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HFW is an international law firm with over 700 lawyers working across our global network. We advise clients on legal issues in relation to all aspects of international commerce and we are regarded as one of the world’s leading shipping law firms. The expertise, experience and reputation earned in commercial shipping over our nearly 140 years in business is carried into our yacht practice.

Our yacht team has been an integral part of the yacht industry for over 30 years and has a physical presence in many of the major yachting jurisdictions. The enduring relationships developed with the owners, builders, designers, financiers, insurers, brokers and managers of yachts, our in-depth knowledge of the yacht industry and our international reach ensure we are pre-eminent in the field.

Holman Fenwick has a market-leading yacht practice which draws on the experience of its world-renowned shipping team. Holman Fenwick is regarded as “one of the most prominent firms around,” with a “very high profile in the yachting world.” The firm represents some of the world’s leading shipyards as well as a number of prominent HNW yacht owners.

“Every question, advice or legal paper concerning my business is individually tailored to the project or client; HFW has proven to be able to handle it all. They are very well connected within the industry and are viewed as an industry standard.”

“Between the Monaco and London offices, and a global presence, their network allows them to address every issue that may arise in yachting.”

“HFW are an excellent yacht and maritime law firm,” says an interviewee, who adds that “they have a very deep bench and an extremely well-qualified yacht law team.” The firm’s “extremely professional” yacht lawyers advise clients on sophisticated cross-border financings, transactions and contentious matters.

“HFW are well positioned in the super yacht industry to have in-depth market and commercial knowledge,” says a source.

Our yacht team is positioned to assist with any aspect of constructing, purchasing and operating a yacht. We, of course, cannot disclose details of our clients or any of the projects in which we have been involved. However, we are routinely involved in some of the largest and most complex projects in the yacht industry.

Design agreements and intellectual property issues

Construction agreements

• Pre and post-delivery financing, restructuring and work out arrangements

Yacht sale and purchase transactions

Ownership structures

Registration arrangements

Import and export formalities

VAT/Customs issues

Management agreements

Crewing and employment matters

Refit and repair contracts

• Charter agreements

Sale and purchase of berths

Physical and cyber security arrangements

Health, safety and regulatory compliance

Business jets and helicopters

• Tenders, submersibles and other ancillary equipment

Yacht arrest and dispute resolution

Admiralty and crisis management

• Insurance arrangements, including questions of coverage

Jay specialises in yacht and ship building, yacht and ship sale and purchase, yacht, ship and asset finance, corporate law and international trade.

Position : Partner Specialism : Transactional

London Tel: +44 (0)20 7264 8386 Email Jay

Andrew Charlier

Andrew Charlier is co-head of HFW’s yacht team and head of the firm’s Monaco office. He specialises in yacht purchase and sale, construction and finance, with 30 years’ experience of representing owners on all aspects of the yachting industry. He also assists clients with the sale, purchase and ownership of private jets.

Monaco Tel: +377 92 00 13 22 Email Andrew

William MacLachlan

William advises on a wide range of yacht related matters with a particular focus on VAT, design/intellectual property, construction, sale and purchase, charter, management, refit and repair, and also advises on physical and cyber security on board yachts. He spent 8 months seconded to a leading German yacht builder.

William is a trustee of the Mission to Seafarers, one of HFW’s global charity partners, and a member of the board of advisers of the ‘She of the Sea’ campaign to encourage diversity amongst those employed at sea in the yachting industry.

London Tel: +44 (0)20 7264 8007 Email William

Adam has over 20 years’ experience in the industry and acts regularly for banks and other financial institutions as well as for owners, advising them on finance transactions and sale and purchase of yachts, as well as registrations, management and operating issues.

London Tel: +44 (0)20 7264 8264 Email Adam

Alistair Feeney

Alistair has more than 15 years’ experience of handling disputes relating to yacht construction, sale and purchase, refit and repair, charters and broking.  He has acted for builders, owners, charterers and brokers in arbitration and court proceedings in many jurisdictions, including obtaining arrest orders and other protective measures.  Alistair works closely with other members of HFW’s yacht team in managing disputes from an early stage, with the aim of achieving early, successful outcomes.

Position : Partner Specialism : Disputes

London Tel: +44 (0)20 7264 8424 Email Alistair

Tom Walters

Before joining HFW in 2002, Tom worked for seven years for a naval architecture practice on the UK’s south coast designing superyachts. Tom regularly deals with yacht casualties, insurance claims and transportation disputes. His technical background means he has also been involved with a number of technical cases and construction disputes concerning yachts. Tom advises on the use of Maritime Autonomous Systems (MAS) technology in response to the increasing demand for autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and Autonomous Surface Vessels (ASVs). Tom is a member of The Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA) and works with the Society of Underwater Technology (SUT) advising on various legal issues. He is also a member of various SUT Sub-Committees, including Salvage & Emergency Subsea Response and Technology and Innovation.

Position : Partner Specialism : Insurance & Admiralty & Crisis Management

London Tel: +44 (0)20 7264 8285 Email Tom

Alex specialises in marine insurance and crisis response. He has advised both yacht owners and insurers on a variety of matters affecting large yachts, including fires, groundings, missing vessels, damage sustained whilst being transported, structural defects, main engine damage and damage to gel coatings. He has also advised on yacht casualties including those requiring salvage assistance. Alex has undertaken a secondment at a leading London marine insurer.

London Tel: +44 (0)20 7264 8432 Email Alex

Alex Sayegh

Alex specialises in the transactional aspects of the commercial yachting industries; advising owners, shipyards and financiers on the construction, refit, repair, sale and purchase of various types of vessels. He has a particular focus on construction contracts for new builds and has extensive experience of negotiating with shipyards and yacht builders throughout the world. Alex also regularly lectures on the subjects of shipbuilding and sale and purchase contracts.

Position : Legal Director Specialism : Transactional

London Tel: +44 (0)20 7264 8394 Email Alex

Jessica Taylor

Jessica specialises in the transactional side of yachting and commercial shipping, advising owners, shipyards, financial institutions, brokerage houses, and designers on all aspects of the construction, refit, sale and purchase, design, management, crewing and chartering of large yachts.

London Tel: +44 (0)20 7264 8020 Email Jessica

Thomas Willan

Thomas specialises in asset finance, with a particular emphasis on ship, superyacht and aviation finance. He advises commercial and private wealth banks and other financial institutions, investors, owners, charterers and manufacturers in connection with pre- and post-delivery bilateral and syndicated financings and general banking arrangements. His work also covers sale and purchase, leasing arrangements, restructurings and workouts. Thomas has spent time on client secondment at a specialist transport finance bank.

London Tel: +44 (0)20 7264 8544 Email Thomas

Ian is a banking and finance lawyer with specialist experience in the shipping, superyacht, offshore and aviation sectors. Ian advises banks and other financial institutions, funds, Islamic investors, insurance companies and owners on a variety of matters including new financings, sale and purchase, leasing, restructurings, work outs and enforcements.

Ian is a member of the executive committee of Superyacht UK (part of the British Marine Federation), the membership association of the UK superyacht industry, representing the interests of the industry in the UK and internationally.

London Tel: +44 (0)20 7264 8274 Email Ian

Michelle Chance

Michelle Chance has over 20 years’ experience advising on complex and sensitive employment matters, which often involve discrimination and where the stakes in terms of monetary value and reputational risk are high. Michelle’s specific yacht experience includes advising on the impact of sanctions on potential employment claims of unionised crew members, as well as drafting seafarers employment agreements and advising on and updating employment policies and procedures for crew members in the light of an International Human Rights At Sea investigation into claims of bullying and harassment.

Position : Partner Specialism : Employment

London Tel: +44 (0)20 7264 8384 Email Michelle

Mark Thompson

Mark is a Senior Manager & Senior Master Mariner and forms part of our shipping emergency response team. Mark deals with yacht casualties, including fires, collisions, groundings, helicopter incidents, tender/PWC related accidents, pollution, total loss and salvage. Mark attends the scene of yacht casualties in order to manage the casualty response, liaise with other interested parties and protect or Clients’ interests.

Before joining HFW, Mark had 17 years seagoing experience, and has sailed as Master on high speed passenger vessels and freight RoRo vessels. Mark has a background as a marine casualty investigator, holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Applied Navigation, HND in Nautical Science and is qualified as a Specialist Navigating Officer with the Royal Navy.

Position : Senior Manager & Senior Master Mariner Specialism : Admiralty & Crisis Management

London Tel: +44 (0) 20 7264 8528 Email Mark

Zoe Triantafyllou

Zoe advises yacht finance providers and yacht owners on a wide range of transactional matters including debt finance, export credit finance, leasing structures, restructuring, refinancing and sale and purchase.

She has also spent time working at HFW’s Piraeus office and speaks fluent Greek.

Position : Senior Associate Specialism : Transactional

London Tel: +44 (0)20 7264 8243 Email Zoe

Amalia Tzima

Amalia specialises in the transactional aspects of yachting. She advises owners, shipyards, brokerage houses and designers on matters involving the construction, refit/repair, design, sale and purchase, management and registration of yachts.

Position : Associate Specialism : Transactional

London Tel: +44 (0)20 7264 8220 Email Amalia

Zain specialises in transactional, finance and corporate work and advises yacht owners on yacht sale and purchase, crewing and management arrangements.

London Tel: +44 (0)20 7264 8369

Pauline Arroyo

Pauline Arroyo is a partner based in HFW’s Paris office. With a broad experience in yacht-related VAT and customs matters, she advises on EU and French VAT and customs issues in all types of yacht transactions and assists owners and yacht managers in relation to the context of customs controls and litigation in France.

Position : Partner Specialism : Insurance & VAT

Paris Tel: +33 1 44 94 40 50 Email Pauline

Stéphanie Schweitzer

Stéphanie has extensive experience in yacht-related employment and personal injury matters. She regularly advises yacht owners and insurers in relation to passenger claims, crew contracts and claims and social security issues. Stéphanie also often assists clients of the yachting industry in relation to contract of carriage, charter parties and yacht arrests.

Position : Partner Specialism : Disputes & Personal Injury

Paris Tel: +33 1 44 94 31 64 Email Stephanie

Rosina Dyke

Rosina specialises in the transactional aspects of yachting. She primarily advises owners and financial institutions on the sale, purchase, construction, refit, financing, and registration of yachts and the corporate entity that holds them.

Paris Tel: +33 (0)1 44 94 31 62 Email Rosina

Ian Cranston

Ian is particularly lauded for his shipping and yacht expertise. He has close to 30 years’ experience in successfully handling yachting disputes in arbitration and court proceedings and generally advising owners, charterers, brokers and yards on matters related to yacht sale & purchase, charter, refit and construction.

Monaco Tel: +377 92 00 13 21 Email Ian

Richard Mabane

Richard has been a litigation partner at HFW since 2001, with particular expertise in relation to shipbuilding and repair, charterparties and ship sale disputes. In early 2023 he relocated to our Monaco office with a view to doing more yacht-related work. A highly successful trial lawyer (he has won all 23 of the cases he has taken to trial), Richard is also a strong advocate of mediation, where also has a high success rate, having settled over 90% of his 35 mediations on the day.

Fluent in Italian and French, Richard has very close connections with Italy and a number of longstanding Italian clients. In the field of yachting, he has handled yacht construction, refit and repair, sale and purchase and charter disputes.

Monaco Tel: D +377 92 00 13 23 Email Richard

George Kaye

George specialises in dispute resolution and regularly advises owners, charterers and brokers on matters involving yacht construction, sale and purchase and charter.

Position : Senior Associate Specialism : Disputes

Monaco Tel: +377 92 00 13 26 Email George

Middle East, Asia Pacific and the Americas

Tien has extensive experience in our non-contentious practice, with special focus on yacht building, sale and purchase, registration, crewing and finance in all the major yacht registries including the UAE. His recent experience includes negotiation of yacht refit contracts with GCC yards. Tien has spent time on client secondment at the ship finance team of an international bank.

