Drawing upon in-depth sector and litigation procedural knowledge, as well as  being able to collaborate with specialists in other key jurisdictions, including London, Dubai and Hong Kong, HFW excels in handling big-ticket cross-border disputes for large shipping companies and their insurers, international salvors and shipyards. Dimitris Exarchou  has vast experience handling a range of disputes relating to charterparties, bills of lading and shipbuilding contracts, inter alia. He has recently been involved in a number of charterparty arbitrations arising from the Ukraine war, and also has experience handling conventional litigation, including reported cases before the UK Court of Appeal. Dimitri Vassos, who co-heads the practice alongside Exarchou, also handles a myriad dry litigation, as well as some admiralty matters, including salvage, collisions and total loss matters.

Leveraging a ‘deep understanding of the shipping industry’, developed as a result of over thirty years’ experience in the Greek market, Hill Dickinson LLP is well-placed to provide ‘clear, concise, and actionable advice’ to a myriad local and international stakeholders, as claimants or defendants, in diverse matters, running the gamut from small relatively commoditised disputes through to complex multi-jurisdictional matters, often requiring the mobilisation of other lawyers across the firm’s international network. ‘Very experienced’ team head Maria Moisidou is an ‘excellent strategist’ whose ability to ‘balance the needs of clients with various interests’ is central to her success in complex, multi-faceted cases, including her recent victory in a high-profile marine insurance case (“WIN WIN”) where the English High Court made a determination, for the first time, on the scope of a war risks policy for an indemnity for constructive total loss of a vessel. The ‘responsive and collaborative’ Alexander Freeman also assisted on this case and continues to gain excellent market recognition for his aptitude at handling cross-border charterparty disputes and cargo claims, as well as in relation to risk management advice. Timon Karamanos provides a ‘solutions-oriented’ approach to handling “dry” disputes and ‘explores alternative routes to reach a successful end result’, including through mediation. On the “wet” front, Martin Hall, who has ‘huge experience in salvage and casualty-related work’, and Ian Teare, who is also extremely adept at handling marine claims, are the main practitioners and split their time between Greece and London. Dimitris Anassis excels in handling contractual and tort-based shipping and international trade disputes, either through ADR or conventional litigation means. At associate level, the ‘highly committed, knowledgeable and commercial’ Vassilis Mavrakis; Maria Zermasli; and the ‘extremely hardworking’ Harris Kouppas are all recommended.

Combining an 'in-depth knowledge of maritime law' with a 'strategic approach to dispute resolution', Timagenis Law Firm is a popular choice among shipowners and P&I clubs engaged in high-stakes wet and dry shipping litigation. Appreciated for his 'sharp and methodical way of thinking', Gregory Timagenis regularly achieves favourable results for clients at all levels of the Greek courts, including in appellate proceedings. 'An outstanding and forward-thinking lawyer', Christos Timagenis  has 'extensive experience in handling complex and intricate cases', particularly in the context of multi-jurisdictional shipping-related commercial litigation (including shareholder disputes and insolvency proceedings). Here he is able to draw upon his broader corporate and securities transactional strength and dual US/Greek qualifications.  Yiannis Timagenis rounds out the team at a leadership level, combining a 'deep knowledge of maritime law' with a 'profound understanding of the shipping industry', ensuring that he is able 'to navigate the most challenging legal issues with ease'. 

Now with even greater resources at its disposal since its foundation in May 2022 and also able to serve clients via its London office which opened in September 2023, boutique maritime firm LCI Law continues to gain traction among shipowners and P&I clubs across a range of dry and wet disputes. Antonis Lagadianos heads up the English law part of the practice and has vast experience advising on shipping and trade contractual disputes, as well as admiralty arbitrations governed under English law. George Iatridis co-heads the overarching team alongside Lagadianos and is responsible for handling the Greek law aspects of the practice, while Evangelos Catsambas is also key to the English law-governed side of the practice, excelling in handling London-based arbitrations across charterparties and bills of lading disputes, as well as collisions, salvage and marine accidents.

Although it has a relatively small core offering in Athens, the 'responsive' team at Reed Smith LLP punches above its weight by virtue of its ability to draw upon strength in key global maritime locations, ensuring it is particularly skilled at handling complex multi-jurisdictional mandates. Much of the work relates to London-seated arbitrations, with 'commercially minded' team head Sally-Ann Underhill, who divides her time between London and Athens, being highly skilled in navigating shipping contractual disputes for a myriad stakeholders, including as it relates to charterparties, bills of lading and shipbuilding. 'Highly professional and collaborative' Greek and UK-qualified associate Dimitris Athanasopoulos is also key to wet and dry London-seated arbitrations, while also being able to advise on local law issues.

While it remains better known for its shipping finance offering, Norton Rose Fulbright has some capacity on the litigation front, picking up work from shipowners/operators and banks across a range of disputes, including those involving shipbuilding contracts, ship sales and enforcement actions. Much of this work is handled in conjunction with the firm's London office, with UK-qualified special counsel Ieronymos Bikakis often taking the lead from Athens. Yianni Cheilas  heads up the overarching shipping group, and although he is primarily a transactional lawyer he does handle work for banks and funds, for example, on enforcement matters and vessel arrests.

'Well-connected in the market', including among local owner/operators, the 'very knowledgeable' team at PPT Legal is 'effective at finding pragmatic solutions' across a wide array of shipping disputes. Paris Karamitsios is a 'first-class shipping litigator' who excels in 'providing practical and commercial solutions' to defendants and claimants in litigation pursued through the Greek courts, including before the Supreme Court. John Papapetros heads up the overarching shipping group which houses the litigation function.

Galvanised by the arrival of several shipping litigators in the wake of Ince & Co's demise and further strengthened by the recruitment in September 2024 of Natalie Jackson from HFW, Watson Farley & Williams – Greek Branch's growing shipping litigation offering now has the resources to advise on a significant volume and range of wet and dry work. One of the new arrivals is Aris Moschopoulos, whose dual UK and Greek qualifications ensure he is well-placed to represent clients, including P&I clubs and shipping companies, across a myriad disputes domestically, before the UK High Court and in arbitrations under various sets of rules. Dimitris Giomelakis also joined in February 2024 from Ince & Co, and has expertise relating to marine accidents, salvage claims and a myriad civil, insurance and reinsurance disputes. Alexia Hatzimichalis co-heads the team alongside Moschopoulos.