Chris Vartzis

Practice Areas

Chris is a partner with Stephenson Harwood, Piraeus. He is an asset finance specialist with particular focus on and extensive experience in, the financing of all types of vessels (including yachts) and aircrafts (corporate jets) working with major global banks and financial institutions specialising in asset financing (including ECA facilities). Chris also advises owners in the context of negotiation and entering into ship financing facilities.

Chris has substantial experience in syndicated and bilateral loan facilities, sale and lease back facilities, restructurings, work-outs, IPOs, intercreditor and subordination arrangements, accession deeds, financing and sale and purchase of second-hand vessels and financing of newbuildings with particular expertise in Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese newbuildings, shipbuilding contracts and refund guarantees. In addition to working with and advising major Greek shipowning groups, he also works on markets outside Greece, especially in Turkey, working with Turkish diversified conglomerates, and with shipping groups in Bulgaria, Croatia and Norway.

He is known for his experience and motivation to develop solutions for complex, cross-border financing transactions and clients value his commercial and innovative legal approach and his proactiveness and efficiency.

Career

Clients describe Chris as "very diligent and very efficient in his work" with "extensive experience combined with a commercial approach and excellent communication skills" regularly acting on cross-border mandates involving Turkey, and clients outline his "'out-of-the-box' thinking".

"Extensive experience combined with a commercial approach and excellent communication skills."

Chambers UK 2023

Professional Memberships

Chris is dual qualified in England & Wales and Greece.