Global, sector-focused law firm has launched in Denmark with the hire of market leading shipping lawyer, Jens Mathiasen.

Jens has a broad shipping practice with a particular focus on M&A and corporate, ship finance, sale and purchase, shipbuilding, charterparties and contracts, and maritime law.

He previously led the shipping, offshore and transportation practice at Danish law firm Gorrissen Federspiel, and joins HFW on 1 March.

This further strengthens HFW’s preeminent shipping and maritime practice, following the arrival of dual-qualified solicitor-Master Mariner Mark Myles in Singapore and senior London partner Paolo Ghirardani, who was head of the global Marine and International Trade practice at Stephenson Harwood for 15 years. The firm also internally promoted six new shipping partners and legal directors globally in 2021.

HFW has over 200 specialist shipping lawyers and more than a dozen mariners across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific, advising clients on the full range of dry shipping, admiralty and crisis management, and transactional matters.

It is now the only global shipping practice with a presence in Denmark.

Paul Dean, Global Head of Shipping, HFW:

“Denmark is one of the world’s most important shipping markets, and Jens is recognised as market leading in shipping law, so this is a very exciting hire for HFW. We already do a lot of work for Danish clients and have been active in the market for many years, but having a presence on the ground is a real game-changer for our global shipping practice.

“Jens is a trusted advisor to boardrooms across Denmark and has an outstanding reputation with clients. We’re now uniquely positioned to provide English and Danish law disputes, advisory and transactional advice to the maritime and offshore industries, and as a firm, we also see significant opportunities in Denmark across our other global core sectors, such as commodities, energy and renewables, insurance, and aviation.”

Jens advises ship owners, operators, P&I clubs, insurance companies, shipyards, private equity funds, investors, and suppliers on all aspects of shipping, transportation and offshore, including corporate and M&A, finance, shipbuilding, admiralty, dry shipping, disputes, insurance, and regulatory.

He has particular expertise in corporate and M&A, sale and purchase, and finance, acting for lenders and borrowers across a wide range of industries, and also represents clients in litigation and arbitration.

Jens is the former Managing Director of the Shipowners’ Council of Copenhagen, and regularly writes and lectures on maritime law, including more than 10 years as Head of Maritime Law at Maersk’s graduate training programme (MISE).

He is one of just four lawyers ranked in the top tier for shipping law in Denmark by Chambers, and is also ranked as a “leading individual” in The Legal 500.

Jens Mathiasen, Partner, HFW:

“I’m proud to be joining the world’s best maritime law firm. Shipping is inherently international, and clients need global advice. HFW’s extensive network of offices around the world, combined with its unrivalled industry expertise, means that there’s no better place for me or my clients.”

HFW’s Denmark launch comes just one week after it opened a new office in the British Virgin Islands with the acquisition of a leading disputes business. HFW has now completed 13 international office openings, mergers and associations since 2016, including a fully-integrated US merger and other moves in Brazil, China, the Middle East and Monaco.