Linos is a lawyer specialising in commercial litigation and arbitration with particular emphasis on shipping, commodities, and international trade finance. Throughout his career, Linos has concluded many successful arbitrations through the ICC, UNCITRAL, LCIA, LMAA, SIAC, SCMA and CIETAC. He also regularly acts for clients in disputes in the High Court of Justice in London.
Linos has extensive expertise of complex charterparty, bills of lading, ship sale and purchase, shipbuilding, ship finance, marine insurance and maritime cross-border insolvency litigation and arbitration. He is also an experienced commodities lawyer, regularly acting for some of the largest commodities trading houses in the world in GAFTA, FOSFA, LME and RSA arbitrations.
In relation to international trade, Linos frequently advises banks on complex issues concerning payment obligations and bank-to-bank reimbursements under letters of credit, demand guarantees, performance bonds, and standby credits.
He's quick, professional and efficient
Chambers UK client testimonial 2024
Linos gives hands-on experience and has a firm grasp of the law.
Chambers UK client testimonial 2024
Expertise
- Commercial litigation
- International arbitration
- Charterparties
- Bills of lading
- Cargo claims
- Ship sale and purchase
- Shipbuilding
- Energy, oil and gas
- Commodities
- Letters of credit
- Demand guarantees
- Performance bonds
- Civil fraud
- Professional negligence
Experience
Marine Disputes
- Acted for a leading international cargo insurer in LMAA claims brought in the name of its assured for unauthorised deviation and misappropriation of cargoes in China under a contract of affreightment.
- Acted for an UHNWI owner in a superyacht construction dispute against leading Dutch shipyard.
- Acted for owners and a P&I club in a successful LMAA Arbitration arising from quarantine restrictions at the Port of Mumbai.
- Successfully defended owners in an LMAA arbitration concerning enforcement of a Swiss garnishee order by charterers.
- Acted for Danish owners of offshore supply vessels in a complex SUPPLYTIME 2005 LMAA arbitration.
- Successfully defended a global Malaysian energy company in Commercial Court proceedings commenced by owners for alleged losses arising from the detention of a vessel by the Thai Customs Authorities.
- Acted for a leading Saudi Arabian marine services company successfully defending an anti-suit injunction in the Commercial Court and later an LCIA arbitration in relation to a US$20m minority shareholder and unfair prejudice dispute arising under a shareholders’ agreement with a major international shipping line.
Commodities Disputes
- Acted for Egyptian buyers of French durum wheat in a GAFTA arbitration concerning rejection of documents tendered under a CIF contract.
- Acted for South Africa-based sellers of copper concentrate in Commercial Court proceedings following a contractual dispute relating to specification for purity.
Trade Finance Disputes
- Instructed by leading Pakistani multinational commercial bank in Commercial Court proceedings against leading German trade finance house in relation to US$7.5m debts owed under a funded and unfunded participation agreement.
- Successfully defended a leading UK bank in Commercial Court proceedings under a confirmed irrevocable letter of credit which had been opened following an alleged fraudulent misrepresentation.
- Represented a Netherlands bank in emergency proceedings to prevent the mis-delivery and misappropriation of a cargo of petroleum products in Gibraltar destined for the Port of Rotterdam and financed under a stand-by letter of credit.
- Assisted a UK bank in a dispute concerning a US$24m security for costs guarantee.
Ship Finance Disputes
- Acted for the UK branch of a South African bank in its capacity as lender, agent and security trustee to recover a loan under a US$38m loan facility used to finance the acquisition of six vessels which were encumbered with claims unknown to the lender.
- Acted for the UK branch of a Middle East bank in Commercial Court proceedings to recover a loan under a Sharia-compliant Murabaha facility for the financing of a superyacht following defaults by the borrowers.
- Acted for one of Canada’s leading alternative capital providers in a complex ship financing dispute and action to foreclose on two Hong Kong registered ship mortgages. The vessels were arrested in Panama and Texas. The lender was also successful in an LMAA arbitration to claim back unpaid bareboat charter hire and associated losses from charterers who had unlawfully repudiated bareboat charters.