Dubai Tel: +971 4423 0555 Email Tien

Patrick Cheung

Patrick has extensive transactional experience, with a special focus on ship and yacht building, sale and purchase, registration and finance as well as private jet finance, registration, management and operation agreements.

Hong Kong Tel: +852 3983 7778 Email Patrick

Angie is a corporate and finance lawyer with a broad non-contentious practice. Her yacht expertise includes yacht sale and purchase, construction and yacht registration, as well as yacht finance and other commercial yacht-related matters. Fully tri-lingual in English, Cantonese and Mandarin, Angie often advises clients within Hong Kong and mainland China.

Hong Kong/Shanghai Tel: +852 3983 7779 Tel: +86 21 2080 1133 Email Angie

Henry has an established transactional and contentious practice. His transactional experience includes yacht and construction, sale and purchase and finance matters. On the contentious side, Henry acts for yacht owners, buyers and sellers and shipyards on matters including shipbuilding and MoA disputes, charterparty disputes, personal injury claims and insurance claims. He also acts in crew claims and enforcement.

Position : Partner Specialism : Disputes & Transactional

Hong Kong/Shanghai Tel: +852 3983 7777 Tel: +86 21 2080 1111 Email Henry

John Forrester

John heads the firm’s Asia Pacific Ship Finance practice. He specialises in asset finance and other transactional work across the maritime sector. He represents clients on a wide range of transactional matters, including financing, construction contracts, vessel sale and purchase, vessel registration, charters, joint ventures and debt restructuring/work-outs.

Singapore Tel: +65 6411 5350 Email John

Stephen Thomson

Stephen has over 20 years in the industry, advising on yacht sale and purchase, the importation and exportation process under Australian law, as well as management and refit/repair contracts. He also represents clients in relation to ligation arising out of yacht construction disputes and personal injury claims.

Sydney Tel:: +61 (0)2 9320 4646 Email Stephen

Ranjani Sundar

Ranjani has broad experience in yacht-related matters, including yacht sale and purchase, Australian Customs considerations for the import and/or export of yachts and personal injury matters. Ranjani acts for yacht owners and insurers in both contentious and non-contentious matters.

Sydney Tel: +61 (0)2 9320 4609 Email Ranjani

Gavin Vallely

Gavin has more than 25 years’ experience advising on contentious and non-contentious matters concerning commercial shipping and international trade. His work in relation to yachts has included advising on Australian flag and survey requirements, sale and purchase, construction and repair, importation and related duty and taxation considerations. He is consistently recognised as one of Australia’s leading maritime lawyers and is ranked as a Band 1 practitioner in Chambers Asia-Pacific Guide and Legal 500. He is described in the Legal 500 as having “ unsurpassed maritime sector knowledge “. Gavin is admitted to practice as a solicitor in Australia and England & Wales.

Position : Partner Specialism : Transactional & Disputes

Melbourne Tel: +61 (0)3 8601 4523 Email Gavin

Owen specialises in yacht-related disputes. He regularly handles matters concerning the sale and purchase, charter, mortgaging and arrest of superyachts for owners, charterers, brokers and financial institutions.

Melbourne Tel: +61 (0)3 8601 4526 Email Owen

24/7 Crisis Management

Universally regarded as one of the world’s leading crisis management law firms, we advise on all legal issues arising from yacht related emergencies, including collisions, grounding, damage in transit, pollution, fire and explosion, salvage, wreck removal and towage, as well as security, political violence, piracy, kidnap and ransom and cyber breaches. Our yacht team includes several leading crisis management and marine insurance experts and is supported by our global admiralty and crisis management team. Members of our admiralty and crisis management team are available year round 24/7 to attend emergencies. With our global network, a bespoke team can be assembled and, if needed, on location within 24 hours practically anywhere in the world.

Our expertise in managing crisis of all types, combined with our understanding of the specialised and sophisticated operations involved in yachting and the yachting industry’s specific concerns regarding confidentiality and privacy, enable us to protect our clients’ interests in the most appropriate and timely manner.

We operate a dedicated crisis management suite in our London office, which can be immediately utilised by our clients and become an extension of their own in-house team. Our admiralty and crisis management team are media trained and on hand to offer:

Immediate incident response support

Advice on regulatory and compliance issues arising out of an incident

Reputation management / media response

Advice on post incident claims handling

In addition, we recognise the importance of preparation in mitigating liability and we regularly advise clients on their crisis management procedures and emergency response policies, including ensuring that their appetite for risk and potential contractual liabilities dovetail with their insurance coverage and internal crisis management procedures.

Our marine insurance and crisis management team

In addition to the support available from our firm’s world renowned admiralty and crisis management team, our yacht team includes experienced casualty response lawyers, a former naval architect experienced in the design of large yachts and master mariners with experience of navigating and operating large yachts, warships and passenger vessels. Our key contacts for yacht related crisis response and marine insurance issues are:

London Tel: +44 (0)20 7264 8528 Email Mark

24 hour emergency telephone number +44 (0)20 7709 7702

We have a strong international brand and a rapidly growing network of offices. With over 700 lawyers working in offices across Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Europe and the Americas, we have a presence in many of the major centres of yacht ownership and operation in the world. Frequently we resource our matters with team members drawn from different offices and time zones to provide our clients, wherever they are, with the resources of a truly global yacht team.

Our yacht team includes lawyers fluent in English, French, German, Italian, Russian and Chinese and is able to draw on the support of colleagues across our wider firm who between them speak over 40 different languages.

Industry update

HFW’s yacht team has once again been ranked Band 1 in the Chambers & Partners High Net Worth Yachts & Superyachts Guide . Four members of our industry leading team have also been recognised.  Chambers noted: “HFW’s yacht lawyers advise clients on sophisticated cross-border financings, transactions and contentious matters.”

As the northern hemisphere’s summer season begins and the rush of pre-season work slows down, we have found time to put pen to paper to bring you the latest edition of Comprehensively Yachts, which we hope you find full of thought-provoking topics and analysis.

In light of the growing adoption of sustainable technology in yachting, including Feadship’s recently launched 60m Project 713, which will harness solar energy and has the capacity to also run on non-fossil hydrogenated vegetable oil, and Project 821, the world’s first hydrogen fuel-cell superyacht, we take a look at what may be the next frontier in yacht propulsion: nuclear power .

Next, we consider the Cayman Islands’ new Merchant Shipping Act 2024 and the revised Red Ensign Group Code, before our London employment team revisit a UK employment tribunal case of significant relevance for the employment of yacht crew.

Given the importance of Swiss manufacturing to the yachting industry, it is not uncommon to encounter Swiss law contracts, and we have therefore asked our colleagues in Geneva provide a summary of why arbitration in Switzerland maintains such popularity.

Our usual sanctions update follows, before we finish off with a focus on fraud, the changes with the new UK legislation and what you can do to stay one step ahead.

January 24 |

With 2023 drawing to a close, we are delighted to present the latest edition of Comprehensively Yachts . In this edition, we discuss the impact of Russian sanctions on the yachting industry. Next, our marine insurance specialists consider whether the widely used American Yacht Form R12 is still fit for purpose or whether the time is right for the marine insurance industry to move on to a bespoke wording. Our admiralty team explore the law behind a yacht’s AIS transmission and how you might achieve ex- directory status, as the temptation to turn this feature off to ensure the privacy of your charter is ever growing given the risked poses by the development of smart phone technology. Our Paris office reports on a recent land-mark conviction of the captain of a 26 meter yacht by the Maritime Court of Marseille following his repeated anchoring in protected posidonia meadows and the threat such conviction has for the wider yachting industry. Finally, we round out this edition with a long read on Cyber Security , the increasing regulation around it and the growing need to take it seriously.

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Yacht and Superyacht Lawyers

International yacht and superyacht legal advice

Yacht and superyacht law

Our experience and expertise in the yachting sector is extremely broad and we can assist clients with almost every aspect of superyacht ownership and operation.

We deal with both contentious and non-contentious legal matters, offering both litigation and transactional advice and support.

We also advise on the sale, purchase and finance of new and pre-owned business jets and helicopters . We have developed strong relationships with the leading manufacturers, brokers and aircraft registries and endeavour to offer a turnkey service to all of our clients.

Our diverse team of yacht lawyers are recognised by our clients as trusted advisors, with deep commercial instincts and a commitment to creatively anticipating their needs and delivering excellence by going the extra mile.

No matter how complex the transaction or dispute, we are here to help.

How we can advise you on international yacht and superyacht law

The services we offer our clients include those in relation to:

• newbuild and construction
• sale and purchase
• yacht finance
• brokerage and management
• disputes and yacht arrest
• ownership structures, registration and flagging
• VAT, customs, import and export
• yacht refit contracts
• crew agreements
• emergency maritime law response
• private jets and helicopters

Our lawyers can assist you with:

• representation in mediations, expert determinations and court and international arbitration proceedings
• negotiating shipbuilding and construction contract terms with shipyards
• drafting and negotiating sale and purchase agreements
• providing escrow services in Euro, US Dollars and pound sterling
• advising on options for and the process of third-party financing for the purchase of superyachts
• assisting with vessel arrests
• drafting broker commission agreements
• reviewing and negotiating yacht management agreements
• setting up corporate vehicles to purchase legal title to yachts
• specialist yacht registration services
• identifying VAT and other tax liabilities and relief
• negotiating refit and repair work contracts
• amending charter agreement terms
• berth leasing arrangements
• crew employment, management and consultancy agreements
• transactional advice relating to acquisition, disposal and operation of aircraft

How our international yacht and superyacht team will work with you

We have 25 lawyers and support staff exclusively dedicated to supporting our clients on superyacht matters from offices in London and Monaco . We are ranked “Band 1” by Chambers & Partners for “Yachts & Superyachts” each year.

Our superyacht team is proud to be part of a leading international commercial law firm with more than 1000 lawyers, 12 offices worldwide and a fantastic maritime heritage.

Drawing on decades of sector experience, our clients benefit from our ability to access a large network of relationships with flag states, regulatory bodies, shipyards, banks, brokers, designers, yacht managers, surveyors, foreign lawyers and industry professionals.

Our clients

Our clients include:

• yacht owners
• yacht insurers
• purchasers and sellers
• marina operators
• consultants
• marina insurers
• yacht designers
• yacht managers
• crew agencies

Key contacts

Panos Pourgourides

David Reardon

James Lawson

Thomas Frei

Nino Inasaridze

Crew Employment

Yacht crew members are often essential to the smooth and efficient operation of a yacht. Effectively managing crew members and keeping up with all relevant maritime employment laws, immigration laws, and related matters can be overwhelming. The maritime attorneys at Miller Watson PLLC are experienced in developing custom solutions to address the types of legal issues faced by private and charter yachts cruising domestically and internationally with U.S. and foreign crew members. We have fostered relationships with U.S. and international immigration attorneys, yacht managers, and human resource and payroll specialists. These relationships allow us to create and deliver a crew employment programs that takes into account our clients’ needs, whether they own a private yacht or charter yacht that cruises domestically or worldwide.

Vessel Purchases & Sales

Managing yacht transactions for our clients worldwide.

Our attorneys assist clients with yacht transactions of all sizes all over the world. Whether representing a buyer or a seller, we routinely manage the entire process on behalf of our clients, starting with the offer all the way through closing and registration.

Documentation and Registration

Assisting clients with vessel registration services worldwide.

The attorneys and staff at Miller Watson PLLC have many years of experience providing registration services, including U.S. Coast Guard documentation, state registrations and foreign flagging. Our firm is able to handle registrations in essentially any jurisdiction in the world.

Sales, Use and Property Tax

Protecting clients from unexpected tax liability.

Each state has its own body of laws with respect to sales, use and personal property taxes. It is important for all owners to be familiar with the rules in each jurisdiction to which they travel with their yacht.

