Maritime Transactions and Finance

Advised a port operator on the formation of a joint port development authority (one of the first of its kind) with another port operator, resulting in one of the largest cargo gateways in the United States. Advised on the structuring of the joint venture between two public port authorities, including research, tax advice, legislative assistance, open meetings assistance, public finance advice, drafting, negotiating terms, employment terms, integration advice, and regulatory issues for the Federal Maritime Commission.

Represented a Seattle, Washington-based provider of common carrier and contract barge freight transportation and logistics services between Washington, Alaska, and Hawaii in its sale to a Seattle, Washington-based provider of integrated freight transportation services, via a merger.

Represented a publicly traded company and one of the largest domestic U.S. shipping companies on new-build contracts, environmental compliance matters, and vessel acquisition and financing transactions. 

Represented a tanker shipping company in nearly US$500 million of second-hand vessel tanker sales prior to the client's acquisition by a peer. The transactions involved review, negotiation, and drafting of memoranda of agreements; closing documents; mortgage release documents; outgoing and incoming vessel registries; pre-closing and closing meetings; and post-closing logistics.

Represented a Portland, Oregon-based provider of shipbuilding, ship repair, and complex fabrication in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska in connection with its acquisition of a worldwide leader in the design and construction of high-quality, hard-working aluminum vessels.

Represented a leading provider of shipbuilding, ship repair, and complex fabrication in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska in connection with its acquisition of an Oregon-based metal fabricator and systems integrator.

Represented a leading provider of shipbuilding, ship repair, and complex fabrication, through its wholly owned subsidiary, in the purchase of substantially all assets of a ship repair company operating in Seward, Alaska.

Represented a provider of shipbuilding, ship repair, and complex fabrication, through its wholly owned subsidiary, in the purchase of substantially all assets of a topside ship repair company operating in the Port of Port Angeles, Washington. 

Advised an Australian freight forwarding and customs company in relation to its acquisition by way of share swap of a minority stake in a Singapore-based freight forwarding business.

Represented the named buyer of a tanker in a New York bankruptcy case pursuant to a stalking-horse credit bid of the secured lender, National Bank of Greece. Handled Memoranda of Agreement drafting and closing documents, with a focus on the bankruptcy issues to ensure our client was protected, buying the vessel free and clear of all encumbrances.

Advised a leading international sportswear-brand enterprise based in China as an investor in a consortium that bought a Washington marina just south of Vancouver, British Columbia.

Represented the buyer of a yacht, managing the negotiation of the memorandum of agreement, closing documents, handling of closing meeting, interactions with vessel registries, and the corporate structuring of the buyer with respect to ownership by a trust.