Lessons from a life in shipping: Harry Theochari OBE, Maritime London

What has been your funniest moment in shipping?

Client confidentiality prevents me from repeating most of these. In the 1990s a particular bank, which had never used us before, suffered a number of financial scandals instigated by a senior officer. I was invited for lunch with their senior directors, none of whom I had previously met. On entering the room, I was advised that I was useless, incompetent and uncommercial, and would never work for that bank again. After some initial confusion, I explained who I was. The director looked very embarrassed and apologised, before asking for the other firm to be brought in.

Who have you learned the most from?

I joined the firm when possibly the three finest ship finance lawyers in the world were heading the team. My boss, Donald Freeland had the best client bedside manner, Jeremy Lansdell was probably the finest technical lawyer of his time and Douglas Hamilton was simply the doyen of ship finance lawyers worldwide.

What is your guilty pleasure?

As I have grown older and wider (I do mean wider and not wiser), my guilty pleasures have changed a little. I enjoy eating, smoking cigars and drinking whisky.

Do you have a favourite meal?

If I tell you that two of my favourite restaurants in the world are Smith & Wollensky and Sparks in New York, you will be able to guess that I am a great lover of US prime beef.

Where is your favourite location?

I am very blessed to actually live at my favourite location, my small farm in Hertfordshire. I love digging holes, shovelling muck, pruning plants (whether they need it or not) and riding about on my little tractor, indulging my guilty pleasures. I am assured that you cannot be found guilty of being drunk in charge of a tractor on your own property.

What is your one regret in shipping?

Most of my career has been at a time when shipping has remained relatively unchanged. My great regret is that I will not be around to see the pivotal changes that will be taking place as a result of decarbonisation and the advent of new and disruptive technologies, such as artificial intelligence and autonomous shipping.

What would be your advice to a young person starting out in shipping?

This is a conversation I have had with my own children, one of whom is a transport finance lawyer. The advice is very simple, be prepared to work very hard, understand there will be many sacrifices to family life and be ready for the great changes that are inevitably coming. If you are prepared to face these challenges, being a shipping finance lawyer is a hugely interesting and very rewarding career.

Join Harry Theochari at the Tanker Shipping & Trade Conference, Awards & Exhibition 2022 in Athens on 9-10 November. Register your interest here.