Elli is a senior associate who works closely with two of our partners in the Shipping & Trade team. She has over 15 years of experience advising on a wide range of matters including charterparty, bill of lading, cargo, and casualty disputes in LMAA arbitrations and High Court proceedings.
Before pursuing her legal career, Elli spent nearly nine years as a claims handler managing P&I and FDD matters, often responding to incidents in real time across multiple jurisdictions.
Elli’s clients include owners, charterers, traders, insurers, and P&I Clubs.
Expertise
Elli advises and represents shipowners and charterers on a broad range of charterparty and bill of lading disputes, acting in both LMAA arbitrations and High Court proceedings. She has extensive experience handling maritime casualties involving cargo damage, including misdeclared cargo, salvage, and fires, often working in real time as incidents unfold.
Experience
Advised clients in LMAA arbitrations on off-hire and demurrage disputes.
Acted for charterers in successfully defending a hull fouling claim.
Represented shipowners in a successful off‑spec bunker dispute.
Advised owners and their P&I Clubs on Inter‑Club Agreement matters.
Represented owners in a general average dispute, achieving settlement through mediation.
Assisted in obtaining and enforcing a US$20 million worldwide freezing in the Commercial Court in a case involving underlying allegations of dishonesty and default on a loan facility.
Acted for cargo interests following the vessel’s listing and subsequent abandonment of the vessel by the crew, coordinated on‑site expert investigations, advised under the Lloyd’s Open Form (LOF), and liaised with local solicitors and successfully arrested a sister ship vessel.
Assisted in the defence of a US$50M multi‑ship collision case in the Suez Canal before the Admiralty Court.
Managed day‑to‑day operations of a chemical leakage casualty and secured recovery from the shipper exceeding US$1M in the United States.
Handled a range of crew personal injury claims – including complex Jones Act and passenger claims in the US – involving slip‑and‑fall incidents, equipment‑related injuries, and fatal accident litigation.
Elli’s previous experience in P&I Clubs gives her a strong understanding of the complexities surrounding cover issues. She regularly advises clients on a wide range of shipping‑related insurance matters.
Experience
Advised a shipowner on the recoverability of war risk insurance arising from the conflict in Ukraine.
Assisted in the defence of a subrogation claim connected to the Hanjin collapse.
Secured a favourable settlement through mediation in a cargo loss policy dispute.
Advised shipping financiers on their recovery rights under the relevant insurance policies.
Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.
Recognition
“Elli Marnerou is consistently showing great judgement in litigation matters.”
The Legal 500 2025
Elli qualified as a solicitor in 2021. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2026, she worked at the following firms:
