HFW strengthens global shipping practice with hire of London ship finance partner

Global sector‑focused law firm HFW has further expanded its global shipping practice with the hire of ship finance partner Simon Petch in London.

Petch has nearly 30 years’ experience advising banks, financiers, owners, operators, and other maritime industry participants on the full range of debt, leasing, securitisation, structured finance, corporate, and operational matters. He previously spent over three years in Athens and over nine years in Singapore, before returning to London in 2021.

Petch’s arrival continues the significant growth of HFW’s global shipping group, following the hires of shipping disputes Partner Elizabeth Sloane in Australia and Master Mariner Stephen Angove in Greece, and further strengthens the firm’s non‑contentious maritime and ship finance offering at a time of growing client demand across all major shipping centres.

Paul Dean, Global Head of Shipping, HFW, commented: “Simon is a well‑known and highly respected operator in the ship finance world, with extensive experience across London, Singapore and other key maritime hubs. His practice is an excellent fit for our transactional shipping team, particularly as we continue to build further strength in our non‑contentious and finance offering globally. Simon’s reputation, relationships, and collaborative approach align strongly with the culture of our team, and he will play an important role in helping us support clients across the full maritime services spectrum.”

Petch has a broad focus on finance and other non-contentious maritime matters, spanning all aspects of debt finance, leasing, securitisation and structured finance, security, construction and conversion, and sale and purchase. He also advises clients on major restructuring, work-out, and dispute resolution matters, as well as public placement transactions. He  is a former Chair of the British Chamber of Commerce's Transport Logistics & Supply Chain Business Group Committee (TLSC), and is an Ambassador of the Sailors' Society. 

Simon Petch, Partner, HFW, said: “HFW is recognised globally as the pre‑eminent maritime law firm, and I’m excited to join a team with such depth of expertise across the full maritime value chain. The firm’s collaborative, full‑service approach within shipping is a natural fit for my practice and provides an exceptional platform to deliver even greater value to clients. I already have longstanding relationships with many HFW Partners, and I look forward to working closely with colleagues across the firm's international network and contributing to the continued growth of the ship finance practice.”

HFW has the largest maritime practice of any international law firm, with more than 220 specialist shipping lawyers and professionals across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific. The team advise clients across the industry on the full spectrum of dry shipping, admiralty and crisis management, and transactional work.