As members of our renowned Global Transportation Finance (GTF) group, the lawyers in our maritime practice use their diverse knowledge and experience to create efficient and innovative legal solutions for clients in a unique, highly specialized and capital-intensive industry. From offices in North America, Europe and Asia, we handle a wide range of cross-border transactions, frequently involving multiple parties across multiple jurisdictions.
Our maritime and maritime finance lawyers are also able to draw on the experience of colleagues in our other practice groups, including mergers and acquisitions, structured finance, capital markets, insolvency, environmental regulation, international trade, labor and employment, intellectual property, tax and dispute resolution, to provide maritime and maritime finance industry clients with comprehensive and thorough advice on all aspects of their businesses and activities.
Our experience includes advising clients on:
- Asset securitization
- Bilateral lending
- Charters
- Coastwise regulation, including the Jones Act and the Passenger Vessel Services Act
- Export-credit structures
- Finance leases
- Insolvencies, workouts and corporate reorganization
- Joint ventures
- Litigation and arbitration
- Maritime liens
- Port and terminal regulation
- Private placements, including 144A and Reg S offerings
- Public offerings and listings
- Regulation under the American Fisheries Act
- Sale-leaseback transactions
- Securitization
- Ship management agreements
- Syndicated and club lending
- U.S. government maritime programs
- Vessel sales and purchases
- Vessel mortgages
- Vessel registration and documentation
Tier 2: Industry Focus: Transport: Shipping — Finance, 2018-2026
Band 3 in Transportation: Shipping/Maritime: Finance, 2021-2026
Tier 1 in National Equipment Finance Law and Tier 2 National Admiralty and Maritime Law, 2013-2024
“Vedder has deep expertise and fluency in both relevant Marshall Islands law and financial matters relevant to mortgages on maritime vessels.”
“Vedder has a knowledgeable attorney team with deep knowledge of transportation, commodities and maritime sectors”
"The team is very commercial-minded and easy to deal with and experienced in shipping."
Global Transportation Finance Newsletter
May 2026 Issue
Covering the latest in legal updates for global transportation finance.
Insights & Events
Speaking Engagements
Hoyoon Nam to Moderate Session During 2026 Marine Money Week
June 16, 2026
News
Vedder Wins Marine Money “Securitization Deal of the Year” Award
June 8, 2026
Publications
In Discussion with Alix Farr (Travalyst)
May 12, 2026
Publications
Two Fuels, Two Frameworks: Comparing ReFuelEU Aviation and FuelEU Maritime
May 12, 2026
Publications
How AI is Changing The Game for Regulatory Reporting – And Why You Should Be Cautious
May 12, 2026
Publications
The Duality of the U.S. Maritime Action Plan: Near-Term Impact and Long-Term Challenges
May 12, 2026
Publications
Global Transportation Finance Newsletter May 2026
May 12, 2026
Deals & Transactions
Vedder Advises Avora Residences in Its Formation and Long-Term Cruise Ship Charter Transaction
March 16, 2026
Primary Contacts

Michael E. Draz
Shareholder
Chair, Global Transportation Finance Practice Area
Member, Board of Directors
Chicago