Superyachts/Yachts

MFB has an experienced, dedicated team that advises across the spectrum of EU and non-EU yacht and superyacht matters, whether transactional, contentious or compliance related. We act for HNW/UHNW clients, both directly and through and with family offices, private client advisers, captains, brokers and designers. We deal with operational issues working with shipyards, technical/commercial managers and surveyors. We act for specialist lenders to the superyacht market and for and with specialist insurance brokers/underwriters and other HNW/UHNW sector professionals including corporate service providers

The type of issues we cover include:

Transactional

• Ownership and VAT structures

• Choice of flag, owning company, import/export arrangements

• Sale and purchase

• Construction, design and refit, both on the ICOMIA and bespoke forms

• Regulatory and flagging requirements

• Finance (equity and traditional debt) including mortgages, assignments, pledges and other security

• Classification, valuation and technical/condition surveys

• Escrow arrangements for deposit holding/release

• Charter operations, including central agency agreements and charter management contracts.

Dispute Resolution, Litigation and Arbitration

• Yachtbuilding and product liability

• Insurance claims

• Sale and purchase and charter disputes (including MYBA/IYBA/Bespoke)

• Salvage and emergency response/accident investigation

• Commission disputes between brokers and/or brokers and owners

• Commercial and technical management disputes

• Enforcement of maritime security/liens/arrests and release of arrest

• Distressed asset sales including divorce/debt sales (jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction analysis) and asset location

• Expert witnesses (valuations/technical/condition).

Our network of legal advisers, brokers and experts covers Flag States across the world, including popular choices such as the Cayman Islands, the UK and other Red Ensign Group flags, Malta, Cyprus and the Marshall Islands.

MFB is a member of the British Marine Federation (BMF) and Superyacht UK Association, and of the Association of Professional Yacht Brokers and Yacht Agents (ABYA) and of the Royal Thames Yacht Club.