Company

Bargate Murray

Position

Founder

CEO

Index

Aviation & Yachts Lawyers

Lifestyle & Passion Investments

Yachts

Location

London

Advice type

Contentious

Family offices

Legal - Dispute resolution

Litigation

Non-contentious

Private office

Asset Class

Yachts

Client Types

High-profile clients

HNW

UHNW

Geographical Focus

Netherlands

Russia

Ukraine

Customer Type

Adviser

Quentin Bargate

Spear’s Review

‘What led me into doing superyacht-related work were my clients — they bought superyachts and I followed,’ says Quentin Bargate, who founded luxury asset law firm Bargate Murray in 2004. His niche specialism stemmed from a background in maritime law and commercial shipping work.

Bargate notes how the emergence of the superyacht industry coincided with ‘the arrival of HNW and UHNW individuals as a group in their own right’.

As superyachts are complicated vessels, Bargate advises clients on potential legal issues. His work is mostly transactional, but also includes resolving complex disputes. He advises on purchases and construction agreements (such as a recent $200 million new-build contract) as well as taxation and cross-border issues, from crewing agreements and insurance coverage to flagging.

Adviser Profile

With more than 45 years of industry experience, Quentin Bargate is an influential and highly respected figure in superyacht and dispute resolution work. A trusted adviser to UHNW individuals, their family offices and international corporations, he advises on all aspects of the ownership, acquisition and disposal of luxury assets.

Bargate has expertise in a wide range of projects, from construction of large new build yachts to their sale and purchase, as well as in the prevention and resolution of disputes. He has achieved considerable success acting for clients in high value maritime arbitrations and commercial disputes. Many of these disputes leverage Bargate’s deep litigation experience in the superyacht, aviation and commercial sectors, and as an arbitrator, party representative and advocate.

Bargate is one of just a handful of leaders to whom clients turn for advice and representation. It’s for this reason that he has been highly ranked for eight consecutive years in the Chambers HNW Guide for ‘Yachts & Superyachts’ where he is quoted as being ‘a very experienced litigator and a problem solver’, and ‘extremely knowledgeable, and a pleasure to deal with as well’. Another source comments on Bargate’s ability to provide, ‘a high standard of ethical and empathetic advice in all situations’.

Bargate is a member of the Baltic Exchange and the Maritime Authority of the Cayman Islands yacht advisory committee. Also, he is a member of the LMAA, the Nautical Institute, the IOD and the Royal Thames Yacht Club, and is a Freeman of the City of London. One of the defining features of Bargate Murray’s practice is its utmost discretion for its clients. This, combined with the firm’s range of expertise, explains the success that Bargate Murray has enjoyed retaining clients for many years. As Bargate says: ‘The long-term interests of every client are always at the forefront of the minds of every member of the firm’.

Rank: Top Recommended

Top Recommended 2023, Aviation & Yachts Lawyers

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