Richard has specialised in the financing, construction, sale and purchase and registration of ships of all kinds for 36 years, focusing on superyachts for the past 15 years.
Richard is the author of Ship Registration: Law and Practice (2002) and its Second Edition (2009). He also advises on offshore corporate structures, yacht broking and management, charters and general commercial shipping matters.
He acts for several international trade associations involved in the superyacht industry. He is a supporting member of the London Maritime Arbitrators' Association, a member of two committees of the United Kingdom Chamber of Shipping and is Honorary Solicitor to the Worshipful Company of Carmen, a City of London Livery Company associated with the transport industry.
In recent years he has advised clients engaged in the construction of several superyachts and the sale or purchase of some of the largest yachts in the world.
Richard enjoys sailing and military history.
“Leading individual”
Chambers UK 2011
“Knows it all by heart for brokerage and contracts”
Chambers UK 2010
Leading Individual
“Richard Coles is recommended for superyacht work”
Legal 500 2008