Building a vessel is a significant investment that demands a strong legal foundation from the outset. Our services span drafting and negotiating shipyard agreements, reviewing technical specifications, establishing milestone-payment schedules, and defining warranty, delivery, and acceptance protocols. With sound legal guidance, our clients can move forward with confidence, knowing that their investment is safeguarded from shipyard selection through vessel handovers.

Whether for a commercial vessel or private yacht, proper registration and certification are essential to ensuring readiness and ongoing compliance. We advise on U.S. Coast Guard requirements and registering vessels under international flags, assessing the legal and operational implications of each option. Our counsel covers flag state and classification society selection based on vessel type, ownership framework and intended use. From registering a newbuild in the U.S. to reflagging a commercial fleet internationally, we manage the legal and procedural requirements to keep your vessel ready for service.

Charter agreements are the backbone of vessel operations, requiring meticulous legal structuring to align with each client’s objectives. We support commercial vessel and private yacht owners, operators, and managers in drafting and negotiating bareboat, time, and voyage charters—with each agreement tailored to the unique terms of the transaction. Our approach addresses essential concerns, such as liability allocation, performance guarantees, tax implications, crew arrangements, and dispute resolution strategies. Whether customizing industry-standard forms or drafting highly specialized agreements, we deliver contracts that are legally sound, strategically crafted, and suited to the vessel and its intended use.

We provide comprehensive legal support throughout the vessel sales and purchase process.  This ensures seamless and secure ownership transfers—whether for commercial and passenger vessels, private yachts, or entire fleets. Our work spans drafting and negotiating letters of intent, memoranda of agreement, and sale and purchase agreements, due diligence on maritime encumbrances and liens, and registering with flag states and classification societies. We handle all documentation required for title transfer, bills of sale and delivery protocols.  For cross-border transactions, we navigate multi-jurisdictional closings with efficiency and precision.

Ship financing and marine insurance require careful structuring to protect capital investments and maritime assets. We advise on ship mortgages, leasing arrangements, loan agreements, and refinancing, tailoring each transaction to our client’s priorities. Our insurance expertise spans the full spectrum of marine coverage, including protection and indemnity, hull and machinery, cargo and freight, builder’s liability, war risk, piracy, terrorism, and excess liability. We ensure every policy is aligned to address the financial exposures and inherent risks of maritime activities, delivering robust and practical protection.

Clear, enforceable crew and management agreements are essential to efficient vessel operations. We advise on a full range of crewing and vessel management contracts, ensuring compliance with labor regulations, international standards, and the Maritime Labour Convention. Our services cover contract drafting and negotiation, flag state labor requirements, safety management obligations, and provisions related to crew performance, welfare, and liability. We help ensure your crewing operations are safe, compliant, and commercially viable.

Shipyard projects—whether for repairs, retrofits, or upgrades—require focused agreements to manage risk, minimize business disruptions, and control costs.  Our firm drafts and negotiates shipyard and service contracts covering key provisions such as delay penalties, performance guarantees, change orders, liquidated damages, and warranty obligations. Each contract is customized to the project’s technical scope and aligned with class society rules (if applicable), flag state regulations, and insurance standards.  With clearly defined responsibilities and risk allocation, these agreements support seamless execution and timely vessel re-entry into service—without unnecessary delay.