For-Sale-By-Owner Transactions

Assisting parties in yacht transactions without broker representation..

Yacht brokers certainly carry a lot of value, but there are scenarios where an owner may sell his yacht without the assistance of a broker. In the event a broker is not involved, buyers and sellers will benefit from having a basic understanding of the purchase and sale process and should utilize various resources at their disposal both before and after closing. The attorneys at Miller Watson PLLC can draft the necessary documents, hold funds in escrow, and manage a closing when a broker is not involved.

Offshore Closings & Delivery

Assisting with and coordinating offshore closings.

In certain yacht transactions, clients may find that it is advantageous to conduct a yacht closing offshore. The attorneys at Miller Watson PLLC can assist with drafting the necessary documents and coordinating with all parties involved to ensure that the offshore closing proceeds smoothly and is completed properly.

New Yacht Construction

Assisting clients with all aspects of new yacht construction.

The maritime attorneys at Miller Watson PLLC have the experience to guide clients through every step of the new yacht construction process, from negotiation of the construction agreement to the yacht’s final delivery.

Corporate Yacht Ownership Consulting

Assisting clients with formation and structure of entities for purposes of yacht ownership.

Our attorneys can advise clients on the type and ownership structure of an entity, depending on a variety of factors related to the yacht and its planned usage by the owners.

Advising Clients on Crew Employment Matters on an International Scale

Employing crew members on a yacht is often necessary to operate a yacht and give the owner’s and guests the best possible experience. However, navigating the complex, cross-border rules and regulations involved with crew employment can be cumbersome. Our maritime attorneys are well versed in the crew issues facing yacht owners and we assist clients with crew employment related matters at the global, regional, and local levels.

Marine Finance

Assisting financial institutions and private individuals with marine finance solutions.

In principle, loans to finance the purchase of a yacht are similar to other loans used to acquire asserts and property. However, marine finance is highly specialized and governed by unique laws. Our experience in yacht and vessel finance encompasses both United States and foreign law transactions.

Yacht Charters

Advising clients on the complex rules surrounding yacht charters.

It is common practice to purchase a yacht and run charters to offset some of the costs. Charter operations of all types can be successful if set up properly and with the appropriate expectations, but all state laws, federal regulations and flag state rules must be closely followed. It is important for owners and crew to understand the different types of charters and be familiar with the applicable regulations.

Regulatory Compliance

Assisting clients with navigating complex maritime rules and regulations worldwide.

Owning a yacht is supposed to be a pleasurable and relaxing experience, but keeping current with maritime rules and regulations can be daunting. The attorneys at Miller Watson PLLC have the expertise to help you navigate the numerous maritime rules and regulations involved with yacht ownership so that you can enjoy carefree time on the water.

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Marine & Shipping

Keystone’s dynamic and client-focused team of marine and shipping law specialists offer a full package of marine, shipping and superyacht services. Our global network of firms, surveyors and other experts gives us international capability combined with local knowledge.

Our yacht and superyacht law services

Our team of marine and shipping lawyers regularly act for individuals and companies negotiating contracts for the build, sale and purchase of yachts up to 100m. We also work with a number of yachting businesses, from banks and yacht brokers to marina owners. We have experience in offshore company structures and have a good network of yachting experts to call upon where needed. We can also assist in dispute resolution, either in arbitrations such as LMAA or through the courts.

Our shipping law services

In relation to national and international trade, our team of marine and shipping lawyers offer a dispute resolution service in respect of cargo and freight claims, whether this involves carriage of goods by sea, air or road, and claims involving warehousing disputes. Our marine and shipping team can also advise in relation to contracts for the carriage of goods.

In the event of a marine casualty, our 24-hour response service enables us to quickly mobilise key individuals in order that crucial evidence is preserved, and an early investigation is achieved. Members of the team include ex-mariners with a wealth of experience in dealing with casualties and investigations.

Who do we advise?

In the yachting and superyacht sector, we advise prospective buyers, owners, banks and marine companies in the leisure sector such as management companies and marinas, crew and charter businesses. Shipping clients include Lloyd’s underwriters, P & I Clubs and individuals.

Why choose our marine and shipping team?

Keystone’s team of marine and shipping lawyers are members of several trade associations and federations including the London Maritime Arbitrators Association (LMAA), the British Marine Federation (BMF), the Professional Yachtsmen Association (PYA), the International Superyacht Society, Superyacht UK, and the Association of Brokers and Yacht Agents (ABYA). The Keystone superyacht team has also been recognised as a Captain’s Recommended Service in the latest Superyacht Services Guide .

Leading legal directory The Legal 500 describes the team as having “ excellent lawyers in the field of shipping” who are “ professional, diligent, well-experienced” . Some of our yachting lawyers are also recognised in Chambers HNW for their advice to high-net-worth individuals.

Our experienced team of lawyers often host seminars and training for marine organisations including the BMF, the International Institute of Marine Surveyors (IIMS), and the Maritime Training Academy (MTA). They also lecture and examine on the MCA Master Yachts course for aspiring superyacht captains as well as on various courses for marine surveyors and brokers and on marina management courses.

For further information or to discuss a marine, shipping or superyacht matter, please telephone 020 3319 3700 or click here to email us .

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15 Keystone lawyers recognised in the Chambers High Net Worth Guide 2024

Eight Keystone lawyers ranked in prestigious Spear’s legal indices

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Contentious work

• Insurance disputes
• Collisions, including racing
• Crew claims
• Personal injury claims
• Arrest of yachts and debt recovery
• Salvage claims
• Cargo & freight disputes
• Conflicts of law and jurisdictional matters
• Product liability (engine/mast/hull failures)
• Regulatory breaches and representation at Maritime and Coastguard Agency interviews and prosecutions
• Defending marine professionals (including surveyors, engineers and naval architects)
• Charter party disputes with ships/yachts
• Sale of goods claims for defective yachts and related issues with workmanship
• Criminal investigations and prosecutions under the Merchant Shipping legislation
• Survey disputes
• Arbitration

Non-contentious work

• Yacht construction contracts
• Drafting and negotiating terms and conditions with suppliers and sub-contractors
• Advice on the sale and purchase of yachts and vessels
• Refit and management contracts
• Superyacht finance agreements and mortgage registration
• Drafting and advising on marina terms and conditions
• Drafting yacht Crew Agreements and employment contracts
• Registration of ships/yachts
• Health and Safety
• Acted on behalf of a buyer in an ICC arbitration for disputes arising from a contract of sale of steels for non-payment of the contract price and the alleged counterclaim of off-spec cargo
• Advised a marine insurer on the merits of a possible claim they may face from the insured shipowners of a vessel under an English law and jurisdiction marine insurance policy following a fire in the engine control room
• Advised a client on a claim against them for allegedly loading and shipping dangerous cargo from Liberia to a port in Europe
• Advised a shipbuilding company in China on a claim against the ship design company for loss and damages arising from the design company’s negligent design
• Assisted Anexsea Cruises Limited with the purchase, financing, delivery and renaming of cruise ship ex “Saga Sapphire”, now named “Blue Sapphire”
• Established a ship-management joint venture company in England for owners and advised on the handover of commercial and technical management
• Advised on the enforcement of a mortgage against a ship, including judicial sale of the ship and negotiating with other creditors
• Assisted a Greek-managed ship-owning group by negotiating and reviewing a US$34m term loan facility granted by EnTrust Permal in connection with four chemical tankers
• Instructed to review legislation regulating the harbours managed by Cornwall Council with a view to promoting replacement powers and duties by way of a series of harbour revision and empowerment orders that will facilitate the operation and development of all the harbours in a less piecemeal manner, to the benefit of the harbour authority and harbour users
• Advised a shipowner on the termination of a complex UK tax lease structure
• Ongoing assistance in bringing a new large source of commercial ship-finance capital into the international market
• Advised on a collision involving an anchored, allegedly unlit ship
• Acted on behalf of the Yard in an LMAA arbitration to defend the Owner’s claim for loss and damage suffered as a result of the alleged structural defects in the newbuilt
• Advised GPS Marine Contractors Ltd in relation to an existing dredger vessel sale and purchase agreement and potential fraudulent activity
• Advised on specific marine law cabotage issues in the Republic of Kiribati
• Assisted the seller with prolonged negotiations involving the sale of a bulk carrier vessel and handling the matter up to and including the delivery of the vessel to the new buyer
• Advised on a grounding in a port navigation channel giving rise to allegations that the port was unsafe
• Advised the borrower on a US$6m term loan facility granted by Habibsons Bank Limited in relation to a ship acquisition
• Advised on the buying entity on the acquisition of a US$10m bulk carrier, including negotiating the MOA, an addendum, and the seller’s documents to ensure clean title transfer, and handling the flagging and registration of the newly acquired vessel
• Assisted a privately owned investment company with its logistics contracts and with a corporate restructuring exercise which also involved private-client and real-estate matters
• Advised a Dubai-based shipping and logistics group on arbitration proceedings and enforcement against an Iranian counterparty in relation to a claim for non-payment and a container storage claim
• Advised a Greek ship owning group on a US$143 million refinancing project with a French financial institution in relation to seven dry bulk carriers, involving inter alia the negotiation of a junior bond subscription agreement and various intercreditor arrangements
• Assisted GRS Roadstone Group Limited with the acquisition of S Walsh & Sons Ltd, London’s most successful and diverse companies serving the construction, quarrying and waste sectors

Yachts/Superyachts

• Acted for individuals in Azerbaijan on the purchase of a 40m superyacht
• Acted for a Swedish buyer of a new-build Riva motor yacht
• Acted for the purchaser (a BVI company) of a 40.19m Princess super yacht
• Assisted the buyer on the purchase and financing of a yacht which was a distressed asset sole by a majority-Austrian-owned Croatian lender and refinanced by Lombard here in the UK
• Provided primary legal advice to a high-net-worth individual who was a first-time superyacht purchaser
• Acted for a luxury rental company on a drafting yacht management agreement, a villa management agreement, and a seafarer’s employment agreement, and assisted in obtaining advice in relation to chartering in Spain and elsewhere
• Acted for a high-net-worth individual on the purchase of a £6m 28m Italian superyacht
• Acted for a well-known businessman on the purchase of financing for a 57m yacht
• Assisted the chairman of a reputable yacht brokerage company with a client registration issue concerning a €70m 66m superyacht
• Acted for blue-chip client, CGL France, part of Societe Generale, on the repossessions of super yachts in Turkey and Ireland.
• Advised an Irish Family Office, acting for the one of Ireland’s wealthiest individuals in the purchase of a new build superyacht in Italy.
• Acted for Superyacht Tenders & Toys Ltd providing wide-ranging legal advice to this growing firm. This has included drafting commercial contracts, setting up a new division and assisting in dispute resolution
• Assisted in the purchase of a 30m yacht in Croatia as part of a company share deal
• Advised on an insurance claim when a marina damaged a yacht during lifting
• Acted for crew member of a super yacht in the successful personal injury claim for a serious back injury gaining over £600k without the need to go to court
• Advised a Bahamas based buyer of the construction contract for a 40m new build yacht for £11.5m
• Acted for a Cayman’s company on a £2.5m loan for a Swan sailing yacht and the purchase at £4.5m
• Acted on a simultaneous sale and purchase of two 30m yachts in Venice Italy for an English buyer
• Acted for the owner of a converted warship – now super yacht in a professional negligence claims against the naval architect
• Acted in the build contract for a classic wooden sailing yacht to be built in phase
• Advised major yacht distributor Sunseeker London Group on a number of marine related and commercial matters assisting its 38 offices in Europe and North Africa
• Advised on a commercial charter dispute with the charterer on a well-known 90m Cayman-flagged super yacht
• Acted in two large LMAA arbitration claims where the issues are faulty yachts on purchase. Claims of £4m

Ilona Avramenko

Jennifer Donohue

Consultant Solicitor

Louise Elmes

Dr Jonathan Hadley-Piggin

Angharad Harris

Matthew Hennessy-Gibbs

Jamie Horner

George Lambrou

Benjamin Maltby

Stephen Matthews

Kamal Mukhi

Dharmendra Nair

Anastasia Papadopoulou

Lucy Pringle

Patrick Selley

Rhodri Thomas

Mark Turner

Trainee Solicitor

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Integrity First, Compassion, and Excellence in All We Do

Yacht Accident Lawyers

Our Award Winning Attorneys Have Over 50 Years of Experience Handling Yacht Accident Lawsuits

What Should You Do After a Yacht Accident?

