Ms Ioanna Vitta, Partner, Penningtons Manches Cooper International
Ioanna Vitta is a Partner in the marine, trade and international shipping team of Penningtons Manches Cooper. Ioanna has over 25 years’ experience in shipping litigation and dispute resolution and specialises in disputes arising from international trade and shipping, including Bills of lading; Charterparties; MoA; Shipbuilding disputes. Ioanna also advises on casualties including LOF salvage, Collisions, Groundings, General Average, Fire and Cargo claims. She is also a member of the Emergency Response team of the Firm.
Her practice regularly involves the handling of cases in London arbitration, mediation and litigation in the English Courts. Ioanna became a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators in 2018 (FCIArb). She has extensive experience in handling multi-jurisdictional disputes and often is actively involved in sale and purchase transactions with or without finance.
She is a qualified lawyer in Greece since 1991 and qualified Solicitor of England and Wales since 2002. Prior working in private practice, she worked as in-house Legal Counsel for shipping companies as well as the Maritime and Transports’ Division of the European Parliament in Brussels and Luxembourg. Ioanna holds a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) from the University of Athens and a Master of Laws (LL.M) on Maritime Law from the University of Southampton. Ioanna speaks Greek and French. She regularly provides clients with in-house training and presents seminars worldwide on a wide range topic including bunker claims, Scopic and General average, Bills of Lading and Letters of Indemnity and others.
Ioanna has been highlighted in Global Chambers since 2008 annually and Chambers Europe who have commented that “her dedication to the industry and ability to get results are why she has a great reputation…” She is also rated among market sources for her “diligence, experience and spot-on advice”. Ioanna has been awarded the International Choice Client Award in 2018
Mary Pothitos, Maritime Insurance and Claims handling consultant – Owner, Paralegal Maritime Services
Finished school in the UK and graduated from the Law school of Wolverhampton University, UK. After working two years to gain practical experience in the City of London, in 1989, joint the family business of shipowning and shipmanagement in Greece, Pothitos Shipping Co S.A., as the Legal and Insurance Director and later in the same post, at N.A.N.E. Shipping Management S.A. until 2014. Experienced with handling cargo claims. Actively involved in the management and operation of the fleet. In 2014 was appointed Advisor on International Relations at Hellenic Shortsea Shipowners Association and Director of the Shortsea Promotion Centre (SPC) – Greece and served a two year term. From January till December 2016, was a Member of the Board, of the European Shortsea Network (ESN). 2016 started PARALEGAL MARITIME SERVICES, offering professional assistance for efficient and cost effective management of claims.Developed and delivers the seminars: Marine Insurance and Claims Handling – for DNV GL Academy,Co-developed Salvage and Wreck Removal, Co-developed EU GDPR for shipping.