Harris & Co. Maritime Law Office

Founded in 1996, Harris & Co. is a leading law firm that specializes in maritime law, sea freight, and commercial litigation. The firm is currently managed by Adv. Yoav Harris a boast over 70 years of cumulative experience. The firm was founded by late Adv. John Harris (1940-2023), a graduate of the University of Cape Town in South Africa. After his Aliyah to Israel he worked at S. Friedman law firm and later founded his own firm specializing in maritime law.
The late Adv. Harris was a member of LMAA and was frequently asked to lecture on international conventions in his areas of expertise.

Adv. Yoav Harris a graduate of the Faculty of Law of the University of Haifa, graduated with honors in 1999. Adv. Yoav Harris served as a partner in leading law firms as the head of the litigation department, in addition to joint activities with late Adv. John Harris.
As of 2018, Adv. Yoav Harris serves as the leading partner in the firm of Harris & Co..

At the Forefront of Maritime Law

Harris & Co. offers a full range of legal services in shipping and the maritime sector, representing a wide array of clients, including: ship owners and operators, ship agents and freight forwarders, charters, P&I clubs, oil refineries and other commercial entities. The firm has a proven track record in ship arrests, consistently achieving favorable outcomes for clients.

The firm is known for the quality and depth of its legal presentations; it’s international knowledge of shipping law which are presented to the Israeli Courts.
Clients benefit from the firm’s highly skilled pleadings, cross-examinations, and court appearances—skills honed over decades of practice.
Harris & Co. is regarded as a leader in the maritime law field as a result of the many years of experience of the late John and Yoav and their knowledge of English and international judgements and precedents. In addition, the firm is also renown in the field of litigation, due to its cross examinations, pleads, and uncompromising court representation.

Harris & Co. Areas of Expertise

Maritime Law - The firm provides legal guidance across various maritime legal issues, including: ship arrests, the purchase and sale of ships, ship financing, on-going advice in chartering and the carriage of cargoes of crude and refined oil, cargo claims, marine insurance and advice in importing/exporting matters.
The firm is appointed by English and American legal offices and the legal advisors of foreign entities, to attend to maritime arrests and other related matters.
The firm receives instructions from the foremost shipping and maritime law departments of international law firms and keeps abreast of English and other jurisdictions’ maritime law judgments and publications.
In the non-litigation aspect of the practice, Harris & Co. provides expert advice on chartering contracts, ship sales, and financing arrangements.
The firm dedication to its client’s interests and its profound expertise in maritime law (drawing, when necessary, upon legal principles of other maritime law jurisdictions) have generated the respect of both the maritime law community and the maritime law courts, courts of higher instance including the Israel Supreme Court.
Harris & Co. advocates are involved in the establishment of binding legal precedents in Israeli maritime law. Notably The articles published by the firm in the publication “The Cathedral” relating to the Admiralty courts authority to act as a “Prize Court” was quoted by The Admiralty Court (Case. No. 26861-08-13) and by The Supreme Court (Civil Appeal No. 7307/14).

Commercial Litigation In addition to maritime law - In addition to maritime law Harris & Co. represents clients in a broad range of commercial litigation matters, including: Contractual Disputes, Shareholder Disputes, Contractor Claims, Commercial Claims, Administrative and Sporting Disputes, and private individuals.

The firm’s accumulated expertise in commercial dispute resolution generated the expansion of its activities to similar business fields.

Recognition and Rankings

The firm is consistently ranked in top-tier ranking by prestigious guides, including Chambers and Partners, Legal 500, Dun’s 100, and BDI Code.
Some highlights include:
“Has significant litigious capabilities”.
“A very devoted and young team mixed with staff rich with experience. A great combination!”.

“In our experience, Harris & Co gives solutions which pay off, despite the difficult nature of the case we instruct the law firm to handle.”
“The team is distinguished by its professional attitude, extensive professional knowledge, attention to the client, fair billing and strong availability.’

Adv. Yoav Harris is described as:
“He is the type of lawyer any client would need. He easily handles complex matters while being very devoted to the case.”
“He is a quick thinker and very professional.”
“Yoav Harris is highly knowledgeable and professional maritime attorney. He provides clear and practical advice on various legal maritime matters and in a timely manner.”

The late Adv. John Harris is remembered as a well-established figure in maritime law with strong expertise in trust and insolvency disputes, and is regarded as an ideal choice for conflict-of-interest referrals.

Global Contributions and Publications

Since 2021, Harris & Co. has edited the Chambers Global Practice Guides - Chambers & Partners Global Shipping Guide, covering 23 jurisdictions globally.
In addition, Harris & Co. regularly contributes and writes the Israeli chapter of the international guides on shipping matters including in ICLG, Lexology, SHIPARRESTED.COM, and Legal 500.

The Harris & Co. team regularly participates in international conferences on behalf of SHIPARRESTED.COM and seminars on behalf of the Haifa District Bar Association, and in this context, Adv. Yoav Harris lectures on various topics related to maritime law.
The firm also contributes articles in the field of maritime law to the quarterly publications of SHIPARRESTED.COM, to the professional journal in the field of transportation and logistics - “The Cargo”, and in 2024 the firm’s article “A Gazan Fishing Patrol, Is It Innocent? Is It Deserving of Confiscation?” was published in the legal journal “The Advocate”. Furthermore, Adv. Yoav Harris also manages the firm’s forum: “International Shipping, International Trade and Energy Resources” on the Legal ZAP website .
Additional articles are displayed on the firm’s website: http://www.lawships.com