1. Call 911

The first thing you should do after a yacht accident is call 911. If there are any injuries, it is important to get medical help to the scene as soon as possible. The police will also come and make an accident report. This report will be an important piece of evidence in your personal injury case.

2. Check for Injuries and Offer Aid

If you are involved in a boating accident in Florida, the law requires you to give all possible aid to others who are injured or in danger. You also need to make reasonable efforts to locate the other vessel’s owner and anyone else who may be affected. Leaving the scene of a boating accident where someone is injured without doing these things can result in a criminal third-degree felony charge.

3. Document the Scene of the Boating Accident

If you are physically able, you should take steps to document the scene. Take pictures, get contact information, and talk to witnesses. Over time, evidence can be lost and memories can fade, so it’s important to document this information as early as possible.

4. File a Boating Accident Report

Florida law requires the operator and/or owner of a vessel to file an accident report with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission’s Division of Law Enforcement or the area sheriff/police department within:

• 24 hours if a person disappears or requires medical treatment beyond first aid
• 48 hours if a person dies
• 10 days if there is more than $2,000 in property damage or a complete loss of the vessel

Failing to do this can result in criminal penalties.

When to Demand Justice After a Yacht Accident

Traditionally, ownership and use of yachts were only for the “rich and famous.” However, more and more individuals are able to afford to partake of some of the luxuries associated with yachting. As the number of yachters increases, so does the number of accidents. A yachting accident lawyer knows the injuries incurred in such accidents can be quite serious, and some accidents may even lead to death. Accordingly, anyone who has sustained injuries or lost a loved one after a yachting accident or any other type of recreational boat incident is encouraged to contact a well-versed attorney who can advise you of your legal options and rights.

Note that both passengers and crew members can be victims of yacht accidents. We discuss aspects of yacht accidents, boating accidents, yacht accident lawsuits, and how a yacht accident lawyer can help you below.

What Can Our Maritime Lawyers Do for You?

The laws governing yachts and other recreational boats can be very complex. However, working with a skilled lawyer can help accident victims gain a better understanding of their rights under the law. If you are looking to hire a boating accident lawyer, there are several attributes you should look out for.

We Have Over 200 Years of Combined Experience

Maritime accidents are different from other types of accidents. A car accident lawyer may be willing to take your case, but they likely do not have the experience necessary to effectively handle a yachting case.

Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A., has been handling maritime cases for nearly 50 years, and our 12 attorneys have over 200 years of combined experience.

We are well versed in the intricacies of maritime law and the unique challenges that a crewmember or passenger faces when suing a yacht owner or pursuing a boating accident claim.

Our Past Case Results

We have successfully handled over 3,000 cases and recovered over $300 million for our clients. Examples of our successful boat accident cases include:

• Confidential multi-million dollar recovery for deckhand working on a sailboat after limb amputation.
• $1.5 million settlement for a seaman who died after being struck in the head by malfunctioning equipment.
• $776,000 jury verdict for a seaman who died due to inadequate medical treatment while working on a vessel.
• $150,000 settlement for a yacht employee who was injured while carrying out an employer’s negligent orders.
• $120,000 settlement for a yacht captain who suffered a back injury while working.

Our past results won’t tell you what outcome to expect in your case, but they do attest to our experience, abilities, and effectiveness.

Our Stellar Reputation as Leading Accident Lawyers

We have worked hard for nearly 50 years to cultivate a reputation as a knowledgeable and experienced maritime law firm. We are frequently consulted by national news outlets about maritime issues. Our firm and lawyers have been featured on television and other news media including The New York Times, CNN, FOX News, TIME, and NBC News, just to name a few.

Our lawyers have also received numerous awards. Most recently, attorney Charles R. Lipcon was named “Lawyer of the Year for 2020 in Admiralty & Maritime Law by US News & World Report , and all four of our named partners have been named to “ Best Lawyers in America.”

Common Injuries and Risk Factors

Even on luxury vessels like yachts, passengers and those working onboard can experience various injuries, some of which are more common than others. Some of the common injuries that can occur in boating accident cases include:

• Heavy lifting injuries
• Broken bones
• Lacerations
• Head and back injuries
• Concussions
• Traumatic brain injury

But what causes these injuries? Some of the common incidents leading to injuries include:

• Collisions with other vessels
• Slip and falls
• Hypothermia
• Falling overboard
• Repetitive heavy lifting
• Propeller strikes

Your rights and remedies in case of injury will vary depending on whether you are a passenger or a worker and depending on the location of the injury. However, in most cases, you can seek compensation if the accident was caused by someone else’s careless behavior.

If you were injured or lost a loved one as the result of a yachting accident caused by another, you have the right to seek compensation. We have successfully handled many cases where passengers aboard a Yacht were injured due to the clear fault or negligence of the vessel owner.

Getting Compensation for a Personal Injury from a Yacht Accident

To obtain compensation based on someone else’s negligence, you must prove four elements:

• The person had a duty to act in a certain way
• The person breached their duty
• The breached caused an accident
• You suffered damages as a result of the accident

There are many careless actions that may constitute negligence. For example, passengers and/or workers may misuse personal floatation devices or fail to use them altogether. Alcohol consumption also often plays a part in many boating accident claims, as does the inability of passengers and/or workers to abide by basic boat safety rules. Other common negligent actions include:

• Improperly maintaining equipment
• Operator inattention
• Failure to have a lookout
• Having inadequate safety equipment
• Operator inexperience
• Traveling into a storm
• Defective construction or design of the boat or components

There are some inherent dangers in any boating activity. Accidents can occur even when people take precautions. However, more often than not, an accident is the result of carelessness or recklessness. If someone else caused or contributed to your accident, you have the right to be compensated for your injuries. An experienced yacht accident attorney can help you understand your options.

Common Causes of Yacht Accidents

For your case to be successful, your yacht accident attorney must show that someone else’s negligence was the cause of your accident or resulting injuries. We will need to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of your yacht accident and boating accident injuries to uncover the identities of those responsible. Florida boating accidents and your boating accident injury can occur for many reasons.

For example, if the captain of the yacht was distracted, boating under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or lacked the experience needed to safely operate a boat, they could be held accountable if victims suffered severe injuries or damages. Although many victims are quick to assume the boat captain is to blame, this may not always be the case.

When parts on the boat malfunction or are defective, even the most experienced yacht captain may be unable to prevent severe injuries or death. Nearly anyone involved in the chain of distribution of boat parts could be held accountable in these situations. When yacht owners fail to make necessary repairs to vessels, and the damaged equipment or boat parts ultimately fail, a devastating boat accident and catastrophic injuries can occur.

Other common causes of yacht accidents and a serious boating accident could include the following:

• Inclement weather conditions
• Failure to look out for hazards
• Operating a yacht at excessive speed
• Yacht engine or steering issues
• Running aground
• Overloaded boats
• Fires and explosions
• Failure to wear appropriate safety equipment or gear
• Boat owner negligence or negligent boat operator conduct
• Violations of Florida maritime laws
• Wrongful death claim

These are just a few examples of ways in which yacht accidents can occur. If your injuries happened in another type of yacht accident, you may still have grounds for legal action against those responsible. Our in-depth investigation into the cause of your injuries will uncover the truth.

The Value of Your Yacht Accident Injury Claim

After suffering debilitating injuries in a yacht accident, you may be wondering how much compensation you could expect to recover. Every person’s case is different, but all victims have the right to be made whole when another party’s negligence is the cause of their injuries. The way in which you can recover compensation will depend on the specific circumstances of your case.

For example, if you were a yacht passenger, you would have the opportunity to pursue a personal injury lawsuit or claim with the insurance company. In your civil claim, you can seek total compensation for your economic and non-economic damages. Collectively, these account for every single loss you have endured as a result of someone else’s negligent contact. Some examples of recoverable damages in a personal injury yacht accident claim include:

• Personal property damages
• Current and future medical costs
• Costs of medical devices or equipment and co-pays
• Loss of household services
• Diminished earning capacity
• Loss of income and employee benefits
• Chronic physical pain
• Emotional trauma and stress
• Reduced quality of life
• Loss of consortium
• Embarrassment and inconvenience
• Skin scarring and disfigurement

However, yacht crew members may be entitled to benefits under the Jones Act. Only employees considered seamen will be eligible for benefits under the Jones Act. The Jones Act offers most if not all of the damages set out above.

As a crewmember or seafarer, you are also entitled to compensation for what is known as maintenance and cure in addition to the same types of economic and non-economic damages available through a personal injury claim. Maintenance refers to the cost of your daily living expenses, while care refers to your medical bills. As a seaman, the shipowner can also be held accountable if your injuries occur due to unseaworthiness.

Our personal injury attorneys can help you get the most out of your claim, no matter what type of serious injuries you sustained or the type of personal injury claims you are dealing with.

Wrongful Death from a Yacht Accident

If you lost a loved one as a result of a yacht accident, you can seek justice by filing a wrongful death suit. In Florida, the personal representative of the person’s estate can bring a lawsuit on behalf of family members. You can obtain damages for things like:

• Mental anguish caused by the death
• Loss of financial support
• Loss of companionship and protection
• Past medical bills and funeral expenses

Additionally, the estate may seek damages for lost earnings between the time of injury and the time of death. The estate may also get damages for financial losses to the estate caused by the person’s untimely death.

The laws applicable to wrongful death actions under maritime law are among the most complex and intricate laws in our country. This is why it is critical to obtain an experienced maritime and yacht accident attorney to properly follow the laws to obtain the maximum financial recovery.

Maritime Laws and Regulations That Protect Crew Members

Yachts are certainly big business throughout Florida, and it typically takes several crewmembers to maintain and operate the vessel. Crewmembers and their families should be aware that they are protected by the same laws that protect commercial ship crewmembers.

Maritime Law’s Definition of “Seaworthy”

Maritime law requires the owner of a vessel to ensure that the vessel is seaworthy. Examples of unseaworthiness include:

• Instability of the vessel
• Lack of safety equipment
• Unsanitary conditions
• Lack of proper procedures, rules, or regulations
• Lack of warning signs
• Trip hazards and inadequate railings
• Incompetent, inadequate, or dangerous crew
• Noncompliance with federal regulations
• Worn out or missing equipment

A maritime worker who suffers injury due to the vessel’s unseaworthiness can recover damages from the owner for things like medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

The Jones Act permits maritime workers to sue their employers for negligence when they are injured on the job. Negligence can be based on things like:

• Failure to avoid bad weather
• Failure to keep equipment safely maintained
• Lack of care in hiring
• Failure to provide adequate medical treatment
• Lack of care in supervising or instructing employees

Damages under the Jones Act can include things like lost income, medical costs, and pain and suffering. If a maritime worker is killed on the job, their loved ones may bring a wrongful death action against the employer.

Maintenance and Cure

When a maritime worker suffers an injury on the job, they are typically not eligible to make a traditional workers’ compensation claim. Instead, maritime employers must pay “maintenance and cure” to injured employees.

Maintenance is the cost of daily living, such as rent, utilities, and food. Cure is the cost of the employee’s medical care and treatment. To receive maintenance and cure, an employee need only show that they were injured in the course of their employment. They do not need to prove fault.

Yacht Accident and Boating Accident Injury FAQ

We understand how overwhelmed and confused you may be feeling during this challenging time in your life. You have many questions currently left unanswered. For this reason, we have answered some of our former clients’ most frequently asked questions regarding yacht accidents below. If you have additional questions we did not cover on this page, do not hesitate to contact our attorneys to discuss your specific concerns in greater detail.