Civil Fraud
- Acted for two BVI funds in legal proceedings to recover US$375m worth of investments misappropriated under a Ponzi scheme.
- Assisted a leading Greek bank successfully resisting a Commercial Court set aside application in relation to £9.1m judgment debt following fraudulently procured loans on properties located in the UK.
- Defended a London-based CFO in a US$1.5 billion alleged fraudulent dividend arbitrage litigation commenced by the Danish Customs and Tax Administration.
Corporate
- Assisted a South Korean equity investment group in acquiring a controlling stake in a leading South Korean shipping company.
- Assisted a Singapore-based shipping company in an asset deal with major British transportation business with assets in Germany, Australia and Argentina.
- Assisted a Singapore-based ship finance house in a sale and leaseback of 21 Singapore flagged vessels from Maersk.
- Instructed by a leading US bank in the acquisition of a 100% shareholding of leading Norwegian owner and operator of harvest vessels and live fish carriers.
- Represented a leading Italian energy company with the acquisition of world’s first LNG fuel bunkering vessel.
Reported Cases
- DCD Factors Ltd v Habib Bank AG Zurich [2008] Bus LR 654 (Letter of Credit)
- Antiparos ENE v SK Shipping Co Ltd [2008] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 237 (The ‘Antiparos’) (ASBATANKVOY)
- GMAC Commercial Finance v Mint Apparel Ltd [2010] All ER (D) 58 (Bills of Exchange)
- Fortis Bank SA/NV v Indian Overseas Bank [2010] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 227 and [2011] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 33(Letter of Credit- Preclusion UCP 600)
- Glory Wealth Shipping Pte Ltd v Korea Line Corporation [2011] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 370 (The ‘Wren’) (Measure of Damages)
- In the matter of Armada Shipping SA sub nom COSCO Bulk Carrier Co Ltd v (1) Armada Shipping SA (2) STX Pan Ocean Co Ltd [2011] 2 All ER (Comm) 481 (Maritime Cross Border Insolvency)
- Stemcor UK Ltd v Indian Overseas Bank [2011] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 190 (Bills of Lading)
- AB Bank Ltd v Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank PJSC [2017] 1 WLR 810 (Norwich Pharmacal)
- DTEK Trading SA v (1) Sergey Morozov (2) Incolab Services Ukraine LLC [2017] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 126 (Section 44 Arbitration Act 1996)
- National Joint Stock Company Naftogaz of Ukraine v Public Joint Stock Company Gazprom [2019] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 20 (Section 103 Arbitration Act 1996)
- Shapoorji Pallonji & Co Pvt Ltd v Yumn Ltd [2021] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 59 (Performance Bond)
- Skatteforvaltningen (The Danish Customs & Tax Administration) v Solo Capital Partners LLP [2023] UKSC 40 and [2023] EWHC 1413 (Civil Fraud)
Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.
Recognition
“Particularly proficient in contentious matters, especially those pertaining to ship financing. He frequently acts for banking and ship owner clients.”
Chambers UK 2024
“Well versed in ship finance and shipbuilding disputes.”
The Legal 500 UK 2024
“A highly competent shipping law expert”
Chambers UK 2023
“Quick, professional and efficient”
The Legal 500 UK 2022
“A great lawyer very commercially and practically minded. Unflappable under pressure”
Chambers UK 2022
“Has clear and strategic vision and is very impressive”
Chambers UK 2021
“A very practical, extremely well connected, efficient team with an outstanding focus on client value.”
The Legal 500 UK 2021
“Extremely practical, well connected, personable and very no-nonsense”
Chambers UK 2020
“Wide ranging experience of overseas litigation and crisis management”
The Legal 500 UK 2020
“Extremely knowledgeable about marine law and an extremely capable strategist”
Chambers UK 2019
“Quick to respond to requests and always comprehensive in consideration of the relevant factors”
The Legal 500 UK 2019
“Really enthusiastic and supportive of clients”
Chambers UK 2017
“Swift, practical, to the point and always commercially sensible”
The Legal 500 UK 2016
Career
Linos qualified as a solicitor in 2001. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2024, he worked at the following firms:
- DLA Piper
- Squire Patton Boggs
- Reed Smith