Superyachts: Sale & Purchase, Construction and Refit

Working with brokers, mangers, captains and family offices, our services include advice and assistance on all issues arising out of superyacht transactions and projects, including:

• Choice of flag

• Ownership and VAT structures (including VAT deferment via Monaco and Malta)

• Private vs Commercial Registration

• Sale and Purchase contracts/MOAs (including MYBA / IYBA forms)

• Construction contracts and refund guarantees

• Refit contracts (including ICOMIA)

• Conversion projects

• Regulatory requirements and certifications

• Classification, valuation and technical/condition surveys

• Delivery documents and closing processes

• Escrow arrangements for deposit holding/release

Please also see our section on superyacht finance, here

Examples of our recent transactions include:

• Acting for the buyer on the purchase of a 80+ metre Feadship (including related finance and security arrangements) and on subsequent multi-million Euro refits.

• Advising on VAT deferment structuring (Monaco and Malta) for family officers and owners of various yachts including Baglietto, Heesen, Amels, Feadship, CdM, Alloy and Mondomarine.

• Acting for a UHNW client via their private client lawyers, to negotiate a contract for the construction of a 50m Tankoa, including terms for liquidated damages, force majeure, refund guarantee and warranties.

• Acting for the purchaser of a series-model Sunseeker, for private use and charter operations – handling the sale and purchase process and working with the relevant corporate service providers and charter brokers / managers to set-up the charter business and fiscal representations in France and Italy.

• Advising the Monaco-based managers of a 70-metre commercial superyacht requiring substantial repairs in preparation for a number of sequential high-value future charter commitments, including agreeing terms with the yard and other consultants and sourcing innovative insurance products through our broker contacts to protect our client's interests should the repairs fail during the charter period.

• Acting for the designer of an innovative, lightweight foiling and non-foiling trimaran, including drafting business agreements and using our contacts to assist with the designs commercial exploitation.

• Assisting a motor-yacht builder to update their agreements with their global distributor network

• Acting for the purchaser of a classic 65 metre superyacht and advising on its subsequent refit, including negotiating the contractual documents and deal structuring, and arranging specialist fine-art finance.