Ship and yacht finance

Hill Dickinson has a dedicated ship and yacht finance group which deals with transactional work, particularly bi-lateral and syndicated debt financing transactions in connection with ship sale and purchase.

We are an acknowledged market leader in the yacht market and represent all sectors of the industry. As well as acting on behalf of the key parties in yacht insurance, we routinely advise lenders, owners, managers, brokers, designers and builders on the financial issues involved in the sale, purchase and leasing of yachts and super-yachts.

Hill Dickinson has a proven track record of acting for leaders in this specialist field. Our team has been appointed to a number of panels for yacht finance and we handle transactions of up to £50 million on behalf of banking clients. We act for existing client borrowers when sums can be well in excess of this figure.

The shipping team has a long and enviable reputation for dealing with all aspects of both contentious and non-contentious shipping-related work. The team receives instructions from the full spectrum of organisations involved in the maritime industry. This includes ship owners, charterers, shipyards, P&I clubs, port and terminal operators, underwriters and traders.

We have an in-depth understanding of the legal issues that arise out of banking documentation and are able to advise on commercial and practical matters. We are also instructed by banks in relation to enforcement issues, when our in-depth industry knowledge and relationships with the major brokers are invaluable to both borrower and lender.

We advise on areas such as:

  • Debt and equity financing
  • Pre and post-delivery financing of new buildings, including assignment of shipbuilding contracts and refund guarantees
  • Financing of second-hand vessels and sale and purchase work
  • Refinancing
  • Flagging issues
  • Leases
  • Commercial, technical or management and agency agreements
  • Joint venture agreements and special projects
  • Formation, acquisition and investment in shipping companies worldwide

Key contacts


Malcolm Entwistle
Partner
Malcolm Entwistle
Telephone
+44 (0) 20 7280 9134
Email
malcolm.entwistle@hilldickinson.com
James Lawson
Partner
James Lawson
Telephone
+44 (0) 20 7280 9156
Email
james.lawson@hilldickinson.com
Roderick Palmer
Partner
Roderick Palmer
Telephone
+44 (0) 20 7280 9137
Email
roderick.palmer@hilldickinson.com
Panos Pourgourides
Partner
Panos Pourgourides
Telephone
+44 (0) 20 7280 9191
Email
panos.pourgourides@hilldickinson.com

Legal 500 2012 logoHill Dickinson LLP is able to provide a ‘strong service’ across a range of financings.

Chambers 2012 Leading Firm logo[Hill Dickinson] has expertise in the full spectrum of financial products. Sources are keen to emphasise the precision with which transactions are executed: "They take complex cases and give you concise updates on where you are." The firm recently advised Johnson Service Group in relation to £78.5 million of facilities made available by a club of banks led by RBS.