Menelaus Kouzoupis

Partner

Menelaus acts in both contentious and non-contentious matters with a particular focus on dispute resolution.

On the non-contentious side, he acts for clients in sale and purchase transactions (both newbuilds and used yachts) and provides advisory services covering the full range of commercial contracts. Menelaus also regularly advises clients on sanctions issues.

In terms of contentious matters, Menelaus regularly represents clients in Court and arbitration proceedings. He has been involved in a number of high value super-yacht construction disputes, including matters arising out of construction quality, delays, and fundamental design flaws. This has given Menelaus particular expertise in managing cases that involve complex technical issues. Menelaus also has experience of acting in construction disputes with cross-border insolvency aspects. He also specialises in enforcement actions and regularly acts in relation to superyacht arrests.

Menelaus has also represented clients in casualty situations, including cases that involve fires and collisions.

Experience:

  • Successfully acting on behalf of a Ukrainian buyer in expedited LMAA arbitration proceedings against an Italian yard in a repudiatory breach dispute. This matter involved both quality and delay issues and was complicated by the cross-border insolvency issues related to the yard.
  • Successfully negotiated a refund and damages to a buyer of a high value, specialised racing yacht due to structural defects. This matter involved highly technical data and quantum issues due to the highly specialised and unique nature of the Dutch built yacht.
  • Acting on behalf of a yacht owner to protect their interests following fire damage to multiple yachts in a marina caused by negligence, this included obtaining security for the client’s substantial claim. This matter involved detailed analysis of the cause of the fire and close co-operation with the vessel’s underwriters.
  • Involved in cross-border enforcement proceedings relating to claims against the legendary yacht commission by Aristotle Onassis. This involved proceedings in Panama, Greece and the US.
  • Successfully acting on behalf of yacht owner to cancel a construction contract and obtain a refund following the catastrophic design flaw that led to the tragic loss of a sister yacht. This involved closely working with experts to identify the structural design flaw and establish that it could not be safely remedied.
  • Acting on behalf of various financiers to exercise their mortgagee rights to repossess vessels. Have experience of enforcing rights in multiple jurisdictions including Gibraltar, Italy, Netherlands and France.
  • Have represented buyers and sellers in various sale and purchase transactions and have advised on sanctions issues as well as transferring registrations.
© Stephenson Harwood LLP 2023. Information contained on this page is current as at the date of first publication and is for general information only. It is not intended to provide legal advice.