Shipping and the Law 7th edition: 25 – 26 October, Naples – REGISTER NOW!

The 7th edition of Shipping and the Law conference, organized by Studio Legale Lauro, will take place on the 25th and 26th October in Suor Orsola Benincasa, a 16th century monastery from which a breathtaking view of the bay of Naples can be enjoyed.

The conference, in which over 200 shipowners, bankers, maritime lawyers, underwriters and other leaders of the Italian and European shipping scene are participating, will begin on Tuesday the 25th October with a welcoming address by Francesco S. Lauro and opening speeches delivered by Chairman of the International Chamber of Shipping Esben Poulsson “Legal challenges ahead – a shipowner’s perspective”, Secretary General Emeritus of the International Maritime Organization Efthimios Mitropoulos “The challenges facing shipping” and Ammiraglio di Squadra  Donato Marzano, Commander in Chief of the Italian Navy fleet “The role of the Italian Navy in the international scenario”.

25th October

The first part of the Opening Session titled “Where is Shipping Going?” shall follow straight after the opening speeches. There will be two presentations by Banchero Costa & C. Research Manager Enrico Paglia “The evolution of energy markets: a shipping perspective” and EcoSpray Technologies CEO Guido Ceccherelli “Environment and innovation: the Italian Way” who will lay a foundation for the panel discussion featuring President of Confitarma Emanuele Grimaldi, d’Amico Società di Navigazione Chairman Paolo d’Amico, CEO of Scorpio Group Emanuele Lauro, Gruppo Messina CEO Stefano Messina, and CEO Suardiaz Group and former President of the european shipowners Juan Riva.

Following a brief coffee break, a panel focusing on oil and gas market trends and macroeconomic perspectives on the price of oil and its relationship to shipping and shipping markets. Participants will include some members of the first panel, in addition to speakers CEO of Rina S.p.A. Ugo Salerno “Who framed Roger Rabbit?”, former Sheikh Yamani’s think-tank (Centre for Global Energy Studies) director Leo Drollas “Oil – The Saudis blinked first”, the Italian Ministry of Economic Development General Director Amedeo Teti, oil markets expert Salvatore Carollo “One worldwide price benchmark, three oil markets, 40 years of endless war”, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of International Affairs in Rome Nicolò Sartori “LNG and the globalization of the gas market: challenges and opportunities”, and former ENI General Counsel in Kazakhstan and member of Studio Legale Lauro Francesco Bentivegna acting as session moderator.

Under the auspices of CR MAG CEO Mauro Iguera, after lunch, professor Mans Jacobsson, who served twenty years as Oil Pollution Compensation Funds Director, will give a keynote speech titled “The judgment of the Spanish Supreme Court of Cassation in the Prestige case – Does the judgment respect international treaties?”, followed by presentations from SMIT Salvage Commercial Director Richard Janssen, Head of Offshore at the Standard Club John Croucher, Nordic Association of Marine Insurers Managing Director Helle Hammer, and Loss Prevention Director at the North of England P&I Club Tony Baker.

After a coffee break will begin a ship finance session titled “What’s happened to my banker?”. This year’s finance panel will feature prominent Italian and foreign shipowners along with various representatives from the financial industry. The focus of the discussion will reflect on the changing landscape of ship finance at a time when banks are encountering challenges from the Basel III review and the increasing role of institutional debt and equity providers along with private debt funds, and incorporate the shipowners’ perspectives on alternative sources of capital. An overview of ship finance markets will be made by Managing Director of Italy’s first and only dedicated shipping private equity fund Venice Shipping and Logistics Fabrizio Vettosi, in addition to presentations by Deloitte Partner Giuseppe Ambroso on the evolution of lease accounting and Watson Farley & Williams Associate Michele Autuori on legal issues concerning non-performing loans and credit disposals. Panelists will include private debt fund RiverRock Managing Director Roberto Ippolito, Ver Capital CEO Andrea Pescatori, the Association of Italian Banks Head of Credit Office Raffaele Rinaldi, Lazard Vice President Francesco Moneta, Muzinich & Co. Managing Director Stefano Sostero, Floating NPL Srl Executive Director Pierluigi Zagari, and PB Tankers Managing Director Francesca Barbaro.

On the evening of the same day will take place a black-tie cocktail dinner by CR MAG and SMIT.

26th October

The following day of the 26th October will begin with a session dedicated to the cruise industry. Confirmed participants include President of The International Propeller Clubs Italia Umberto Masucci, Secretary General and CEO at Cruise Line International Association (CLIA) Europe Raphael von Heereman, Senior Vice President of Costa Crociere S.p.A. Massimo Brancaleoni, MSC Cruise Country Manager Leonardo Massa, Royal Caribbean Cruises Med Port Development Manager Karina Santini, and the Head of Cabinet of the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transportation Dr. Ivano Russo.

Following the Cruise Session will be the “Shipping and Big Data in the Era of Digitalization” session which will focus primarily on the increasing use of data and automation in shipping: digital data management and remote performance analysis, how to address data utilization and data ownership, cyber security, and legal ramifications and developments in this context. Chaired by Shippax Senior Advisor Philippe Holthof and ATENA President Alberto Moroso, speakers will include Winterthur Gas & Diesel Senior Engine Portfolio Manager Carmelo Cartalemi on “WinGD’s Smart Engine Solution – Extracting Value from Engine and Ship Data” and Wärtsilä Digitalization Team Member Mikael Sandberg on “Opportunities and risks with digitalization in shipping”, and panelists will include LGR di Navigazione S.p.A. CEO Leonardo Rondinella, Perseveranza S.p.A. di Navigazione CEO Umberto D’Amato, and Alfa Laval Exhaust Gas Cleaning Senior Sales Manager Marcel van Haaren.

To conclude the morning works, the “Looking to the Future” session will include members of the Young Shipowners at Confitarma such as Caronte & Tourist’s Lorenzo Matacena, Rimorchiatori Riuniti’s  Giacomo Gavarone in addition to Greek shipowner Yannis Triphyllis. The panel, chaired by Confitarma’s young shipowowers president Andrea Garolla di Bard, will reflect upon the future of shipping and what it shall mean to them as the next generation of shipowners manage their companies in the future.

After lunch, a new and unique feature of the 7th edition of Shipping and the Law will be a mock mediation and mock arbitration session, with Jonathan Lux as mediator and the arbitration tribunal composed of President of the London Maritime Arbitrators Clive Aston, past LMAA president Chris Moss, and MFB Partner Peter Jago. Scorpio Group General Counsel Luca Forgione and Greek shipowner Yannis Triphyllis will be assisted by Hill Dickinson Partner David Pitlarge and Studio Legale Lauro Managing Partner Francesco S. Lauro who will take part in mock mediation/arbitration proceedings.

Many more important shipping personalities and Italian and foreign shipowners are to be confirmed shortly.