Giovanna Cabbia
Senior Associate – Clyde & Co
T: +44 (0) 20 7876 5000
W: www.guidetosuperyachtlaw.com
What sort of clients do you advise?
I advise the widest range of the industry (to include buyers, designers, brokers, project managers and lenders), covering the full range of legal issues related to new build contracts, pre-owned sale and purchase, repair and refit, finance, security structures, operational and owning structures, design and project management agreements.
How did you end up in superyacht law?
I am a dual qualified solicitor (Italian and English law qualified) specialised in shipping law. I have been practising shipping law since I graduated from University. Yacht building contracts have been partially developed on the basis of precedents used for commercial vessels, although during the years the contractual documentation for superyachts has heavily changed and became more sophisticated. I have therefore always been advising on superyacht law since I started my career in Italy; at that time the superyacht market was at its peak. I was mainly advising Italian based yacht builders. I relocated to London eight years ago and continued to practice in this field since then.
What makes a good superyacht lawyer?
Knowledge of the market and of the technicality and implications of building a yacht are fundamental, but what makes the difference is understanding what the client is trying to pursue with his project and whether the project, as structured, will achieve such goal.
What do you most like about your job?
Feeling that my advice is valued and that I am contributing to the success of a project.
What one piece of advice would you give to potential yacht buyers?
Obtain legal advice before signing any legal document.
Official biography
Giovanna is dual qualified as a solicitor in England and Wales and as “Avvocato” in Italy and her expertise within the shipping areas covers a wide range of legal issues related to commercial contracts for new build constructions, sale and purchase, refit, operational, owning and finance arrangements for commercial vessel.
She is also a prominent member of the superyacht team, having long experience of working with yacht builders, owners, designers, brokers, project managers and operators of the industry. Her advice in the superyacht space covers the full range of legal issues related to new build contracts, pre-owned sale and purchase, repair and refit, finance, security structures, operational and owning structures, design and project management agreements.
