniadio-AIBD Express Regional Train project.
  • Acted for Sellers in 8 separate sale & purchase transactions, comprising the client's entire fleet of trading vessels including advising on the MOA and utilising the team's cross-jurisdictional expertise in the sale of Swiss-flagged vessels to assure expeditious closings.

Lawyers

Leading individuals

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Michael Buisset

Other key lawyers

Sarah Hunt, Georges Racine, William Hold, Caroline West, Christian Iovene