NAVIGATING THE HIGH SEAS OF SUPERYACHT LAW:
INSIGHTS FROM WORDLEY PARTNERSHIP’ S JOHN LEONIDA
Written by Jane Catchpole
In the world of ultra-high-net-worth individuals( UHNWIs), few assets symbolise luxury and prestige like a superyacht. These floating palaces, often costing tens or hundreds of millions, are not just vessels but complex legal entities requiring specialised expertise. John Leonida, Of Counsel at Wordley Partnership, is a pioneer in superyacht law, bringing decades of experience to an industry where glamour meets intricate legal challenges. In an exclusive interview, Leonida shares his journey, insights, and the unique complexities of advising some of the world’ s wealthiest individuals- or, as he clarifies,“ the ecosystem that surrounds” them.
Leonida’ s path to becoming a leading figure in superyacht law was anything but conventional.“ My background was not in law and certainly was not in the maritime world,” he explains. Originally an economist with the UK Foreign Office’ s Overseas Development Administration, Leonida requalified as a lawyer at 34, joining Clyde & Co as a banking and ship finance solicitor. A series of serendipitous events in 1998 led him to pivot from advising on tugs and LNG carriers to superyachts. By 40, he was a partner and likely the first lawyer to market himself as a superyacht lawyer, and establishing a recognised discipline.“ I believe I changed that narrative,” he says proudly.
Superyachts, as Leonida notes, are often misunderstood as“ waterborne motor cars” when they are, in fact,“ floating real estate.” This misconception leads many owners- often firsttime yacht buyers- to overlook the need for specialised legal advice.“ I’ ve often questioned owners as to why they bought or commissioned a superyacht without specialist, or indeed any, legal advice,” Leonida says.“ Even the most astute business people have relied on those selling the dream.”
THE ART OF LUXURY ISSUE 73 2025