Alexis Petrou

Alexis specialises in commercial law and litigation, with particular expertise in standard-form and bespoke contracts, commercial agreements, and sale of goods, and resolving complex disputes through litigation and mediation.  

• Advised on and assisted clients with drafting joint venture agreements, assignments and novations. 
• Acted for clients in disputes under complex loan agreements and ancillary financial documents. 
• Involved in litigation in the Commercial Court relating to possible frauds under financial instruments. 
• Acted for clients in pursuing claims under general average bonds and guarantees. 
• Acted for clients on matters requiring applications for anti-suit injunctions. 

Alexis has expertise in international arbitration, with a focus on anti-suit and freezing injunctions, advising on complex cross-border disputes and representing clients under major institutional rules and ad hoc proceedings. 

• Acted in multiple arbitration appeals involving sections 67, 68 and 69 of the Arbitration Act 1996. 
• Acted for clients in complex arbitrations governed by the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules. 
• Advised clients involved in Netherlands-based arbitrations applying English law. 
• Acted in arbitrations involving GAFTA, FOSFA, LMAA, Swedish Chamber of Commerce, Swiss Chamber of International Arbitration arbitration rules. 
• Advised multiple clients on clauses relating to law and jurisdiction/arbitration, their enforceability and ancillary issues. 

Alexis has extensive experience in insurance and reinsurance, advising on policy interpretation, claims disputes, and coverage issues. He offers strategic advice to insurers, reinsurers, and brokers in both contentious and non-contentious matters. 

• Advised large cruise ship owners/operators on possible claims against insurers arising out of the Covid pandemic. 
• Advised clients in relation to claims under cargo insurance policies. 
• Advised clients on the terms of and possible claims under corporate insurance policies. 
• Advised clients on standard-form hull and machinery policies and other standard-form and bespoke marine policies. 
• Advised on and acted for clients in disputes involving marine insurance contracts, including the actual total loss of vessels and yachts. 

Alexis specialises in marine and international trade law, advising on shipbuilding contracts, bills of lading, commercial contracts, sale of goods, commodities finance, charterparties, bills of lading, marine insurance and offshore matters. His clients include shipowners, insurers, charterers, commodity traders and companies in the offshore sector. 

• Acted for clients in a complex bareboat purchase dispute in concurrent London arbitrations, involving four Suezmax tankers, two of which had been requisitioned. 
• Advised clients in disputes arising under a shipbuilding contract for chemical tankers. 
• Assisted clients with the arrest of assets and vessels in multiple jurisdictions in support of their claims in London arbitration proceedings. 
• Acted for clients in a complex litigation arising out of the OW Bunkers insolvency. 
• Advised and represented clients in disputes arising out of ship management contracts. 
• Advised and represented clients in a dispute arising out of the cutting of an undersea telecommunication cable. 
• Acted and advised multiple clients on issues arising under cargo carried under bills of lading, straight and seaway bills. 
• Advised and acted for clients in cargo claims governed by English law in various jurisdictions. 
• Advised and acted for clients in claims and/or disputes arising under the Inter-Club New York Produce Exchange Agreement. 
• Advised clients on matters involving general average. 
• Advised on and acted for clients on matters and disputes relating to claims for demurrage/damages for detention under voyage charters. 
• Advised clients on liabilities, limitation of liability and exclusions under the Hague and Hague Visby Rules. 
• Acted for shipowners in the case of The Sea Master [2019] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 101. 
• Advised and acted for shipowners and charterers in disputes involving off-hire. 
• Advised and acted for shipowners and charterers in bunker disputes under time charterers, including the supply of contaminated bunkers. 
• Acted for and advised clients on the exercising of liens over cargo. 

Alexis has expertise in offshore energy law, advising on contracts, regulatory issues, and disputes within the sector.

• Acted for international offshore clients in arbitrations involving bespoke transportation contracts for an expansion project involving one of the largest gas fields in the world. 
• Advised international offshore clients on standard-form agreements related to the Caspian exploration project. 
• Advised on several standard-form charterparties in the offshore sector including but not limited to the TOWCON and SUPPLYTIME forms. 
• Advised on standard-form offshore contracts relating to various global offshore projects in the oil and gas sectors. 
• Acted for clients in complex litigations involving the charter of a barge for the Angolan state exploration project. 

Member of The London Shipping Law Centre 

Member of The Shipping Professional Network London 

Recognised by The Legal 500 for Shipping 2026

Recognised by The Legal 500 for Energy: Oil & Gas 2026