Richard Mabane

About Richard

Richard is a Partner in HFW’s Shipping team and is based in Monaco. He qualified as a Solicitor in 1995, joined HFW in January 1996 and became a Partner in 2001. 

Richard specialises on the ‘dry’ side of marine litigation, with particular expertise in charterparty, shipbuilding and ship sale and purchase disputes. With numerous high-profile cases involving total losses, groundings, fires, engine failures, dangerous cargo, collisions and allisions, his leading case of the “HILL HARMONY” led the House of Lords to clarify the scope of a time charterer’s routeing orders in what was a key case for the shipping industry.

Since moving to Monaco in 2023, Richard has developed a growing practice in yacht construction, sale and purchase, refit and repair, advising clients across the full lifecycle of yacht projects.

Richard’s approach is very results-driven and he prides himself in pushing through to solutions in even the most complex, high value and hard fought of cases. He has a very strong track record of success in his decided cases, and is a strong advocate of mediation, having achieved settlements in 33 of his 37 mediations.

Fluent in Italian and French, Richard has long represented Italian clients and now has a growing French speaking practice, particularly in the yachting sector and across Monaco.

Since May 2025, Richard has been accepting appointments as arbitrator, in particular in LMAA arbitrations and he has already had numerous appointments, also as sole arbitrator. Richard is a Supporting Member of the LMAA and a member of BIMCO.