London-headquartered law firm HFW has bolstered its shipping team across the Channel with two new recruits.
Partner Paolo Pinna and associate Constance Ollat will join in Paris on 2 May from rival Norton Rose Fulbright.
The move follows HFW’s recent recruitment of Ince’s ship finance team in Piraeus led by partners Robin Parry and Ronan Le Du, and the addition in Paris of an international arbitration team led by partners Julien Fouret and Gaelle Le Quillec.
HFW’s global head of shipping, Paul Dean, said: “This is another important hire for our global shipping transactional offering, coming hot on the heels of our new team in Greece.
“We will continue to target leading partners and teams in key markets across our international network, as we seek to build the world’s number one shipping transactional practice, to match our pre-eminent position in shipping disputes.”
Pinna is an export credit agency (ECA) and shipping finance specialist, advising on English, French and Italian law.
He has particular experience acting for banks, financial institutions and ECAs, as well as corporate borrowers on complex domestic and cross-border finance transactions, HFW said.
Pinna was previously senior legal counsel at Italian export credit agency SACE and spent time on secondment in a senior in-house role at French shipping lender BNP Paribas.
He said HFW is “building a formidable ship finance team across its large international network”.
“I’m excited and proud to be joining a thriving firm that shares my values of client service, that has a strong culture of entrepreneurialism and cooperation between partners, and where I can really help shape the practice’s growth and future success,” Pinna added.
HFW has been in Paris since 1977 and has more than 50 lawyers advising on maritime and air transport issues, plus insurance.
Recognised players
Paris office head Jean-Marc Zampa said the two recruits had worked closely together for many years.
“They are recognised players in the market and bring significant experience and expertise, not just in ship finance, which is a key growth area for the firm globally, but also in other areas that align with the finance work we do in Paris, Geneva, and across Europe,” he added.
In March, HFW boosted its shipping practice with a new round of promotions across the globe.
Three new partners and three legal directors were appointed in London, Paris, Hong Kong and Dubai.
