Next Generation Partners

Rising Stars

Maritime and shipping in Germany

Arnecke Sibeth Dabelstein

Arnecke Sibeth Dabelstein comprehensively advises on all aspects in the maritime sector, including maritime law, transactions and marine insurance as well as antitrust and procurement law issues. Co-head Jan Dreyer specialises in contract drafting in connection with shipbuilding and ship financing; he heads the practice with the international maritime and inland waterway transport law expert Olaf Hartenstein. Dieter Schwampe covers contentious insurance issues, while Jan Tjarko Eichhorn is regularly instructed on corporate law as well as M&A transactions and joint ventures in the maritime sector. Oliver Behrendt frequently advises shipping companies, shipyards and their suppliers on shipbuilding and operation.

Praxisleiter:

Jan Dreyer; Olaf Hartenstein


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Oliver Behrendt; Dieter Schwampe; Jan Tjarko Eichhorn


Referenzen

‘The in-depth knowledge and experience are simply great. Few other law firms can come close.’

‘In my opinion, ASD has the best team in Germany. They specialize in various aspects of shipping and their experts cover all areas of maritime law. There is no better law firm in Germany in this area.’

‘One always works with someone who is an absolute expert in their field, so working with them is a pleasure. People who deserve special mention are Jan Dreyer, Dieter Schwampe and Jan Tjarko Eichhorn.’

Clyde & Co LLP

Clyde & Co LLP acts fom Hamburg and is experienced in large-scale damages, including arrest and gross average proceedings and related insurance disputes. The team advises on both German and English law and is led by Eckehard Volz; Volz offers longstanding expertise in maritime and inland waterway transport law and is additionally experienced in litigation, where he represents ship owners, charterers and insurers. Disputes under English law, especially LMAA arbitration proceedings, are handled by Daniel Jones and counsel Rory Duncan; both focus on coverage disputes and disputes in the yachting sector. Tim Schommer covers these issues under German law and is also well versed in drafting new shipbuilding contracts. Senior associate Jakob Haas is another key contact and represents German and foreign clients in larg-scale damages proceedings.

Praxisleiter:

Eckehard Volz


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Daniel Jones; Tim Schommer; Rory Duncan; Jakob Haas


Referenzen

‘Very personal and pleasant interaction with clients; extremely professional.’

‘Eckehard Volz can be contacted at any time and takes care of the client’s concerns immediately. He also has a very good feel for the needs of his clients.’

‘Short-term elaboration of the expected strategy for various case files. Excellent connections to all business partners.’

FLEET HAMBURG

FLEET HAMBURG comprehensively advises German and foreign manufacturers, service providers and insurers on all aspects of maritime law. Co-head Dharshini Bandara is qualified under English law and assists with commercial law issues, dry and wet maritime law and related disputes. She co-leads the team with Eva Bodenbach, who advises shipping companies and maritime service providers on ship financing and management contracts. Klaus Kostka comprehensively covers all aspects of insurance law and is also active in offshore plant construction. Further key contacts are the forwarding and transport lawyer Arthur Steinmann, who advises owners, charterers and shipping companies, and Tobias Nesemann; he is experienced in the cruise sector and assists with maritime and tourism law.

Praxisleiter:

Dharshini Bandara; Eva Bodenbach


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Klaus Kostka; Arthur Steinmann; Tobias Nesemann


Referenzen

‘The excellent combination of German and English qualified lawyers enables a holistic approach to advice and problem solving.’

‘Klaus Kostka is very familiar with German insurance conditions. Dharshini Bandara responds very quickly.’

‘Great combination of English and German lawyers with a focused, problem-solving and client-oriented approach.’

Highlight-Mandate


LEBUHN & PUCHTA

LEBUHN & PUCHTA advises clients in the maritime sector on the construction of offshore plants, including wind turbines, and on the financing of new construction projects. The capacities in the contentious area include insurance law disputes, where the team assists insurers, particularly from the London and Scandinavian markets; a key contact here is practice head and litigator Ulrich Stahl. Dieter Armbrust is also well versed in contentious matters and primarily acts at the interface between shipping and insurance law, while Christian Schlieker, who was appointed to partner in January 2023, routinely represents shipping companies in cross-border disputes. Other key contacts are Sarah Gahlen, who is experienced in the purchase of maritime and inland waterway vessels as well as the drafting of new construction and charter contracts, as well as the two key contacts for transactions and corporate law issues in the maritime sector, Matthias Wittschen and Jakob Hoffmann-Grambow.

Praxisleiter:

Ulrich Stahl


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Dieter Armbrust; Matthias Wittschen; Jakob Hoffmann-Grambow; Sarah Gahlen; Christian Schlieker


Referenzen

‘Very helpful and efficiently available assistance, even in comprehensive legal areas.’

‘Sympathy, understanding of the legal area and willingness to help at any time, even with special inquiries.’

‘A “go-to” law firm for German shipping and commercial law – quick response and effective solutions.’

Kernmandanten

E.R. Capital Holding


Aibel AS


Blue Star Group


Skyborn Offshore Solutions


Active Shipping


Bright Shipping


NORDCAPITAL-Gruppe


Ostfriesische Volksbank eG


VTG GmbH


Highlight-Mandate


  • Advice and representation of those involved in cargo following fires on car transporters with significant damage to the ship and cargo, including recourse.

  • Advising a leading liner shipping company on corporate law on a post-M&A restructuring.

Ehlermann Rindfleisch Gadow (ERG)

Ehlermann Rindfleisch Gadow (ERG) acts from Hamburg and London and advises on both German and English law. The core competencies include ship financing as well as shipbuilding, charter and shipping management contracts. The team is also well versed in transactions, joint ventures and clients' representation in contentious proceedings. Stefan Rindfleisch is a key contact for ship financing and restructuring matters; he is regularly instructed by funds as part of investments in the shipping sector. In addition, Hauke ​​Rittscher regularly acts on behalf of funds and shipping companies with regard to bilateral and syndicated loans; Carolin Schmeding and Adam Parmenter also count structured maritime financing among their core competencies; additionally, Schmeding is experienced in insolvency proceedings.

Weitere Kernanwälte:

Stefan Rindfleisch; Carolin Schmeding; Hauke Rittscher; Adam Parmenter


Referenzen

‘Specialized boutique-style law firm with a lot of specialist expertise in the maritime sector. The people are all very competent and reliable. Proactive work and precise knowledge of the clients’ needs.’

‘The law firm Ehlermann Rindfleisch Gadow is one of the most respected specialist law firms in shipping law in Germany, with which we have been working with trust for many years.’

‘We enjoy working with our contacts at ERG because they are absolutely reliable and have a very high level of specialist expertise.’

Luther Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH

Luther Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH is experienced in transactions and related financing in the maritime industry and also covers interfacing environmental and tax law matters. The practice management is shared by a trio: Benjamin Hub acts at the interface between corporate and insolvency law, while Florian Schulz specialises in M&A and joint ventures,  and Daniel Fehling is well versed in M&A as well as matters pertaining to commercial and river cruise ships. Shipping companies, ship owners and ports also instruct the team on digitised contract drafting and other documents. Jette Gustafsson is the key contact for digitisation matters, she also advises on maritime trade law and cross-border disputes.

Praxisleiter:

Benjamin Hub; Florian Schulz; Daniel Fehling


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Jette Gustafsson


Kernmandanten

LOMAR SHIPPING LIMITED


Bundesministerium der Verteidigung


OKEE Maritime Gruppe


Siem Europe SARL


Al Seer Marine Supplies & Equipment Company P.J.S.C.


Thomas Miller Holding Ltd.


Obotritia Capital KGaA


Hansa Hamburg Shipping International GmbH & Co. KG


Highlight-Mandate


  • Legal and tax advice to Lomar Shipping Limited on the acquisition of the shipping company Carl Büttner Holding GmbH & Co. KG.

  • Advising the Federal Ministry of Defense on the purchase of the MV shipyards in Rostock-Warnemünde for the Federal Republic of Germany.

  • Advising OKEE Maritime GmbH on taking out loans to finance oil tankers.

Watson Farley & Williams LLP

Watson Farley & Williams LLP focuses on transactions and financing and advises shipowners, lenders and cruise operators on ship and container financing and leasing structures as well as shipbuilding contracts. A key contact here is practice head Christian Finnern, who assists with shipbuilding and sales as well as matters pertaining to flag flying and the registration of ships; he also supports insolvency proceedings in the maritime sector. The financing expert Clemens Hillmer is well versed in leasing contracts and restructuring.

