Ship finance lawyer Anastasia advises shipowners and financial institutions on term loan facilities for the acquisition of newbuilding or second-hand ships, on debt finance restructurings, on revolving credit facilities and lease finance transactions. In addition, she advises private equity funds and shipowners on the acquisition of distressed shipping assets.
Highly experienced in dealing with a wider range of commercial shipping matters, Anastasia is regularly instructed to provide guidance to owners on ship sale and purchase and ship registration, on bareboat charterparties and flagging, on shipbuilding contracts, joint ventures and settlement agreements.
Through her involvement as a Co-founder and Chairwoman of Blue Alliance Partners, a go-to-market accelerator for marine technology start-ups, she has been following closely the ESG and digitalisation developments in shipping and, by applying the firm’s capabilities, assisting marine technology companies on their commercial contracts such as collaboration, outsourcing and software contracts, on IP, funding rounds and blockchain-related projects.
Anastasia advises high-net-worth individuals and finance institutions on the construction, sale and purchase and financing of superyachts.
Having spent her early career in structured finance work, Anastasia has additional expertise in capital markets and derivatives.
Anastasia cares for her clients and provides great service!
Kelvin Ma
Corporate Counsel, Caterpillar FinancialIt was a great pleasure working with you. You did a really great job. There were very tough and prolonged negotiations, but you managed to stay cool and on the point. Thank you very much for all your help.
Plamen Dimitrov
Managing Director, IHB Shipping Co Ltd
Expertise
- Ship finance, debt or equity finance, sale and lease back finance
- Joint ventures and shareholders’ agreements
- Loan enforcement, acquisition of distressed shipping assets
- Ship sale and purchase, shipbuilding, registration and flagging
- Charterparties, ship management agreements and other commercial shipping arrangements
- Logistics, service contracts and freight forwarding agreements
Experience
Ship Finance
- Acted for a Chinese shipbuilder on their seller’s credit facility and security agreements in relation to the sale of two high-specification containerships in a deal worth US$74 million.
- Acted for the financing arm of one of the world’s most reputable shipping companies in the provision of a revolving credit loan to a digital trade finance platform.
- Acted for a Hong Kong-based hedge fund on a $14.5 million term facility provided for the refinancing of two crude Isle of Man flagged oil tankers which were bareboat chartered out to a major intra-Asia shipowner. The transaction coincided with the exit of a leading Chinese financial institution.
- Acted for the financing arm of a US listed corporation on a $20 million refinancing of an Italian built 50m superyacht, documenting the loan and security, considering insolvency risks and enforcement scenarios.
- Advised a UAE-based shipping and logistics group on their exit negotiations with an outgoing lender in relation to a $77 million term loan facility secured by four vessels and assisted with the refinancing and structuring of an ijara lease finance with a leading Middle Eastern financial institution.
Ship Sale & Purchase and Charterparties
- Advised the shipping arm of a UAE-based conglomerate on their tanker fleet acquisition, assisted with joint venture and shareholders’ agreements and shareholders’ loans.
- Assisted over the years with numerous sale and purchase transactions based on NSF1993 and NSF2012.
- Assisted with numerous charterparty contracts based on Barecon1989, Barecon2001 and Barecon2017 and ship management contracts based on Shipman1998 and Shipman2009.
Loan Enforcements & Disputes
- Advised a Far Eastern ship-owning group on insolvency matters and on negotiations relating to non-payment of charter hire and early termination of their bareboat contract forming part of a lease finance transaction.
- Acted for a cruise operator on the cancellation of a contract for the provision of two mini cruise ships as accommodation facility for a sizeable drydock project undertaken by a reputable cruise line and the cancellation of the back-to-back charterparty arrangements.
- Advised the London branch of an Indian bank on the enforcement of their term loan facilities in connection with two panamaxes and advised on the procedure for arresting ships in China and in the Netherlands.
- Advised the London branch of a Nigerian bank on their framework agreement with a major financial institution dealing inter alia with the issuance, amendment and honouring of letters of credit between the institutions and advising on the liability and risks involved.
Logistics
- Assisted a Middle Eastern logistics company with ongoing work relating to port concessions, warehousing and the provision of ground services to counterparties in the region.
- Advised a major supermarket chain in the UK on the procurement for the provision of sea freight services and negotiated sea freight contracts with major shipping container companies.
- Advised a logistics group in Egypt on their slot agreements, bills of lading and freight forwarding agreements and related disputes.
Greece
- Advised a Greek ship-owning group on a $34 million refinancing of four chemical tankers by a New York-headquartered and highly reputable global asset manager.
- Acted for a Greek financial institution on the amendment of a $85 million term loan facility entered into by a reputable Greek shipowner to deal with bareboat chartering arrangements in Latin America.
- Advised a Greek ship-owning group in relation to the group’s reorganisation and the structuring of a tanker pool, assisted with the negotiation of a pool-backed revolving credit facility entered into with a multinational investment bank.
- Acted for a Greek shipowning group in relation to the restructuring of the group.
- Acted for a Greek-based operator on the negotiation of its slot agreements, bills of lading and freight forwarding agreements, and advised on related disputes.
- Advised a Greek shipowning group on a US$143 million refinancing project with a French financial institution in relation to seven dry bulk carriers, involving inter alia the negotiation of a junior bond subscription agreement and various intercreditor arrangements.
Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.
Recognition
Acknowledged by Chambers 2025 as a Ship Finance Lawyer who advises ship owners and financial institutions on debt finance restructurings and lease finance transactions.
Recognised by the Legal 500 2025 for Bank Lending and Travel
Recognised in Chambers UK 2024 for Shipping
Recognised by The Legal 500 for Shipping (2018-2025)
“Anastasia is very good on loan structures.” Chambers UK 2024
“She is a sensible lawyer.” Chambers UK 2024
“Anastasia Papadopoulou is professional and knowledgeable.”
The Legal 500 2020
Career
Anastasia qualified as a solicitor in 2008. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2017, she worked at the following firms:
- TLT
- Clyde & Co
- Ashurst