HFW strengthens global shipping practice, continues Paris office growth with Partner hire

Global, sector-focused law firm HFW has strengthened its market‑leading global shipping practice and continued the strategic growth of its Paris office with the appointment of Anisha Franklin as Partner.

Anisha rejoins HFW from global transportation company MSC, where she has been Senior Legal Counsel advising the group’s executive leadership on strategic, corporate, finance, and regulatory matters. Anisha previously trained with HFW and spent over five years with the firm in London and Paris.

Her return continues the significant growth of HFW’s Paris office, following the recent arrivals of bankruptcy, insolvency, and corporate restructuring Partner Arnaud Pédron, disputes and regulatory investigations Partner Louis-Alexis Bret, and public law Partner Rémi Ducloyer. It also follows the additions to HFW’s London shipping team of ship finance Partner Simon Petch and yacht Partner Toby Joy.

HFW has been in Paris since 1977 and now has more than 50 lawyers advising on maritime and air transportation issues, insurance and reinsurance, industrial risks, infrastructure and construction, energy, international trade, and commodities, as well as commercial disputes, corporate, finance, and private equity.

Paul Dean, Global Head of Shipping, HFW:
“Anisha’s appointment represents another significant addition to our global shipping practice. She brings a combination of international legal expertise, commercial insight, and deep sector understanding that is rare in the market. Her experience working at the heart of a leading global shipping company gives her commercial acumen that will be hugely valuable to our clients across the shipping, transport, and trade sectors.”

Jean‑Marc Zampa, Paris Office Head, HFW:
“We are delighted to welcome Anisha back to HFW and to our Paris office. Her arrival reflects our continued investment in Paris and builds on the strong momentum we have created through recent partner hires. Anisha’s bilingual, cross‑jurisdictional expertise and strong international profile will further enhance our leading shipping offering in Paris, both for French clients and across the wider HFW network.”

Anisha advises clients across the shipping, transport, logistics, finance, and energy sectors on a broad range of matters, including cross-border financings (asset, project, corporate, and acquisition/leveraged), shipbuilding and infrastructure projects, derivatives, regulatory matters, and global disputes under English, French and New York law, being qualified in each of these jurisdictions.

She has particular expertise in ESG strategy, sustainable finance, energy transition, and decarbonisation.

Anisha is a Board Member, Director, and Trustee of The Mission to Seafarers – one of HFW’s shipping industry charity partners.

Anisha Franklin, Partner, HFW:
“Having trained and practised at HFW earlier in my career, I am delighted to be returning to the firm at a time of such strong momentum in Paris and across the global shipping practice. HFW’s deep sector focus, international platform, and collaborative culture make it a natural fit for the next stage of my practice, and I look forward to working closely with colleagues across the network to support clients on their most critical and complex matters.”

HFW has the largest maritime practice of any international law firm, with more than 220 specialist shipping lawyers and professionals across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific. The team advise clients across the industry on the full spectrum of dry shipping, admiralty and crisis management, and transactional work.

HFW has more top-tier rankings for shipping in legal directories Chambers and The Legal 500 than any other law firm, and is ranked by The Times as one of the UK’s top maritime practices.