Interview: How lawyer Marilena Mroß makes it to the Young Professionals in Yachting

Hi Marilena, where can I reach you right now?

I'm in Dubai and will be working from here for the next few weeks. This is a good fit from a professional point of view, as our local office specialises in yachting and private aviation, among other things. At my law firm, Clyde & Co, we are a large global team with over 60 offices worldwide, and it is always helpful to network and regularly exchange ideas with our colleagues abroad. This enables us to support our clients at short notice in legal matters with an international dimension and we usually know the relevant contacts abroad personally.

Is travelling a big part of your work?

Since the coronavirus pandemic, many of our meetings have taken place online via Teams or other digital channels. Corona has also driven the digitalisation of the justice system. Even civil proceedings can now be conducted via video conferencing. As a lawyer, I therefore often sit in front of my PC - travelling, for example to court hearings, trade fairs or clients, is therefore a welcome change.

What is the focus of your work?

I advise clients on all legal aspects of the yacht sector. My day-to-day work includes, in particular, drafting, negotiating and implementing contracts for yacht purchases or sales as well as for new construction projects. In addition, we work for our clients according to their individual needs. In addition to issues relating to warranty for defects and the law on contracts for work and services, this may also include issues relating to labour law (crew issues) or tenancy law (yacht chartering). Those who own a superyacht are often also interested in the area of aviation - here, of course, we are also on hand with our experience.

Which legal disputes do you encounter most frequently?

Classic disputes in the yachting sector are cases of late delivery or defective performance. We also provide comprehensive support in yacht collisions - which is not nice, but also exciting from a legal perspective.

Did you already envisage specialising in the maritime sector during your studies?

I started my law degree in Kiel and came across a lecture with an excursus on maritime law by chance. I was immediately interested in the subject, so I then looked for opportunities to gain in-depth knowledge in this area. It quickly became clear that I would have to switch to the University of Hamburg - the only university in Germany to offer a specialisation in maritime business law. The specialisation even exceeded my expectations. We were a small and close-knit group there, and our professor Marian Paschke connected us with the practice early on and supported us individually.

Did you already have a personal relationship with sailing or boating before?

I grew up in Schleswig-Holstein and feel very close to the sea. I've also wanted to get a sailing licence for a long time - as luck would have it, I even live directly above a sailing school on the Alster, so I'm slowly running out of excuses (laughs).

How did you find your current law firm, Clyde & Co?

During my studies, I worked as a research assistant at the Chair of Maritime Law and Maritime Trade Law at the University of Hamburg. That's where I first came into contact with my current team of Volker Lücke and Tim Schommer - some people will recognise them from the yacht law column in BOOTE EXCLUSIV. As I really liked the yachting area and the team spirit in the law firm, I quickly realised that I wanted to work here as a lawyer too. I have now been working as a lawyer at Clyde & Co for over three years.

How many lawyers are there in Hamburg?

We are represented by 21 lawyers at our Hamburg office. In addition, five English lawyers work in our Hamburg office. In addition to yachting and private aviation, our Hamburg office also specialises in insurance law, transport law, the energy and offshore sectors and arbitration. Clyde & Co employs more than 3200 legal experts on six continents worldwide.

Can you still remember your first mandate?

One of my first mandates was the sale of a 20 metre Azimut. In this context, I was also involved in the seatrial on the Baltic Sea in the summer. That was a real experience!

Do many areas of law also mean having to pore over many law books?

At our law firm, we have access to databases that contain all the legal texts. I find this very practical, as you can quickly access the latest version of the required standards. However, some people still like to consult books. For my second exam, I had two trolley cases with a total of eleven thick books for the exam. When I walked through the streets in the morning in December, people must have thought I was going on holiday (laughs).

How did you come to Young Professionals in Yachting (YPY)?

When you're new to the profession as a lawyer, you're initially trapped in your own legal bubble. I wanted to exchange ideas with non-lawyers in the maritime sector and that's how I came across YPY. The timing was perfect because I became aware of YPY about two weeks before the first Superyacht Summit on Pellworm. I spontaneously came along to Pellworm and was very well received. What I particularly like about YPY is that we form a network that grows with us - personally, professionally and professionally. It's also nice to meet lots of people I already know at trade fairs or in other professional contexts. And sometimes friendships develop from these acquaintances.

Lawyers are always welcome in associations. Have you already had to give legal advice?

Yes, that's right (laughs). As a lawyer, I'm often contacted privately with minor legal questions and I'm always happy to help. Legal questions have also come up at YPY. Overall, however, my focus as a YPY board member is on member support. I coordinate the admission of new members and answer general questions about membership and upcoming events. In this way, we want to offer new members and interested parties an even better introduction to the world of YPY.

About "Young Professionals in Yachting Germany"

Founded in 2017, the Network platform "Young Professionals in Yachting Germany" supports its members in making contacts within the industry, including at events and get-togethers. Anyone who already works in the yachting industry and is between 20 and 40 years old can join. The association currently has over 100 members from different areas of the large yacht world.

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