Maritime arbitration and brokers in the spotlight at the Benetti Legal Symposium 2025

Benetti Legal Symposium 2025: focus on arbitration and contracts in international yachting
The third edition of the Benetti Legal Symposium concluded successfully, confirming its status as a key event for law firms specialized in yachting. The symposium is promoted by Benetti’s in-house legal team with the support of the company’s management. Held on 12–13 May 2025 between San Gimignano and the Benetti shipyard in Livorno, the event brought together over 50 professionals from leading Italian and international law firms, reaffirming its role as an advanced forum for discussion on key legal issues in yacht contracting.

The 2025 edition focused on the role of arbitration in yacht construction contracts, with particular attention to the benefits of ICC (International Chamber of Commerce) arbitration. For the first time, the ICC officially endorsed the initiative and actively participated in the “Legal Discussion” with three of its representatives.

Among the most debated topics was the potential revision of arbitration clauses commonly used in new-build contracts—an especially sensitive issue given the international nature of clients, the prevalence of English law in standard practice, and the need for swift and effective dispute resolution mechanisms.

Georgia Agù, Group General Counsel at Azimut|Benetti, reaffirmed the importance of the initiative:
"In the yachting sector, English law is often applied, with established practices that require highly specialized legal expertise. There are few lawyers experienced in yachting, and our legal team handles contract negotiations directly. This led to the idea of creating a regular forum in Italy for leading experts to exchange views."

The Legal Symposium also explored two additional key topics in yachting contracts: the regulation of relationships with yacht brokers, who are increasingly central to commercial negotiations, and the management of trade-ins, which require alignment between the parties’ expectations and the operational condition of the used boats involved in the transaction.

Since 2023, the Benetti Legal Symposium has established itself as one of the most authoritative legal events in the leisure boating sector, helping to standardize contractual practices and accelerate negotiation processes. Thanks to ICC’s contribution, the 2025 edition opens a new window onto the dialogue between the yachting industry and international law, charting the course for future synergies between shipyards, legal professionals, and arbitration bodies.

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