Konstantinos Bachxevanis

Specialty

Konstantinos Bachxevanis specializes in shipping disputes and maritime dispute resolution, with a particular emphasis on the kinds of issues that routinely drive arbitration and other forms of dispute resolution in the international maritime sector. The practice concentrates on the full spectrum of ship-related disputes, including salvage and wreck removal, general average, collisions, and all bills of lading and charterparty disputes, as well as speed and performance claims and MOA (memo of agreement) disputes. His work also covers marine insurance matters and pollution claims, and he has experience across port construction disputes. This concentration is underpinned by his training and background as both a Solicitor and a Master Mariner, enabling him to approach disputes with a practical, shipboard perspective and an understanding of how marine operations interact with contract and liability issues. 

In terms of dispute resolution, Konstantinos’ international arbitration orientation is explicit in his practice. His profile lists international arbitration as a core component of his maritime practice, with familiarity with LOF, LMAA, and ICC arbitration frameworks, which are widely used in shipping disputes involving complex issues such as LOF, charter-party disputes, and cross-border cargo and liability claims. This aligns with the cross-border nature of many shipping disputes that arise in the England-and-Wales jurisdiction and in Greece. 

Experience

• Konstantinos is an English Solicitor, Greek lawyer and Master Mariner (Class B’).
• Before setting up his own practice in Piraeus, he qualified and worked in the Shipping Department of a leading international law firm in the City of London for more than 12 years and in their Athens office for one year. This dual exposure to top-tier international shipping matters in both London and Greece provides a robust foundation for handling cross-border disputes and arbitration in the maritime sector.
• He has over 30 years’ experience in shipping and more than 20 years in maritime claims, reflecting extensive hands-on involvement with casualty response, cargo claims, and vessel disputes that frequently branch into arbitration and other dispute-resolution processes.
• His early career included service in the Greek Merchant Navy as a Deck Officer up to Chief Officer for six years, followed by roles as a cargo and nautical surveyor and claims handler representing H&M and cargo underwriters, before transitioning to law.
• He also spent time in Tsakos Shipping (London) Ltd. in the Insurance & Claims Department, and he later established Bax Law in Piraeus to focus on shipping disputes.
• This combination of seafaring, surveying, and insurance experience informs his approach to disputes from both technical and commercial angles. 
• In the English and Welsh legal market, he has practiced as a solicitor admitted to England and Wales (SRA No. 438311) and is also registered with the Piraeus Bar; these credentials reflect his cross-jurisdictional capability in handling shipping disputes that cross the English and Greek legal landscapes. ((https://bax-law.com/the-credentials/))
• Currently based in Greece, his practice continues to leverage the English-law-oriented maritime dispute practice while addressing Greek and EU maritime issues, including salvage, hull and cargo claims, and other disputes that frequently involve international arbitration as a mechanism for resolution. ((https://bax-law.com/))

Education

• LPC, The College of Law, Guildford — Distinction
• GDL/CPE, Manchester Metropolitan University
• Captain Class B’, Marine Education Institute for Senior Officers (KESEN), Piraeus, Greece; Passed in first place in the whole of Greece
• MSc, International Transport, University of Wales, College of Cardiff; Scholarship from the Leon Lemos Charitable Foundation
• Captain Class C’, Merchant Marine Academy of Oinousses, Chios, Greece; Passed in first place in the whole of Greece
• Professional Admissions & Qualifications: England and Wales (SRA No.: 438311); Piraeus Bar Association (ΑΜ ΔΣΠ: 004733)

These qualifications situate Konstantinos at the intersection of English maritime-law training and Greek seafaring tradition, underpinning a practice that routinely engages cross-border shipping disputes and arbitration conducted under English law or English-law-adjacent frameworks. ((https://bax-law.com/the-credentials/))

Experience

Konstantinos’ professional arc blends deep maritime experience with rigorous legal training. He started in the Greek Merchant Navy as a Deck Officer, advancing to Chief Officer, and then moved into maritime surveying and claims handling for H&M and cargo underwriters. He subsequently worked in Tsakos Shipping (London) Ltd., in Insurance & Claims, before transitioning to law. This path culminated in more than a decade-plus in the Shipping Department of a leading international law firm in the City of London, followed by a year in their Athens office, before establishing his own practice in Piraeus. He has more than 30 years in shipping and more than 20 years in maritime claims, which informs his approach to handling disputes and, where appropriate, arbitration. 

In the English-speaking maritime-legal world, Konstantinos’ career includes a prominent milestone: promotion to Counsel at Reed Smith in London in January 2020, reflecting recognition of his expertise within a major international firm and his role in the Transportation Industry Group. This experience reinforces his ability to navigate complex, cross-border shipping disputes that may be resolved through arbitration in London or Greece, as well as through other dispute-resolution mechanisms. 

Education (additional context)

The combination of Greek naval schooling and UK-based legal training supports a profile adept at handling shipping disputes across jurisdictions, including those that move toward arbitration in London or other major maritime centers. His credentials underscore a capacity to engage with both technical maritime issues and sophisticated commercial litigation or arbitration strategies. ((https://bax-law.com/the-credentials/))

Achievements and Recognition

• Promoted to Counsel at Reed Smith LLP, London (Transportation Industry Group), effective January 14, 2020. ((https://britishchamber.cn/reed-smith-announces-29-new-partners-35-new-counsel-firmwide/))
• Authored maritime-law writings on bunker pollution and related regulatory regimes (The Bunker Pollution Convention 2001 – An Overview) on Bax Law’s site, reflecting thought leadership in shipping environmental liability. ((https://bax-law.com/the-bunker-pollution-convention-2001-an-overview/))