How long do I have to file a claim for a yacht or boating accident?

The amount of time you have to file your yacht accident claim will vary depending on the type of case you pursue. Broadly speaking, most maritime claims are governed by a three-year statute of limitations. The statute of limitations may vary widely depending on the state or country where your accident occurred. This is why it's critically important to immediately speak to an experienced maritime attorney to correctly identify the applicable statute of limitations.

If you are an injured employee pursuing a claim under the Jones Act, you will also generally have up to three years from the date of their accident under U.S. Code 46 § 30106 to file a claim under the Jones Act. Employers may try to reduce the amount of time to file a case. This is why you need to hire an experienced attorney so we can review your employment documents to make sure we find and comply with the correct statute of limitations.

Since the statute of limitations and deadlines for yacht accident claims can also be confusing, it is crucial to get an experienced yacht accident attorney working for you so you can avoid being barred from pursuing your case.

Can I still file a claim if I was partially at fault for the yacht accident?

Yes, even if you are partially responsible for causing the yacht accident, in most cases, you will still be entitled to financial support and benefits. For example, if you were an injured crew member, you would be entitled to significant benefits through the Jones Act, regardless of whether you were also partially to blame.

Demand Justice With Help From the Nation’s Leading Yacht Accident Law Firm

If you suffered injury in a yacht or other maritime accident, contact the attorneys at Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A., right away. We have more than 200 years of combined experience and the knowledge you need to pursue a successful claim. Our nationally and internationally recognized lawyers have changed how maritime injury claims are handled due to our extensive work in handling landmark yacht and admiralty claims. Our firm has earned countless awards and accolades, including selection as one of the “Best Law Firms”® by US News & World Report for nearly a decade.

Our team has provided expert opinion and analysis regarding cruise and maritime laws on some of the world’s most popular and renowned news programs globally. We are ready to seek justice for crew members, passengers, and others injured on yachts. We have the resources and tenacity to zealously pursue your claim even against the biggest companies with the deepest pockets. Our experienced and aggressive maritime injury lawyers will give you individualized attention and fight to get you every dollar you deserve. Fill out our online contact form or call our office at 877-233-1238 to schedule your free consultation at one of our eight office locations across the nation.

Other Practice Areas

• Cruise Ship Accidents
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• Tender Boat Accidents
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Home » Expertise » Sectors - Shipping » Yachts and superyachts

Yachts and superyachts

A very high quality and specialist practice, which offers fantastic service and knowledge. The Legal 500

Latest news & insights:

‘A Rolls-Royce service’ – Penningtons Manches Cooper’s private wealth lawyers recognised in Chambers High Net Worth 2024

‘Big Kahuna’ - the proper forum for a limitation claim does not default to the jurisdiction of the tort

Yacht Management Company Ltd v Gordon – where does the Employment Tribunal have territorial jurisdiction?

Yachts and superyachts have long been considered amongst the ultimate luxury assets. While many are used for commercial or sporting ventures, others are intended purely for leisure. Whatever the purpose, Penningtons Manches Cooper's specialist lawyers provide legal advice on all aspects of yacht and superyacht ownership - from concept through a vessel’s full lifecycle.

With a strong history in maritime law and extensive practical sailing and seagoing experience on board superyachts, racing and pleasure craft, we combine an in-depth understanding of the industry with commercial and practical guidance which is solution focused. Our clients include ultra-high net worth individuals, owners, managers, insurers, yacht brokers, yards, designers, suppliers and marinas.  

We advise on new build contracts, including fully custom yachts and any related project management and design contracts, as well as the protection of intellectual property rights. Alongside regular involvement in sale and purchase transactions, our corporate and wealth lawyers can assist with ownership structures, registration and choice of flag. Where finance is required, we provide support on the associated finance arrangements, and importantly security.

Clients frequently seek our legal advice on operational matters including management and crew contracts, and consult our dedicated employment team. Our yacht and superyacht lawyers work closely with the firm’s commercial and ship finance teams to assist with the broad range of matters that derive from owning, managing or insuring yachts, whether operated commercially (including charter) or privately.

If a casualty does occur, we have considerable experience in responding to the incident and handling disputes arising from it. Our lawyers are ready to act immediately following a serious casualty and to advise on any criminal investigation or maritime investigation by the MAIB or its equivalent. We engage with independent technical experts and, where necessary, appoint local lawyers to assist with the preservation and collation of evidence. We have handled high profile yachting incidents, calling also on the expertise of our well-respected reputation management team.

A broad range of contractual disputes may arise from build contracts, finance arrangements or the general operation of a yacht. Our proven track record in this area encompasses product liability and warranty claims, professional negligence, yard liabilities and chartering disputes. In addition to significant High Court proceedings, our litigation practice covers all forms of alternative dispute resolution including international arbitration and dispute resolution.  

We have global reach with offices in renowned yachting hubs including France, Spain, Greece and Singapore. Our yacht and superyacht lawyers can readily assist on complex multi-jurisdictional issues which frequently arise in yacht ownership.

We offer expert advice on:

• casualty response and insurance
• construction and refit
• crewing, employment and management
• design and intellectual property rights
• dispute resolution and arbitration
• management, operation and charter
• marina and yard liabilities
• personal injury, regulatory and criminal investigations
• Racing Rules and sports law
• sale and purchase transactions
• ownership structures and registration
• finance and leasing arrangements
• shipbuilding and repair

Recent work highlights

Bespoke marine finance solutions.

Advising on an innovative €7 million secured refinancing of an 86 metre yacht and a three year charter services agreement for a Middle East client. Our yacht and superyacht lawyers are increasingly designing such alternative financing arrangements for markets in which some traditional lenders have lost interest.

Efficient casualty response

Representing insurers and owners in relation to a number of losses of superyachts caused by fire. Our role involved advising on fire investigation and limitation of liability and pursuing subrogated claims across multiple jurisdictions.

MYBA charter dispute

Advising on claims arising out of a MYBA charter relating to the failure to deliver a yacht to the delivery port in good working order. We were also involved in subsequent issues arising during the charter, culminating in the dispute being referred to arbitration.

New build superyacht purchase

Advising a purchaser on the build contract for a custom-built composite yacht in the UK.

How can we help?

• Call us on 0845 365 0051
• Email your enquiry

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Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC311575 and is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority under number 419867.

High Law Your Yacht Lawyer

High Law firm

High Law firm has extensive experience in Maritime Law and provides highly experienced attorneys to ensure that your legal needs are met. Their yacht lawyers possess decades of maritime experience and knowledge, making them leading advisors on a full range of Maritime Law issues. They have an advanced understanding of the law related to financing, marine insurance, ownership structure, registration and documentation, and compliance with both domestic and international laws.

Their team strives to provide you with the highest quality legal services in a professional manner. With their expertise in Maritime Law, you can be sure that your case will be handled with the utmost care and attention it deserves. Contact them today to learn more about how they can help you with your Maritime Law-related needs.

High Law your Maritime lawyer

Maritime law is an intricate and highly specialized area of legal practice that requires an attorney with a wealth of expertise. Maritime related matters often combine financial, insurance, ownership and registration components as well as the need to observe international and national laws.

Our yacht lawyers have extensive experience in maritime law and are acknowledged experts in the industry providing advice on various aspects such as contracts, liens, forfeiture cases, congressional acts, admiralty issues, litigation and much more. Therefore, for those facing legal problems regarding their marine vessels or craft, our team of qualified legal professionals is here to provide reliable counsel.

The button below will bring you to their website for all your Maritime Needs.

What is Maritime Law ?

Maritime law, which is sometimes referred to as admiralty law, is an established set of laws, conventions, and treaties that regulate and control maritime business and other matters occurring on the ocean and seas. The international rules that dictate how the ocean and seas are to be used are recognized as the Law of the Sea.

High Law Services include:

• Purchase/Sale Agreement or Memorandum of Agreements
• Domestic, Foreign and Offshore Closings
• Pleasure Vessel and Yacht Documentation and Registration Domestically and Internationally,
•  Yacht Financing and Insuring,
• Marine Lending
• Yacht Management
• Vessel Ownership Structuring
• Tax, Duty and VAT Liability, whether Domestic or International
• New Construction Agreements
• Vessel Repair and Refits Agreements and Issues
• Crew Employment Agreements
• Charter Your Pleasure Vessel or Yacht
• Disputes and Litigation concerning your Pleasure Vessel or Yacht
• Defending Against Seaman Claims
• DBPR Yacht Broker and Saleperson’s Licensing Issues, Denials, Revocations and Fines

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Bargate Murray is one of the world’s top international superyacht law firms. The firm has extensive experience in this highly niche area. We act for ultra high net worth (UHNW) individuals and work alongside other industry professionals such as yacht captains, naval architects and designers, family offices and other lawyers that require specialist advice in this niche area. We also act for shipyards

A key feature of our work in this area is our hands-on personal service and our commitment to discretion and confidentiality. Rather than delivering our work in a “one size fits all” approach, we tailor our approach around the needs of our individual clients. This is something that our clients value a great deal. Our work as superyacht lawyers requires us to cover a range of legal issues. These include yacht construction, yacht sale and purchase, yacht regulation, yacht finance and taxation. Many of these transactions are highly complicated and involve several jurisdictions. For example, whilst the sale contract for a yacht might be subject to English law, the yacht itself may be flagged in the Cayman Islands (which has a first rate shipping registry) and owned by a company incorporated in a third jurisdiction.

Having an experienced superyacht lawyer on your side is essential as it is often necessary to come up with creative ideas to overcome any number of issues that may arise. For example, the firm recently negotiated a novel payment mechanism with a well-known European shipyard to facilitate the funding of a large project.

Two recent deals handled by the firm had a combined value of approximately €130m. We were also recently involved in the sale of a 60m+ yacht for USD$22m and the purchase of a 40m yacht for approximately USD$10m. We have advised on several new financings, including a collateralised loan agreement for a UHNW individual in relation to a yacht and private jet.

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Our yacht crew injury attorneys have represented deckhands to masters over the years seeking just compensation for their accidents. The attorneys at Brais Law Firm know that yacht crew do not have an easy job. Demanding owners oftentimes require long working hours and many times the yachts are not fitted with properly working equipment. This oftentimes leads to accidents and injuries. Injuries and deaths which occur on yachts are typically a result of:

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Yacht owners are represented by attorneys appointed by their insurance companies. These attorneys are paid to obtain the best result for the owners and the insurance companies and not necessarily looking out for the injured crew member. Retaining qualified representation is imperative if you or a loved one suffered a serious injury on a yacht.

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First and foremost, injured yacht crew members are owed medical care and treatment along with payment of daily living expenses during the period of time the crew member is recovering from the injury. This is commonly known as the maintenance and cure obligation and is owed to injured crew members regardless of fault. Should the yacht owners not pay for appropriate medical care and daily living expenses, they may be held liable for the pain and suffering caused for the delay in treatment as well as punitive damages. In addition to payment of medical care and treatment, crew members are entitled to compensation for lost wages as well as pain and suffering if the injury was caused by an unseaworthy condition aboard the yacht.

To prove unseaworthiness, it must be shown that the yacht or a part of its machinery was not reasonably fit for its intended purpose.

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Florida’s year-round temperate waters attract several thousands of yachts with the most concentration occurring in the winter. This high volume of yachts gives rise to an above average amount of accidents compared to the rest of the country. Located in Miami, our lawyers are routinely called upon to represent injured yacht crew members. Once our maritime attorneys represent an injured yacht crew member, we identify the key witnesses, evidence and start building a case. We fight to make sure our clients are provided all the required medical care, wages, and compensation for the pain and suffering they endured as a result of their accident.

