We guide shipping and maritime clients through critical matters, from capital raising and M&A to compliance, disputes and restructuring.

Maritime & Offshore overview

White & Case's global Maritime & Offshore practice guides shipowners, financial institutions, oil & gas companies and investors through all aspects of complex, cross-border maritime and offshore transactions. Drawing on wide-ranging experience across the full value chain, we advise on financings, restructurings, capital raising, M&A and disputes spanning the commercial shipping, LNG and offshore rig sectors, ports and related infrastructure. Combining integrated US and English law experience, we help keep marine companies afloat and their backers' interests protected, in downturns and upcycles.

Our offering

We advise on transactions across the full maritime and offshore value chain, in all major global markets. Our capabilities cover:

Financing & capital raising

Our Ship Finance team structures and executes vessel and asset financings across the full life cycle—including project financings, bank lending, capital markets offerings, structured financings, chartering and tax leases.
We advise on general fleet financings, and the financing and refinancing of existing assets and new-builds.
We act for export credit agencies, commercial banks, sponsors and shipowners on export credit-backed financings for existing assets and new-builds.
We arrange capital markets offerings and alternative sources of capital, including sustainability-linked structures.

LNG, offshore & energy-related assets

We structure and execute financings for oil & gas assets, including LNG vessels, oil tankers, FPSOs, drillships, platforms and rigs, and FSRUs.
We advise on FSRU and FPSO chartering and project financings across Asia-Pacific, the Americas, Europe and the Middle East.
We advise on LNG import and regasification terminals, ports and related infrastructure.

Restructuring & distressed

We represent creditors and companies in some of the largest, most complex cross-border restructurings in the maritime and offshore sectors.
We implement chapter 11 and scheme-of-arrangement solutions, both in and out of court, including pre-packaged administrations.
We guide clients through stressed and distressed situations involving multiple capital sources and intricate group structures.

M&A, consolidations & joint ventures

We advise on acquisitions, mergers, group restructurings and consolidations.
We represent private equity investors and clients pursuing "full value chain" acquisitions of maritime assets.
We structure joint ventures and platform transactions across market segments and jurisdictions.

Complex and consequential matters

M&A, consolidations & joint ventures

We advised United Arab Shipping Company and its shareholders, the Qatar Investment Authority and the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, on UASC's approximately US$12 billion merger with Hapag-Lloyd, creating the world's fifth-largest liner shipping company.
We advised Diamond S Shipping on its US$2 billion merger with International Seaways, among the largest listed owners of crude and product tankers.
We advised UAE-based investment firm Magellan Capital on the acquisition of a majority stake in Danmarks Skibskredit (Danish Ship Finance) from Nordic private equity firm Axcel, and Danish pension funds PFA and PKA. Danish Ship Finance is known for ambitious strategic climate goals focused on accelerating the global transition of shipping toward zero emissions.

Financing & capital raising

We advised Nordea Bank, as agent and lender, on the increase and extension of Genco Shipping & Trading's revolving credit facility, providing up to US$600 million in commitments, with a sustainability-linked margin ratchet tied to decarbonization goals, for the largest US-headquartered dry bulk owner. The deal won Marine Money's Bank Debt Deal of the Year, 2025.
We advised a banking syndicate on CMA CGM's €320.7 million issuance of senior unsecured bonds exchangeable into Air France-KLM shares. The deal won Marine Money's Equity-linked Deal of the Year, 2025.
We advised the Development Bank of Japan on its collaboration with the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation and AIM Horizon Investments to establish the Fund for Energy Efficiency Technologies. The initiative is the world's first fund for vessel retrofits using a pay-as-you-save structure, providing up to 100 percent financing for energy efficiency technologies. Our client subscribed for preferred shares, supporting shipowners' decarbonization efforts and compliance with tightening environmental regulations. The deal won Marine Money's Wild Card East Deal of the Year, 2025.

LNG, offshore & energy-related assets

We advised CLMG Corp. and Beal Bank USA, as agent and lender, on the financing for Otto Candies, a leading Jones Act operator, to acquire four offshore support vessels. The deal won Marine Money's Offshore Bank Debt Deal of the Year, 2025.
We acted as lender counsel to SMBC on the financing of the Summit LNG import terminal in Bangladesh, comprising an FSRU, LNG-carrier berthing facilities and a subsea pipeline.

Restructuring & distressed

We advised Bourbon and Davidson Kempner Capital Management on the completion of Bourbon's financial and capital restructuring, under which funds managed by affiliates of Davidson Kempner Capital Management and Fortress Investment Group became the majority shareholders of the company. The deal won Marine Money's Offshore Restructuring Deal of the Year, 2025.
We advised Deutsche Bank, as sole lead arranger and lender, on an exit facility for Hornblower, a ferry and cruise operator, on its emergence from chapter 11. The deal won Marine Money's Restructuring Deal of the Year, 2024.