Praxisleiter:

Christian Finnern


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Clemens Hillmer


Referenzen

‘Long-term, excellent client support at the highest level.’

‘Very easy to contact, quick response times, consistently good quality.’

‘Clemens Hillmer is a very pleasant personality who usually comes up with very pragmatic ideas.’

Kernmandanten

MPC Capital Group


MPC Container Ships ASA


Hurtigruten Group


TUI Cruises


HCOB


HSH Portfoliomanagement AöR


Berenberg Bank


Eurazeo Investment Manager – EIM


Highlight-Mandate


  • Advising MPC Capital Group on the contract to build four ultra-modern, environmentally friendly 5,500 TEU container ships awarded to the South Korean shipyard HJ Shipbuilding and Construction.

  • Advising HSH portfoliomanagement AöR on the due diligence relating to the sale of some ships, which are part of the client’s remaining ship loan portfolio, to a bidding consortium consisting of Bank of America and Davidson Kempner Capital Management LP.

  • Advised Hamburg Commercial Bank on a new $180 million banking facility provided to an intermediary holding company by MPC Container Ships ASA.

REMÉ Rechtsanwälte

REMÉ Rechtsanwälte specialises in maritime and transport law and advises on transport insurance and shipping liability insurance issues, this expertise is regularly called upon by insurers, marine hull insurers and carriers. The team also handles clients' representation in disputes, including accidents, collisions and cargo damage. Practice head Ingo Gercke is also well versed in insurance disputes, including charter party disputes, and additionally assists with contract drafting. Christoph Singer is a key contact for accident-based matters and regularly acts on behalf of public sector clients.

Praxisleiter:

Ingo Gercke


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Christoph Singer; Niels Tobien; Andreas Zink


Referenzen

‘REMÉ has ​​in-depth knowledge of shipping and transport law. For me, REMÉ is the first point of contact for shipping matters. The lawyers are competent.’

‘It is a pleasure to work with Ingo Gercke. He gets to the point very quickly and achieves good results. In legal disputes he is decisive but not overly aggressive. Niels Tobien is a friendly and experienced lawyer.’

‘REMÉ takes a very commercial and practical approach to litigation. They are very effective litigators and have an excellent reputation for compensation.’

Kernmandanten

AIG Europe SA


Dachser SE


Zurich Insurance plc


Gebr. Weiss GmbH


Highlight-Mandate


  • Advising AIG Europe SA on all transport law matters in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, including transport recourse and recourse defense.

  • Advising Zurich Insurance plc on all transport law matters in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Blaum Dettmers Rabstein

Blaum Dettmers Rabstein acts at the interface between shipping, transport and logistics law and assists with contract drafting, port-related logistics properties as well as the enforcement of and defense against transport damages claims. Insurers, shipping companies, carriers and logistics companies as well as port terminal operators call upon this expertise. Practice head Kay Uwe Bahnsen comprehensively advises on maritime, transport and forwarding law issues; Elke Wietoska (contract drafting, maritime trade and insurance law) is another key contact.

Praxisleiter:

Kay Uwe Bahnsen


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Elke Wietoska; Claus Holzhüter


UPWIND Legal

Hamburg-based boutique UPWIND Legal focuses on acquisitions and sales of yachts and superyachts and is also experienced in container ship transactions. This corresponds with the expertise of the two practice heads Julia Wiechell and Martin Malinowski; both also assist with contentious proceedings. They are supported by associate Alicia Vázquez Prendes; she places a focus on the yacht sector and supports the acquisitions and sales of commercial vessels.

Praxisleiter:

Julia Wiechell; Martin Malinowski


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Alicia Vázquez Prendes


Referenzen

‘UPWIND and their staff have extensive experience in the yachting industry and offer fast, practical advice.’

‘Julia Wiechell is a highly experienced and knowledgeable lawyer who advises her clients in a practical and useful manner. Overall, she is very pleasant to work with and is able to build good relationships with clients and fellow lawyers.’

‘Julia Wiechell and Martin Malinowski are well-known and valued in the industry. Julia is practical, intelligent and strives to find a way forward in every situation. Martin is a great negotiator and litigator.’