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NYC lawyer, wife among 6 people missing after yacht sinks off Sicily

PORTICELLO, Sicily (AP) —  Specialist cave divers  working in 12-minute underwater shifts were searching Tuesday for six missing passengers and crew, including British tech tycoon Mike Lynch, believed to be in the submerged wreck of a luxury yacht that was  slammed by a powerful storm  and swiftly sank off Sicily.

The sleek yacht, named the Bayesian, was carrying a crew of 10 people and 12 passengers when it suddenly sank near the Mediterranean island that is part of Italy at about 4 a.m. on Monday. One body has been recovered and 15 people survived.

Fire rescue officials have said the six believed to remain in the sailboat’s hull will be considered missing until they are located in the wreckage.

Here’s what we know so far about the sinking and those who were on board.

What happened?

Italian civil protection officials believe a sudden and fierce storm that battered the coast of Sicily in the early hours of Monday whipped up a waterspout in the exact spot where the 184-foot British-flagged Bayesian was moored.

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Karsten Borner, the captain of another yacht moored nearby, said he saw the Bayesian during the storm but when the wild weather passed it was gone and he saw only a red flare lighting the night sky, ANSA and the Giornale di Sicilia newspaper reported.

Borner and one of his crew boarded their tender and found a lifeboat carrying 15 people, some of them injured. They took them aboard their yacht and alerted the coast guard.

Rescue authorities said the wreck was resting at a depth of 163 feet about a half mile offshore of the picturesque fishing village of Porticello.

Who was on board?

Among the missing is 59-year-old tech tycoon  Mike Lynch , sometimes described as the British Bill Gates. Lynch was acquitted in June of all charges in a U.S. fraud trial linked to the $11 billion sale of his software company Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard in 2011.

Lynch still faced a potentially huge bill stemming from a civil case in London that HP mostly won during 2022. Damages haven’t been determined in that case, but HP is seeking $4 billion. Lynch made more than $800 million from the Autonomy sale.

A Cambridge-educated mathematician, Lynch made his name running Autonomy, which made a search engine that could pore through emails and other internal business documents to help companies find vital information more quickly.

Lynch’s 18-year-old daughter Hannah was reportedly among the missing. His wife, Angela Bacares, and 14 other people survived.

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Among others still missing Tuesday, according to the civil protection agency, were one of Lynch’s U.S. lawyers, Christopher Morvillo of Clifford Chance, and Morvillo’s wife, Neda. Morvillo and his wife both live in New York City. Morvillo was regarded as an elite defense lawyer and was also a federal prosecutor in New York after 9/11.

Law firm Clifford Chance released the following statement about Morvillo’s disappearance.

“We are in shock and deeply saddened by this tragic incident. Our thoughts are with our Partner, Christopher Morvillo, and his wife Neda who are among the missing, and with their families. Our utmost priority is providing support to the family as well as our colleague Ayla Ronald, who together with her partner, thankfully survived the incident. Our thoughts extend to the other passengers and crew and all those affected. We have no further comment at this time. We, and the families, ask that their request for privacy is honored during this period.” Clifford Chance

Also missing was Jonathan Bloomer, the non-executive chairman of Morgan Stanley International, and his wife, Judy. He is the former head of the Autonomy audit committee and testified for the defense at Lynch’s trial.

Bloomer was also chair of the Hiscox Group, an insurer that does business on the Lloyd’s of London market.

“We are deeply shocked and saddened by this tragic event,” Hiscox CEO Aki Hussain said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with all those affected, in particular our chair, Jonathan Bloomer, and his wife Judy, who are among the missing, and with their family as they await further news from this terrible situation.”

Among the survivors was Charlotte Golunski, who said she momentarily lost hold of her 1-year-old daughter Sofia in the water, but then managed to grab her and hold her up over the waves until a lifeboat inflated and they were both pulled to safety, Italian news agency ANSA reported. The father, identified by ANSA as James Emslie, also survived.

The Dutch foreign ministry said a Dutch man survived. The ministry, citing privacy, did not release his identity.

One body was recovered on Monday, identified as the on-board chef.

What is the Bayesian?

The Bayesian was a luxury yacht built in 2008 by the Italian firm Perini Nav. It was known for its single 246-feet aluminum mast — one of the world’s tallest. Online charter sites listed it for rent for up to about $215,000 a week.

Its registered owner is listed as Revtom Ltd., based on the Isle of Man, according to online maritime database Equasis. Lynch’s wife is listed as Revtom’s sole owner, according to corporate registration documents from the Isle of Man.

The yacht’s name is an apparent reference to “Bayesian inference,” one of the two main approaches to statistical machine learning and the one that was used by Autonomy.

What is a waterspout?

Waterspouts are tornadoes that form over water and can happen when a storm moves across warm water.

According to the U.S. National Ocean Service, there are two types of waterspouts — fair-weather and tornadic.

Tornadic waterspouts “have the same characteristics as a land tornado. They are associated with severe thunderstorms, and are often accompanied by high winds and seas, large hail, and frequent dangerous lightning,” the service says on its website.

While scientists haven’t attributed the specific event to climate change, average monthly surface temperatures have been  at record highs for months . Hotter air can hold more moisture, making heavier storms more likely.

Sicily has been baking under intense heat  this summer , and the United Nations’ panel of climate change experts  notes  the Mediterranean is particularly vulnerable to climate change, with warming rates roughly 20% higher than the global average.

What happens next?

As the search for the missing continues, authorities already have begun trying to piece together exactly what happened.

Prosecutors from the Sicilian town of Termini Imerese have opened an investigation, as is normal in such events even when no suspects are identified. To date, they have not commented publicly.

The British Marine Accident Investigation Branch said four of its inspectors were being deployed to Palermo.

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Mike Lynch, recently acquitted in HP-Autonomy fraud case, is missing after yacht capsized off Sicily (updated)

Mike Lynch, the investor and high-profile founder of U.K. tech firm Autonomy, has been declared missing at sea after the yacht he was on, the Bayesian, capsized in a storm off the coast of Sicily early Monday morning. Lynch's wife, Angela Bacares, is one of the 15 who have been rescued. The news is a dramatic, tragic development for one of the more colorful, and sometimes controversial, figures in technology out of the U.K.

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NYC lawyer who died in yacht disaster wrote haunting LinkedIn post weeks before

Christopher morvillo formerly worked as a prosecutor investigating the september 11 terror attacks, article bookmarked.

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A New York City lawyer who died after a yacht sank off the coast of Sicily wrote a haunting post on LinkedIn two months before he joined the doomed voyage.

In one of his only posts on the site , Christopher Morvillo, 59, thanked his legal team after they helped British tech tycoon Mike Lynch win a fraud trial and discussed living “happily ever after.”

Lynch owned the luxury yacht Bayesian , which sank early on Monday.

Five bodies, believed to be those of Lynch, Morvillo, Morvillo's wife Neda, British banker Jonathan Bloomer and his wife Judy have now be recovered by authorities, according to The Associated Press . One woman remains missing. She has not been identified, but Hannah Lynch, Lynch’s 18-year-old daughter, is reportedly unaccounted for.

The remaining passengers have all been found. One person, the ship's chef, died in the storm.

In the LinkedIn post, Morvillo thanked his legal team and his family, and ended with a now poignant flourish.

“And, finally, a huge thank you to my patient and incredible wife, Neda Morvillo, and my two strong, brilliant, and beautiful daughters, Sabrina Morvillo and Sophia Morvillo," he wrote. “None of this would have been possible without your love and support. I am so glad to be home. And they all lived happily ever after….”

Morvillo was a partner at Clifford Chance, a white-collar law firm with offices on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. He previously worked as a federal prosecutor who investigated the September 11 terror attacks, according to the New York Post .

A statement from Clifford Chance, obtained by US outlet People, read: “We are deeply saddened and still coming to terms with this terrible loss. Our utmost priority is to continue to support Chris's family at this very distressing time. Our thoughts extend to the families and loved ones of all those affected.”

The spokesperson added: “We wish to express our deepest condolences and our love and support to Chris’s family and friends at this incredibly difficult time. We also want to thank the Italian authorities and rescue teams for everything they have done."

The Independent has reached out to Clifford Chance for comment.

Prior to his death, Morvillo and his legal team successfully defended Lynch from fraud allegations brought by Hewlett-Packard stemming from the tycoon's sale of his Autonomy company to HP for $11bn in 2011.

“This verdict closes the book on a relentless 13-year effort to pin HP’s well-documented ineptitude on Dr. Lynch. Thankfully, the truth has finally prevailed. We thank Dr. Lynch for his trust throughout this ordeal and hope that he can now return home to England to resume his life and continue innovating.” Morvillo and his co-counsel wrote in a press release after winning the case.

The 160-foot luxury sailboat was off the cost of Porticello, Italy — near Sicily — when it ran afoul of a small waterspout in the Mediterranean. The Bayesian likely capsized after its mast was broken by the storm, Salvatore Cocina, the head of Sicily's Civil Protection, told CNN .

The ship's hull sank to a depth of 164 feet underwater. Rescue trips to the hull had been slow going as divers can only spend 12 minutes that deep before having to resurface, according to fire rescue officials.

A statement shared by Lynch’s lawyers on behalf of his family read: “The Lynch family is devastated, in shock and is being comforted and supported by family and friends. Their thoughts are with everyone affected by the tragedy.

“They would like to sincerely thank the Italian coastguard, emergency services and all those who helped in the rescue. Their one request now is that their privacy be respected at this time of unspeakable grief.”

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Who was onboard tech mogul Mike Lynch's Bayesian yacht?

Topic: Disasters, Accidents and Emergency Incidents

Six people are missing, including a man dubbed the British Bill Gates, after a luxury yacht sank off the Sicilian coast.

British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch — freshly acquitted from a decade-long trial — had invited his work colleagues aboard a trip through the Mediterranean coast when a freak storm saw the yacht sink within moments.

Fifteen people escaped from the sinking vessel. The search for the missing continues.

Here's what we know so far: 

What happened?

The Italian coastguard said the yacht — the Bayesian — was anchored off the shore of port city Porticello, near the Sicilian capital Palermo, when it was hit by bad weather sometime after 4am on Monday, local time. 

Eyewitnesses said it vanished quickly beneath the waves shortly before dawn.

Managers of the sailing vessel Bayesian, Camper & Nicholsons, confirmed to the ABC that the Bayesian encountered severe weather and subsequently sank. 

"Our priority is assisting with the ongoing search and providing all necessary support to the rescued passengers and crew," they said. 

"The wind was very strong. Bad weather was expected, but not of this magnitude," a coastguard official told Reuters.

Sicily's civil protection agency head, Salvo Cocina, said a waterspout — a tornado over the water — could have struck the yacht.

"They were in the wrong place at the wrong time," Mr Cocina added. 

Storms and heavy rainfall had swept down Italy in recent days after weeks of scorching heat, lifting the temperature of the Mediterranean Sea to record levels and raising the risk of extreme weather conditions, experts told Reuters.

"The sea surface temperature around Sicily was around 30 degrees Celsius, which is almost 3 degrees more than normal. This creates an enormous source of energy that contributes to these storms," meteorologist Luca Mercalli said.

Rescuers recover the body of one of the people aboard the Bayesian.  ( AP: Lucio Ganci )

Captain Karsten Borner of the Sir Robert Baden Powell vessel told journalists he noticed the Bayesian nearby during the storm, but after it calmed he saw a red flare and realised the ship had simply disappeared.

Mr Borner said he and a crew member boarded their tender and found a lifeboat with 15 people, some of them injured, who they then took aboard and alerted the coast guard.

Search crews, including helicopters and divers, are continuing to search the wreckage, lying at a depth of 49 metres.

Specialist divers reached the ship on Monday but access was limited due to objects in the way, the fire brigade said.

The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch is deploying a team of four inspectors to Italy to conduct a preliminary assessment.

The Foreign Commonwealth and Development office said it was "providing consular support to a number of British nationals and their families".

