Hailed as ‘the best maritime law firm in Panama’, Arias, Fábrega & Fábrega houses a comprehensive practice with a notable strong suit in shipping finance, frequently drawing on close connections to major international firms to advise ship owners and financial institutions on high-value, cross-border transactions. The team also handles a high volume of vessel registrations (including of mobile offshoring drilling units) under the Panamanian flag, and assists with obtaining operating licences for port services. Shipping litigation forms another key pillar of the practice; the team’s impressive record in this area includes representing clients before the Maritime Courts and Supreme Court of Panama. Jorge Loaiza III, who has three decades’ experience spanning ship finance, registration and disputes, leads the team. The ‘brilliant’ Pilar Castillo and Fernando Aued, who focuses on litigation, are also key names at top level.

Morgan & Morgan fields an ‘exceptionally responsive and knowledgeable' team of lawyers who are ‘among the finest in their field', with a wide-ranging practice taking in ship finance, registration and litigation. ‘Outstanding litigator' Juan David Morgan Jr leads the contentious side of the practice, which represents an impressive roster of shipowners, P&I clubs, charterers and other parties in collision, personal injury and marine insurance claims, among others. On the non-contentious side, the ‘supportive and knowledgeable' Jazmina Rovi focuses on ship finance, frequently acting for international lenders in complex, cross-border transactions, and also advises on a significant share of registrations under the Panamanian flag. Francisco Linares and Luis Raven are also go-to names for maritime disputes, while associate Andrés Mejía is a key member of the ship finance team, with notable expertise in the Libor transition of loan facilities. Clients of the firm also benefit from its legaltech offering, including its GAD Portal, an e-storage facility to expedite the ship mortgage registration process.

Described as ‘leading the field for lender ship finance in Panama', Patton, Moreno & Asvat's ‘first-class' practice enjoys a strong international profile, bolstered by its London office, which enables the firm to act for a host of foreign financial institutions on complex, cross-border shipping finance mandates. The firm also handles the granting and registration of naval mortgages and houses a thriving shipping litigation practice, where Joaquín de Obarrio, who was appointed partner in April 2024, is the key contact. María Teresa Díaz, a prominent figure in the field of maritime law, leads the team alongside ‘go-to ship finance lawyer' Belisario Porras, who has a particularly strong record of advising European and Asian clients. Enrique Sibauste is the name to note in the London office, and Nadya Price also assists ship owners with corporate and financial matters.