Maritime Finance Team
Maritime Finance Team
AIRCRAFT FINANCE TEAM
Backed by approximately 2,200 lawyers and other professionals in 35 offices throughout the world, Holland & Knight’s Maritime Finance Team concentrates on business-critical maritime, offshore and cruise industry transactions. Our team is dedicated to delivering unsurpassed representation to our clients.
U.S. Coverage and International Reach
Our lawyers are strategically located on all U.S. coasts – East, Gulf and West – as well as in Mexico City, Monterrey and Bogotá.
Leaders in the Industry
We have been involved in numerous high-profile global transactions that have earned us a leading reputation in the industry.
Supporting the Maritime Industry
Committed to the Profession
Our commitment to the maritime industry is demonstrated by our participation on the boards of maritime organizations, industry groups and bar associations, as well as in seminars and conferences.
Our industry knowledge has been accumulated over decades of work with leading industry participants, enabling us to support a wide range of clients on complex matters with comprehensive and genuine “value-added” service that goes beyond legal excellence.
Shipping Companies
Financial Institutions and U.S. Borrowers in Connection with Jones Act Financing
We Handle All Types of Transactions
and Foreign
Our lawyers have extensive experience in a wide scope of transactional work relating to shipping and the maritime industry worldwide, including:
Ship finance loan and lease transactions, especially involving U.S., Liberian, Marshall Islands and Vanuatu laws
Shipping industry taxation issues
Maritime commercial disputes,charter parties and insurance
Oil pollution, ship recycling and other maritime environmental issues
Capital markets transactions in the shipping and offshore industries Jones Act, FMC, OFAC, MARAD and Homeland Security/Coast Guard
Maritime bankruptcies, foreclosures and workouts
Maritime and trade regulations
Holland & Knight's mission is to provide seamless, efficient and valuable client-centric services over a wide range of industries. Collaboration across practices and offices, along with highly focused management of matters and cases, enables us to deliver dynamic legal support, regardless of location.
Put Our Experience to Work for You
Maritime transactions are becoming increasingly varied and complex, but our maritime finance attorneys have an in-depth understanding of the industry. Our deep bench of legal professionals has extensive ship finance, tax, corporate, litigation, regulatory and bankruptcy experience.
Complementing this industry knowledge, our team also includes corporate lawyers who regularly execute all types of maritime industry business transactions, including public and private company mergers and acquisitions, public and private equity and debt offerings, proxy contests, joint ventures and formation of private investment vehicles.
What Others Say About Our Firm
We are consistently recognized as leaders in the legal profession, earning accolades for service, responsiveness and results.
2026 Chambers Global Guide
The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business Firm recognized in several categories, including Shipping: Finance and Shipping: Litigation; 44 lawyers recognized among the best in the world, including two in shipping; Holland & Knight attorneys Jovi Tenev and Michael Timpone are ranked nationally in Shipping Finance [Globalwide]
2026 Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” Guide
Earned national first-tier rankings in 42 practices, including Admiralty and Maritime Law
2026 The Best Lawyers in America Guide
Nearly 900 attorneys listed, including 11 lawyers ranked in the area of Admiralty and Maritime Law
2025 The Legal 500 United States Guide
Recommended in the practice areas of Transport: Shipping – Finance, Transport: Shipping – Litigation and Regulation; Holland & Knight attorneys ranked nationally include Michael Timpone, Jovi Tenev and Sophia Agathis; attorneys Richard Furey, Cynthia Liu, Gerald Morrissey III and Kurt Plankl are also recommended
“Simply the best transportation practice in the U.S.” – Transport: Shipping – Finance respondent USA, 2025 The Legal 500 USA
2025 Chambers USA Guide
America’s Leading Lawyers for Business 291 attorneys ranked among leaders in their industries, including seven maritime attorneys; Holland & Knight attorneys Sophia Agathis, Jovi Tenev and Michael Timpone are ranked nationally in Shipping Finance [USA Nationwide]
2023 Who’s Who Legal: Transport Guide
21 attorneys listed among the world’s best transport lawyers, including two in shipping
2022 Law360
Holland & Knight’s Transportation practice named “Practice Group of the Year”
“Holland & Knight has a wide range of excellent professionals across important areas such as maritime law.”
– Shipping Finance respondent Global, 2026 Chambers Global
Maritime Finance Contacts
Sophia Agathis Partner | New York
+1.212.513.3466 sophia.agathis@hklaw.com
Richard Furey Partner | New York
+1.212.513.3439
richard.furey@hklaw.com
Gerald Morrissey Partner | Washington, D.C.
+1.202.469.5497
gerald.morrissey@hklaw.com
Kurt Plankl
Partner | New York
+1.212.513.3421 kurt.plankl@hklaw.com
Jovi Tenev
Partner | New York
+1.212.513.3218
jovi.tenev@hklaw.com
Michael Holt Senior Counsel | London
+44.20.7071.9918
michael.holt@hklaw.com
Nicholas Kaasik Senior Counsel | New York
+1.212.513.3388
nicholas.kaasik@hklaw.com
Mike Timpone Partner and head of Transportation Finance Team New York
+1.212.513.3476
mike.timpone@hklaw.com
Cynthia Liu Senior Counsel | Dallas
+1.214.969.1311
cynthia.liu@hklaw.com
Joe Snell
Senior Counsel | London
+44.20.7071.9936
joe.snell@hklaw.com
Eric J. Adler
Associate | New York
+1.212.513.3444
eric.adler@hklaw.com
Kendall Christiansen Associate | San Francisco
+1.415.743.6930
kendall.christiansen@hklaw.com
Antonio DiNizo
Associate | New York
+1.212.513.3468
antonio.diNizo@hklaw.com
Alejandra Galofre Associate | London
+44.20.7071.9914
alejandra.galofre@hklaw.com
Kelly Garretson Associate | New York
+1.212.513.3401
kelly.garretson@hklaw.com
www.hklaw.com
Mary Gong Associate | London
+44.20.7071.9947
mary.gong@hklaw.com
Zhandos Kuderin Associate | New York
+1.212.513.3241
zhandos.kuderin@hklaw.com
Frank Petracco
Associate | New York
+1.212.513.3400
frank.petracco@hklaw.com
Matthew Pintea Associate | New York
+1.212.513.3520
matthew.pintea@hklaw.com
Danielle Santucci Associate | San Francisco
+1.415.743.6981
danielle.santucci@hklaw.com
Sam Wager Associate | London
+44.20.7071.9925
sam.wager@hklaw.com
Nana Prempeh Consultant | New York
+1.212.513.3240
nana.prempeh@hklaw.com
Shella Cervantes Paralegal | Newport Beach
+1.213.896.2430
shella.cervantes@hklaw.com
Sharon Chun Paralegal | Los Angeles
+1.213.896.2493
sharon.chun@hklaw.com
Yvette Hoang Paralegal | Los Angeles
+1.213.896.2581
yvette.hoang@hklaw.com
Maria Martinez Paralegal | San Francisco
+1.415.743.695
maria.martinez@hklaw.com