Sicilian prosecutors have also opened an investigation into the event. 

Who is missing?

Lawyer Chris Morvillo (left), entrepreneur Mike Lynch, and Morgan Stanley chairman Jonathan Bloomer are among the missing. 

There were 12 passengers and 10 crew members aboard the yacht. 

Mr Cocina said the crew and passengers hailed from a variety of countries, including Britain, the United States, Antigua, France, Germany, Ireland, Myanmar, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Spain.

Of the 22, one man is confirmed dead and another six people are still missing. 

They are believed to be inside the hull, fire rescue spokesperson Luca Cari said.

Fabio Cefalù, a fisherman who said he responded to a flare from the vessel but found it sunk, said he stayed at the site for three hours without finding anyone.

"I think they are inside, all the missing people," he said.

Rescue teams recovered the body of the yacht's onboard chef on Monday, identified as Antiguan citizen Ricardo Thomas.

The still missing people include: 

• Mr Lynch's 18-year-old daughter, Hannah 
• Jonathan Bloomer, chairman of global financial services company Morgan Stanley International
• Chris Morvillo , a lawyer at the British multinational law firm Clifford Chance. He worked on Mr Lynch's lawsuit against Hewlett-Packard
• The identities of the remaining two missing are still unconfirmed

Who was rescued? 

Fifteen people escaped from the sinking ship. 

Eight have been hospitalised and others were taken to a nearby hotel.

Charlotte Golunski was among those rescued, recalling the harrowing moments she held her child Sofia above the waves.  ( Supplied: Facebook  )

Among those rescued were:

• Mr Lynch's wife, Angela Bacares, who was the owner of the yacht
• Charlotte Golunski and her one-year-old daughter, Sofia. Ms Golunski is a partner at Mr Lynch's firm, Invoke Capital. She says she momentarily lost hold of Sofia in the water but managed to hold her up above the waves until the lifeboat was inflated
• Ms Golunski's husband James Emslie
• New Zealand captain of the yacht James Catfield. He told Italian newspaper La Repubblica the crew didn't see the storm coming
• A lone Dutch citizen was identified by the Dutch foreign ministry as being rescued, but was not identified

Who is Mike Lynch?

Mr Lynch, once hailed as Britain’s king of technology, was recently freed from a Silicon Valley lawsuit that tarnished his legacy. 

The 59-year-old Cambridge-educated mathematician created Autonomy , a search engine that could pore through emails and other internal business documents to help companies find vital information more quickly. 

He received the OBE for his innovation in 2006. 

He then sold the software to Hewlett-Packard (HP) for $US11 billion ($16 billion) in 2011, with Mr Lynch personally netting $US800 million. 

HP valued Autonomy at $US46 billion ($68 billion) in the months leading up to the deal.

Mike Lynch in 2019 leaving the High Court in London.  ( Reuters: Henry Nicholls/File Photo )

But the deal quickly turned sour after he was accused of forging the software's financial records to make the sale.

As part of a decades-long legal battle against HP, Mr Lynch was extradited to the UK on criminal fraud charges. 

He steadfastly denied any wrongdoing, asserting that he was being made a scapegoat for HP's own bungling. 

He was eventually cleared of all charges in June this year. 

Although he avoided a possible prison sentence, Lynch still faced a bill from a civil case in London that HP mostly won during 2022. Damages haven't been determined in that case, but HP is seeking $US4 billion. 

Following the San Francisco trial, Mr Lynch said he would return to the UK and do what he loved most: "[being with] my family and innovating in my field."

The holiday appeared to be something of a celebration after Mr Lynch's acquittal, with guests including some of the people who had stood by Lynch throughout the ordeal.

This picture shows the rescue operations off the Sicilian coast.  ( AP: Italian Coast Guard  )

In a separate act of tragedy, Mr Lynch's co-defendant in the trial, Stephen Chamberlain, died on Monday, after a road accident left him critically injured.

Mr Chamberlain — Autonomy's former vice-president of finance alongside Mr Lynch — was hit by a car in Cambridgeshire on Saturday morning and had been placed on life support. 

What is the Bayesian?

The luxury yacht is 56m long sailboat, with a 75m mast labelled as the tallest aluminium mast in the world.

It was previously named Salute when it flew under a Dutch flag.

The yacht, built in 2008 by the Italian firm Perini Navi, can accommodate up to 12 guests in six suites and a crew of 10, according to online specialist yacht sites. It was last refitted in 2020.

Online charter sites listed it for rent for up to 195,000 euros (about $AU 321,000) a week. 

This picture taken on Sunday shows the Bayesian (left) and the Duch sailboat Sir Robert Baden Powell anchored off the coast line.   ( AP: Fabio La Bianca/Baia Santa Nicolicchia )

The ship also won a string of awards for its design. 

Ms Golunski said the yacht had travelled through the Aeolian Islands, Milazzo and Cefalù before sinking. 

It is likely the yacht's name would resonate with Mr Lynch because his PhD thesis and the software that made his fortune was based on Bayesian theory.

Who was on superyacht that sank off Sicily?

Twenty-two people were on board the Bayesian superyacht including British technology tycoon Mike Lynch, his wife and 18-year-old daughter, and Morgan Stanley International boss Jonathan Bloomer.

Friday 23 August 2024 12:34, UK

Details have emerged of the 22 people who were on board the superyacht that sank off the coast of Sicily.

The British-flagged vessel named Bayesian was carrying 12 passengers and 10 members of crew when it got into difficulty in the early hours of Monday.

Seven bodies have now been recovered. The other 15 people on board were rescued.

Here's what we know about those who were on the yacht.

Follow latest updates on the superyacht sinking

British technology tycoon Mike Lynch was among the original six people missing. On Thursday, divers confirmed his body had been recovered.

Raised in Ilford, east London by Irish parents, the 59-year-old made millions with the software company Autonomy he set up in 1996.

He had an estimated net worth of £852m, according to the 2023 Sunday Times Rich List, and is believed to have owned the yacht.

Off the back of Automomy's global success, Mr Lynch was given the roles of science adviser to former prime minister David Cameron and non-executive director of the BBC.

The Cambridge maths and sciences graduate sold the firm for £8.64bn to US giant Hewlett Packard (HP) in 2011.

Dubbed the "British Bill Gates", Mr Lynch has been in the headlines in recent months over a high-profile fraud case related to the sale of Autonomy to HP in 2011.

HP accused him of deliberately overstating the value of the company before it was acquired by the American technology firm. Mr Lynch denied any wrongdoing.

In June, a US jury cleared him of all charges .

Read more: Lynch's co-defendant dies days before yacht disaster

Hannah Lynch

Mr Lynch's 18-year-old daughter Hannah Lynch was also on board. A body believed to be that of the teenager was recovered on Friday from the yacht wreckage.

She had been on holiday with her parents, having secured a place to study English at the University of Oxford, according to reports.

Her former school, Latymer Upper School in Hammersmith, west London, said they were "incredibly shocked by the news that Hannah and her father are among those missing in this tragic accident" when the yacht first sank.

Angela Bacares

Mr Lynch's wife Angela Bacares was on board the yacht and was rescued.

The 57-year-old said she and Mr Lynch were awoken by the boat "tilting" at 4am - half an hour before it sank.

Jonathan Bloomer

Jonathan Bloomer, the chairman of investment bank Morgan Stanley International, was confirmed dead on Thursday.

According to the Financial Times, Mr Bloomer appeared as a defence witness for Mr Lynch during his US criminal trial and the pair were good friends. He also chaired Autonomy's audit committee.

The 70-year-old was the chief executive of UK-Hong Kong insurer Prudential until he was ousted by the board in 2005.

He was also chairman of the insurance provider Hiscox.

Judy Bloomer

Mr Bloomer's wife Judy was on the yacht trip with her husband. Divers confirmed they found her body on Thursday.

Mrs Bloomer was a former board member at The Eve Appeal charity, which focuses on gynaecological cancers.

The charity described her as a "brilliant champion for women's health and medical research... an incredible supporter, committee member, and trustee of our charity for over 20 years".

Read more: 'Alarming' potential cause of superyacht disaster What we know about superyacht that sank

Recaldo Thomas

The yacht's on-board chef Recaldo Thomas died in the sinking.

He was Canadian-Antiguan and part of the crew of the Bayesian.

His body was the first to be recovered from the wreckage.

Chris Morvillo

US lawyer Chris Morvillo was among those divers found dead on Thursday.

The father-of-two worked on Mr Lynch's US fraud trial and was a partner of law firm Clifford Chance's US branch.

Mr Morvillo was assistant attorney for the Southern District of New York between 1995 and 2005 and worked on the terrorist investigation into the 9/11 attacks.

In a recent LinkedIn post, he thanked the legal team that helped win Mr Lynch's trial.

Signing off the post, he said: "And, finally, a huge thank you to my patient and incredible wife, Neda Morvillo, and my two strong, brilliant, and beautiful daughters, Sabrina Morvillo and Sophia Morvillo.

"None of this would have been possible without your love and support. I am so glad to be home. And they all lived happily ever after…."

Neda Morvillo

Mr Morvillo's wife Neda died in the disaster alongside her husband.

The 57-year-old had a luxury jewellery brand, which she ran under her maiden name Neda Nassiri.

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

Ayla Ronald

Ayla Ronald, a senior associate at Clifford Chance, survived the yacht disaster, the law firm confirmed.

The 36-year-old worked alongside Chris Morvillo in helping defend Mike Lynch in court.

Clifford Chance said in a statement: "Our utmost priority is providing support to the family as well as our colleague Ayla Ronald, who together with her partner, thankfully survived the incident."

She is originally from Christchurch, New Zealand, but lives in London, her father told local media there.

He said she was left "very shaken" but "she and her partner are alive".

Charlotte Golunski

Charlotte Golunski was on board the yacht and was rescued along with her one-year-old daughter, Sofia.

She spoke to Italian newspaper La Repubblica, confirming she survived the yacht sinking and told how she kept her daughter alive after she was rescued.

"I held her afloat with all my strength, my arms stretched upwards to keep her from drowning," she said.

"It was all dark. In the water I couldn't keep my eyes open. I screamed for help but all I could hear around me was the screams of others."

The 35-year-old is a partner at one of Mr Lynch's firms - Invoke Capital - and has worked there since 2012, according to her LinkedIn profile.

She also worked at Hewlett Packard, which acquired Autonomy in 2011, for 11 months.

Before that, she studied history at the University of Oxford.

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James Emsley

Ms Golunski's partner James Emsley was also rescued from the yacht, according to Sicily's civil protection agency.

The 36-year-old is the father of her one-year-old daughter.

James Cutfield

The 51-year-old captain of the yacht spoke to Italian newspaper La Repubblica after he was rescued.

Mr Cutfield, from New Zealand, was taken for treatment at the Termini Imerese emergency unit, where he told the newspaper: "We didn't see it coming."

Leah Randall

Leah Randall was part of the Bayesian crew and survived the sinking.

She was pictured going ashore in Porticello on Monday morning and is from South Africa.

Her mother Heidi told Sky News said she was "beyond relieved that my daughter's life was spared by the grace of God".

"It doesn't make it any easier living with the heartache of those who have lost their lives [or are] missing. My very deepest condolences to the chef's family as they formed a great friendship," she said.

Katja Chicken

Katja Chicken was another South African member of crew on board the Bayesian and was pictured being brought to safety in Porticello on Monday.

The Italian coastguard confirmed on Tuesday evening that Leo Eppel, a crew member, also survived the yacht sinking.

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Hotshot nyc lawyer missing in bayesian yacht disaster had just made good on dad’s life’s work with victory in mike lynch fraud case.

Hotshot New York lawyer Chris Morvillo proved he was a “chip off the old block” when he beat the feds and won an acquittal for UK tech titan Mike Lynch in one of the biggest fraud trials in Silicon Valley history — carrying on his father’s legacy as one of the nation’s top white-collar criminal lawyers, a longtime family friend says.

