Mark Needham

Mark is a partner of Hannaford Turner and the co-Head of the Superyacht and Luxury Asset Group. Mark is an acknowledged industry expert in superyacht, private jet and luxury asset related legal matters offering a comprehensive practice within these specialist areas of law. Mark works with a global clientele that includes a number of the most successful business men and women in the world, their families and private family offices as well as companies operating in the ultra-luxury space.

Superyachts

Mark has been consistently ranked as a global ‘leader in the field’ of Superyachts in the Chambers and Partners High Net Worth Guides, featuring in the 2017 - 2021 guides with clients commenting that he “is characterised by an outstanding work ethic”, he “is very good at dealing with all different types of situations” and "He is super commercial, he actually comes up with solutions, he is creative but in the best possible way."

On the transactional side Mark is actively involved in yacht construction, yacht sale and purchase, refit and yacht finance work. He has significant experience acting for purchasers and shipyards involved in the construction of superyachts of a range of types and sizes including some of the largest superyachts in build and in operation today as well as acting for buyers and sellers of superyachts, tenders, support vessels, high performance racing yachts and everything in between. Mark has also acted for clients involved in the purchase of apartment rights on-board residential cruise ships and 'yacht liners'.

Mark regularly advises on appropriate superyacht ownership structures, crew employment, berth sale and purchase and regulatory compliance.

Mark co-authors the chapter on Superyacht ownership in the Private Wealth and and Private Client Review.

Private Jets / Aviation

Mark regularly assists clients with the sale, purchase and ownership of private jets, helicopters and aviation engines in a variety of international locations. He enjoys excellent relationships with aircraft auditors / pre-purchase inspection companies as well as corporate service providers and aircraft warehousers.

Luxury Assets

Mark has wide experience negotiating and drafting the full suite of other agreements that go hand in hand with yacht and jet ownership, as well as handling unique situations such as the short term rental of private islands or the acquisition of rare cars.

Arbitration, Litigation and Dispute Resolution

Mark holds higher rights of audience entitling him to practice and appear before the highest courts of England and Wales including the Supreme Court. He is skilled at resolving high value disputes and regularly represents his clients interests in private arbitrations under a variety of rules as well as litigation in the commercial courts. Mark's dispute resolution experience spans the luxury asset sector and he has litigated/arbitrated a multitude of cases including superyacht charter disputes relating to the impact of COVID-19, sale and purchase disputes, superyacht paint disputes, warranty issues, disputes in relation to the design of superyachts, brokerage commission issues, defects with super-high performance cars, yacht construction disputes, aircraft engine leasing issues and many other types of dispute.