Expert legal advice for yacht sale and purchase on the French Riviera
Marty Legal, an esteemed law firm specializing in maritime and admiralty law, offers unrivaled expertise specifically tailored to yacht sale and purchase. Strategically located on the French Riviera, with prestigious office in Marseille our firm operates across all maritime jurisdictions in France and internationally. Under the experienced guidance of our principal lawyer, Mr. Nicolas Marty, renowned for his specialization in maritime litigation and transactional matters, we accompany our distinguished clientele at every crucial step in the sale or purchase of luxury vessels and pleasure yachts.
Our proactive and diligent approach ensures not only legal certainty but also peace of mind. Whether you are a buyer, seller, yacht broker, or ship manager, Marty Legal’s meticulous understanding of maritime and yachting law guarantees smooth and secure transactions. Our firm is particularly adept at handling complex technical disputes that commonly arise during vessel transfers, leveraging over two decades of practical experience.
Talk to a lawyer specialized in admiralty law today
Negotiation & drafting of memorandum and bill of sale
At Marty Legal, we fully recognize the critical importance of carefully negotiating and drafting the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) and the Bill of Sale, which together form the legal bedrock of yacht transactions. The MoA serves as the preliminary binding agreement detailing essential terms and conditions, including the vessel’s specifications, agreed-upon price, sea trials, surveys, and financial conditions. Our legal team expertly manages these negotiations, meticulously tailoring each clause to protect your interests, mitigate risks, and anticipate potential disputes.
Moreover, the Bill of Sale, which formalizes the transfer of ownership, is drafted with precision and care, clearly establishing rights, liabilities, and warranties between parties. For example, in cases involving conditional clauses—such as satisfactory marine survey results or resolving pending legal actions—we provide comprehensive guidance based on legal precedents and practical maritime considerations. Our lawyers will also proactively communicate with creditors to ensure the yacht is free from encumbrances, protecting the buyer from unforeseen liabilities and ensuring a seamless transfer.
Our CARPA escrow account service further enhances security, safeguarding deposits and payments during the sale, thus ensuring maximum transparency and trust throughout the transactional process.
Vessel & yacht financing: securing your investment
Understanding that yacht transactions often involve significant financial stakes, Marty Legal provides specialized advisory services in yacht financing, employing diverse methods such as maritime mortgages and leasing arrangements. Each financing solution is precisely calibrated to your individual needs, considering factors like vessel registration, flag-state compliance, and regulatory implications.
Our firm possesses a network of reliable international partners, enabling us to expertly manage vessel registration and maritime mortgages under French or foreign flags. For instance, we routinely structure financing arrangements involving jurisdictions such as Malta, the Marshall Islands, or the Cayman Islands—popular flags of convenience—optimizing both financing conditions and vessel operational flexibility. We carefully scrutinize maritime liens, statutory mortgages, and hypothecations, guaranteeing compliance and optimal security for lenders and borrowers alike.
With a clear focus on financial prudence and legal certainty, Marty Legal meticulously analyzes the long-term implications of each financing choice, ensuring the protection of your maritime investment at every stage of ownership.
Advisory on the vessel's mode of operation & legal status
The operational mode of your yacht significantly influences its regulatory obligations, fiscal responsibilities, and legal framework. Marty Legal’s attorneys deliver sophisticated advice tailored specifically to your yacht’s intended use—be it personal pleasure, commercial chartering, or mixed usage. We analyze in detail factors such as sailing areas, international navigation rights, crew employment, and port state regulations, ensuring full compliance with applicable domestic and international maritime law.
For example, a yacht intended for commercial charter activities on the French Riviera and Mediterranean waters must strictly adhere to distinct regulations and licensing requirements under French and EU maritime directives. In such scenarios, we assist clients in navigating complex legal waters, including obtaining commercial licenses, compliance certifications, and ensuring adherence to strict safety standards.
Our proactive legal analysis preemptively identifies potential pitfalls, positioning you to avoid common yet costly compliance errors.
Advisory expertise on vessel's optimal tax status
Optimizing your vessel’s tax structure is essential to minimize exposure and enhance your yacht’s economic viability. Marty Legal’s taxation advisory expertise encompasses the full spectrum of maritime fiscal responsibilities including VAT optimization, Domestic Consumption Tax on Energy Products (TICPE), Francisation and navigation rights, as well as Passport duties for vessels navigating in French territorial waters.
For instance, advising clients on VAT exemptions or reductions applicable under specific criteria—such as commercial charter operations, cross-border leasing arrangements, or temporary importation procedures, we meticulously evaluate eligibility and implement compliant, advantageous structures.
Our meticulous tax planning ensures not only significant financial savings but also absolute legal security, enabling you to maximize the operational and financial benefits of yacht ownership.
Creation & legal structuring of a one-ship company
To further enhance asset protection and optimize your yacht acquisition, Marty Legal advises and assists in establishing a specialized legal entity—a One-Ship Company—dedicated exclusively to vessel ownership and operation. Creating such a corporate structure ensures a robust legal shield, significantly limiting your personal liability by clearly delineating personal and corporate assets.
In practical terms, the One-Ship Company effectively isolates liabilities directly linked to vessel ownership or operations, safeguarding your personal assets from claims that may arise due to maritime disputes, creditor claims, environmental liabilities, or charter obligations. For instance, in cases where third-party claims or commercial disputes arise, creditors’ recourse is limited primarily to the company’s own assets, dramatically reducing your personal financial exposure.
Our comprehensive advisory includes careful choice of jurisdiction for incorporation, drafting detailed corporate governance agreements, shareholder arrangements, and ensuring compliance with ongoing maritime regulatory standards. With Marty Legal’s precise guidance, yacht owners confidently navigate the complexities of corporate maritime structures, assured their personal wealth remains secure and distinctly separated from vessel operations.
Navigate yacht transactions confidently
By entrusting Marty Legal with your yacht sale and purchase transactions, you benefit from an unparalleled combination of deep maritime law expertise, rigorous legal precision, and innovative strategic advice, ensuring every voyage begins and continues with legal clarity, financial security, and absolute peace of mind.
Buying or selling a yacht demands more than passion - it requires navigating complex legal waters with precision. We guide you securely through every maritime transaction.
Our practices in sailing and yachting
Our fields of expertise
Latest News & Publications
Talk to a lawyer specialized in admiralty law today