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Home > Services
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> Yachts & Yacht Finance
Richard Coles and David Johnston have served the yachting industry for over 30 years earning international recognition in this niche area of law.
David acts for yacht owners, commercial organisations in the leisure marine industry and insurers in all kinds of disputes involving yachts and pleasure craft as well as advising on contract and policy terms, construction and repair disputes and sale, purchase and registration.
Significant cases handled by David include The “Star Assyria” [1980] 2 Lloyd’s Rep., Steadman v Schofield [1992] 2 Lloyd’s Rep., The “Volvox Hollandia” [1998] 2 Lloyd’s Rep., The “Milasan” [2000] 2 Lloyd’s Rep and Glowrange Ltd v CGU Insurance PLC [2001] All ER (D). David investigated the loss of the Coha II for hull underwriters and represented underwriters in the subsequent litigation to which extensive reference is made in The “Grecia Express” [2002] Lloyd’s Rep. He handled many of the salvage cases which emerged from the Fastnet tragedy in 1979 and investigated the loss of the “Marques” with 19 members of her crew in 1984 before acting for underwriters in the lengthy formal investigation and multi-national litigation that followed. David has handled yacht litigation throughout the world including interesting cases relating to limitation of liability.
In addition to his dispute work David advises owners including high net worth individuals and corporations in regard to purchase, sale and construction of yachts. He has been responsible for the development and drafting of several innovative yacht insurance wordings in current use. The most recent examples carry the Crystal Mark of approval by the Plain English Campaign.
Richard acts for the owners and specialised financers in the construction, sale and purchase or financing of superyachts including some of the largest and most prestigious superyachts in existence. He advises owners on ownership structures and choice of flag, having regard to the owners’ personal circumstances and tax status, the type of vessel and its intended use. Richard has for a number of years advised one of the leading international trade associations in the yachting industry and has assisted in the drafting of Standard Form Agreements widely used in the industry. He is a regular speaker at yachting industry conferences and seminars and is the author of the standard legal text book, Ship Registration: Law and Practice.
David and Richard are supported by a strong team which includes Jane Hobbs, James Lowe, Graham Kershaw, Chris Onn and Ian Ramsay. James is a Master Mariner and a Yachtmaster with commercial endorsement. Other team members have strong practical yachting experience.
Together the team provides advice on every aspect of the yachting industry to a wide range of clients including owners, yacht insurers, sale and purchase brokers, charter brokers, trade associations, commercial managers, designers, builders and repairers. We have unrivalled experience in matters involving vessels ranging from small leisure craft to the largest yachts afloat and from the preparation of commercial contracts to the effective resolution of contractual disputes, collision, salvage and other marine claims.
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