Morvillo, 59, was on Lynch’s superyacht celebrating his legal victory in the $11 billion fraud case when the ship was hit by a surprise squall and sank off the coast of Sicily on Monday.

He and his wife, Neda, are missing and feared dead.

“I think it would be hard for any young lawyer to come into the business and make a reputation for yourself with the shadow of your dad’s influence,” veteran white-collar criminal attorney Ronald Riopelle, 65, told The Post.

He compared the father and son to baseball stars Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr.

“It doesn’t happen that often — the son is able to play in the same league as their dad.”

Chris’ father, Bob Morvillo, who died in 2011 at age 73, got his start in the legal world in the 1960s as a federal prosecutor focused on securities fraud and targeted corporate leaders.

His prosecutions helped spark a surge in demand for corporate defense lawyers — which the elder Morvillo filled himself and became a pioneer in the field of white-collar criminal defense.

He represented the likes of Martha Stewart and ex-AIG CEO Maurice R. Greenberg. Former Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance even worked at Morvillo’s firm — Morvillo Abramowitz Grand Iason & Anello PC.

When Chris Morvillo graduated from Fordham School of Law, he went into the family business and became a white-collar crime lawyer as well — serving as an assistant US attorney for the Southern District of New York before moving on to his dad’s firm and then joining London-based firm Clifford Chance.

Even as Chris Morvillo carved out his own reputation as a litigator, he staked out a very different reputation from his father.

“Bob was a famously great lawyer — but, man, he did not suffer fools easily,” Riopelle said. “Bob was very tough. Chris was full of fun.”

He added: “Chris was just a doll … He was a fun guy. He was nice guy … He was happy-go-lucky guy, good sense of humor. His dad had a bit of a temper and a hard edge. Chris didn’t have that.”

What to know after a tornado sank the yacht Bayesian off the coast of Sicily:

• A superyacht capsized off the coast of Sicily after a tornado hit the area early Monday, killing seven passengers.
• British tech tycoon Mike Lynch was identified as one of the bodies pulled from the wreckage. His teenage daughter, Hannah, was the final one to be recovered.
• Lynch — known as “Britain’s Bill Gates” — had invited guests from Clifford Chance, a legal firm that represented him, and Invoke Capital, his own company, on the voyage,  according to the Telegraph . 
• Security camera footage shot from 650 feet from where the  Bayesian sank Monday  shows it disappearing.
• A rare and unexpected “black swan” weather event may have led to the  Bayesian’s speedy demise , maritime experts say.

Chris Morvillo, however, proved his legal acumen once and for all in June when he helped secure Lynch — known as “the British Bill Gates” — a total acquittal on fraud charges alleging he’d cooked the books when he sold his company Autonomy to HP in 2011 for $11 billion.

HP later wrote down $8.8 billion from the acquisition and accused Lynch of inflating the value of Autonomy.

Lynch was charged by the US Justice Department, and faced up to 25 years in prison if convicted — but Chris managed to clear him of all federal charges in June after an explosive, three-month trial that was dubbed “one of Silicon Valley’s biggest-ever fraud cases.”

Colleagues of his father said he would have been glowing with pride to see his son secure a rare total victory. Less than 1% of federal charges result in acquittals.

“He would have said he’s a chip off the old block,” said Riopelle, who knew Bob Morvillo for more than 30 years.

Bob even tried cases with Chris over the years, along with his other sons, Scott and Greg.

“Their dad was very proud of their work and I know he’d be very proud of him now,” Riopelle said, adding that Chris was “at the peak of his career in a lot of ways.”

“He was a totally devoted father — he’d be totally heartbroken, as any father would be,” he said.

Morvillo’s firm Clifford Chance said it was “in shock and deeply saddened” by his loss in a statement to the Wall Street Journal .

“We are completely devastated by the news concerning Chris and Neda, and our hearts go out to all of those involved,” the statement said.

Since the Bayesian sank before dawn Monday, six bodies have been recovered from the wreckage lying under 160 feet of water.

Lynch’s body had been identified.

In addition to the Morvillos and Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter, also missing are Morgan Stanley executive Jonathan Bloomer and his wife, Judy.

Ship cook Ricardo Thomas — one of 10 crew members onboard — was found dead shortly after the disaster.

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Final Body Is Recovered From Yacht That Sank Off Sicily

Hannah Lynch, the 18-year-old daughter of the British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, was on board a yacht that was hit by a storm and went down in the early hours on Monday.

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By Emma Bubola and Elisabetta Povoledo

Emma Bubola reported from Porticello, Italy, and Elisabetta Povoledo from Pallanza, Italy.

For nearly a week after a violent storm sent a luxury yacht to the bottom of the sea off the coast of Sicily, Italian scuba divers plunged deep underwater, moving through ropes and fallen objects inside the yacht in a desperate search for the six people missing.

On Friday, the recovery of the body of Hannah Lynch, 18, put an end to the wrenching search and to the slim hopes that any of the missing people might have survived.

Ms. Lynch, the daughter of the British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, who also died in the yacht’s sinking, was the last person to be formally unaccounted for since Monday after tragedy struck a group that had been celebrating her father’s acquittal in a high-profile fraud case.

There were 10 crew members and 12 passengers on board the 180-foot vessel, the Bayesian, when it was hit by a storm and went down about 4.30 a.m. on Monday, the boat’s management company said on Friday.

Fifteen survived.

The body of the ship’s cook, Recaldo Thomas, was found on Monday, a few hours after a downpour hit the northwestern coast of Sicily, near the port of Porticello, where the yacht had been anchored.

But it took several days to recover the bodies of the six passengers who were apparently trapped inside the yacht: Mr. Lynch and Ms. Lynch; Jonathan Bloomer, the chairman of Morgan Stanley International; his wife, Judy Bloomer; Christopher J. Morvillo, a lawyer at Clifford Chance; and his wife, Neda Morvillo.

On Friday, a round of applause could be heard from the firefighter’s tent set up on the dock in Porticello after the last body was pulled out in what the corps described as a “complex” search operation at a depth of about 165 feet. The firefighters said they had made 123 immersions into the sea to try to retrieve the bodies.

The body bag was then loaded onto an ambulance. A local man had left a small wooden cross on the rocks in front of the dock where the bodies were brought ashore.

Mr. Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares, was among those who managed to reach the safety of a raft. They were rescued by a sailing schooner that had been bobbing about 150 yards from the yacht.

In a statement, the family thanked the search teams and said that it was enduring a “time of unspeakable grief.”

“The Lynch family is devastated, in shock and is being comforted and supported by family and friends,” the statement added.

As prosecutors from the nearby city of Termini Imerese began conducting interviews with the survivors and possible witnesses, the crew and passengers of the Bayesian have been confined to a local hotel, where the news media have been denied access.

Salvatore Cocina, the head of Sicily’s civil protection agency, said on Thursday that the survivors had turned down the psychological assistance his department had offered to them.

In Porticello, the sprawling presence of rescue services made a haunting backdrop for an otherwise tranquil port town. People sunbathed and ate ricotta-filled pastries, and stores selling sandals and dried fruit opened as normal, while coast guard and firefighting vessels came and went from the shore, taking scuba divers out to the shipwreck.

Other reminders of the tragedy could be seen along the coast, among palm trees and ice cream shops, with groups of onlookers staring out at the sea, now tranquil and flat.

Local and national news organizations have complained that prosecutors have not issued a statement or held a news conference. Prosecutors may shed more light on the yacht’s sinking when they hold a news conference on Saturday.

The marine accident investigation branch of the British transportation ministry was also looking into the shipwreck of the vessel, which was registered in Britain.

One of the major questions is what caused the boat to sink: Was it the fault of the boat maker, of the crew or of a powerful act of nature — or some combination of the three? None of those who were onboard the Bayesian have spoken publicly.

The luxury yacht, built by the Italian manufacturer Perini Navi and launched in 2008, had the second-tallest aluminum mast in the world, according to its makers.

Giovanni Costantino, the chief executive of the Italian Sea Group, which in 2022 bought Perini Navi, has been assertive in defending the design and construction of the yacht, saying that the Bayesian would be “unsinkable” if the proper procedures were followed.

But yacht design experts have cautioned that the lesson of the Titanic, the ocean liner that sank on its 1912 maiden voyage, showed that no vessel, no matter how robust, was worthy of that label.

Nautilus International, a maritime-focused labor union, criticized any implication that the crew had been at fault, especially at this stage. In a statement , the union’s general secretary, Mark Dickinson, said, “Experience tells us that maritime tragedies are always the result of multiple, interconnected factors,” and he urged people to refrain from drawing any conclusions until a thorough investigation had been carried out.

The investigation into the causes will take months, prosecutors said.

Michael J. de la Merced contributed reporting.

Emma Bubola is a Times reporter based in Rome. More about Emma Bubola

Elisabetta Povoledo is a reporter based in Rome, covering Italy, the Vatican and the culture of the region. She has been a journalist for 35 years. More about Elisabetta Povoledo

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Luxury yacht sinks: Last body, believed to be tech mogul's 18-year-old daughter, is found

The body is likely that of hannah lynch, the 18-year-old daughter of british tech magnate mike lynch.

Pskov customs: the customs post MAPP Burachki – 25 years

The customs post MAPP (multilateral automobile checkpoint) Burachki Pskov customs was 25 years old.

Customs post MAPP Burachki on the Russian-Latvian border was established at the Sebezh customs by order of the State customs Committee of the Russian Federation of 2 February 1995 # 67 in connection with the opening of a new border crossing point “Burachki”, which was erected in accordance with the agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Republic of Latvia and became operational on 18 January 1995.

25 years ago the staffing of the customs office was 91 unit. Today, more than 200 people to carry out the customs control and customs clearance at the Russian-Latvian border, at the largest customs office of the Pskov customs.

Since 2008, there is a stationary inspection system (NIIS). The number of customs inspection using IIR in 2019 compared to the previous year increased by 40%. Over the past year, completed 45 006 customs inspections of goods and vehicles with the use of IDK. The quality of customs control through the use of high-tech equipment and increasing the level of professionalism of the officers has increased. In 2019 as a result of the inspection of vehicles with the use of IDK detected movement of goods with concealment from customs control. Identified caches 72900 packs of cigarettes in the boxes with the “product cover” 451,3 kg of hashish inside the fuel tank of the truck, 161460 Euro and 3 kg of gold in the car, identifying more than 16 tons of cigarettes under the “product cover” are examples of the professionalism of the officials of the customs post.

Every year thanks to the introduction of advanced technologies increases the actual throughput of a customs post. Nomenclature of goods transported through the customs post different. Consumer goods, complex mechanical products that are excisable goods, foodstuffs, vegetable and livestock products and many more moved through the customs post how to export and import to the Russian Federation . Increasing the flow of goods to Kaliningrad, and from Kaliningrad. In 2019 every third vehicle of international transportation placed under the customs procedure of customs transit to Kaliningrad.

In 2019, officials of the customs post issued on entry to the Russian Federation 87473 motor vehicles, 711 buses, to travel 77182 passenger vehicle and bus 692; entry – 96230 vehicles of international carriage, exit – 54588 commercial vehicles.

– Congratulations to the staff of the customs post with the 25th anniversary. I wish all officials good health and satisfaction from the quality of performance set by the customs authority tasks, – said the head of customs Svetlana Stepanova. To the customs post MAPP Burachki, his team focused attention and leadership, and controlled entities. Let this attention be associated with the successful operation of officials of the customs post and customs in General.

Natalia Knyazeva, press Secretary of the Pskov customs

Document about the origin of money required: 01 Feb 2020 are changing the rules of moving of cash currency

In Moscow customs held a meeting with the major participant of foreign economic activity

North-West Customs Administration

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Items portrayed in this file, copyright status, copyrighted, copyright license, creative commons attribution-sharealike 2.0 generic, 4 september 2010.

• Location maps of Pskov Oblast
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