Press Releases
HFW Boosts Greek Ship Finance with Partner Appointment and Senior Associate Hire as Office Celebrates 25th Anniversary
Sector-focused law firm HFW has boosted its leading Greek ship finance practice with the promotion of Piraeus consultant Kalliopi Karaiskaki to partner and the hire of senior associate Dimitra Gelti.
Kalliopi has also been appointed as head of the firm's ship finance practice in Piraeus.
The moves continue HFW's expansion of its global ship finance practice, following the hire of senior partner Siri Wennevik, who joined the firm's Singapore office in January from Wikborg Rein, where she was previously Singapore managing partner.
HFW now has 15 ship finance partners across the firm's 18 international offices, with teams in Dubai, Hong Kong, London, Paris, Piraeus, Singapore and Shanghai.
The moves also coincide with the 25th anniversary of HFW's Piraeus office, which was established on 14 June 1993.
Kalliopi is an English- and Greek-qualified transactional lawyer with significant expertise in ship finance, corporate, and oil and gas.
Kalliopi previously spent almost three years as a consultant for HFW in Doha, where she was seconded as legal counsel at Maersk Oil and Qatar Gas Transport Company (NAKILAT). She also spent six years in London as an associate at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Richards Butler (now Reed Smith).
Kalliopi becomes the ninth new partner that HFW has promoted this year, following the internal promotion of eight new partners on 1 April.
Before joining HFW, Dimitra spent more than three years as an external legal consultant to Greek shipping industry clients. She was previously a senior associate at Stephenson Harwood in Piraeus.
Dimitri Vassos, Piraeus office head:
"Kal's promotion and Dimitra's hire reflect our continued commitment to ship finance and corporate shipping, which are core parts of our Greek practice. They also reflect our continued commitment to Greece, as our office celebrates its 25th anniversary. HFW Piraeus has grown from a relatively modest beginning in 1993 to become one of the largest practices of any international law firm in the country. I am both proud and privileged to have been part of a team who, through hard work and commitment to the firm's values, have each contributed to the successful growth and development of the office. We are fortunate to have worked with some amazing clients over the past 25 years. I look forward to continued success together."
Kalliopi Karaiskaki, head of Piraeus ship finance:
"I am very excited to join the partnership and to lead a team with such a strong reputation for ship finance and corporate shipping, in Greece and internationally. I look forward to working with the rest of the global team to offer clients the outstanding legal and industry expertise that they expect from HFW."
Tony Rice, global head of ship finance:
"These moves represent another step in our strategy to develop leading finance practices in the key markets for ship finance around the world. We are seeing significant growth in client demand for our specialist ship finance expertise across the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific."
HFW is widely regarded as the world's leading shipping and maritime practice. The firm has over 200 shipping lawyers and 13 Master Mariners across 18 international offices, specialising in shipping and offshore finance, dry shipping, admiralty and crisis management, and transactional and corporate shipping work. It represents the full spectrum of those involved in the industry, including shipowners and charterers, P&I Clubs, banks, international agencies, shipyards, marine insurance underwriters, governments and brokers.
HFW's Greek shipping practice is ranked in the top tier in both Chambers & Partners and The Legal 500, with Chambers stating that the firm "boasts a highly regarded Greek practice that is a key contributor to the firm's superb global reputation".
ABOUT HFW:
HFW is a leading global law firm in the aerospace, commodities, construction, energy, insurance and shipping sectors. The firm has almost 600 fee‑earners, including 180 partners, based in 18 offices across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia. We take a progressive approach to our roles in commercial business – thinking creatively and pragmatically to support our clients. HFW prides itself on its deep industry expertise and its entrepreneurial, creative and collaborative culture.
For further information, please contact:
Chris Johnson
Head of Communications
D +44 (0)20 7264 8159
M +44 (0)7976 939864
E chris.johnson@hfw.com
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