Biography
Chris Belisle serves as Co-Head of the Maritime Practice Group within the Maritime and Transportation Practice.
Chris frequently advises on asset-based loan financings in the maritime and transportation sectors, as well as leasing and sale and leaseback transactions related to vessels operating under domestic and foreign flags. His experience includes structuring ownership and investment, joint ventures and strategic alliances in the transportation space, as well as sales and acquisitions of transportation assets, both in and out of bankruptcy proceedings.
Notably, Chris has extensive experience advising on various aspects of US flagged vessel ownership, including with respect to coastwise vessel ownership and operation in compliance with the Jones Act, and ownership and operation of vessels in United States subsidy programs. In addition, Chris’s practice often extends to drafting and negotiating maritime related commercial contracts for US domestic and international clients, including vessel charters, management agreements and shipbuilding contracts. Representative clients include, owners, shipbuilders, potential investors, lenders (including DIP lenders) and operators in the international shipping and Jones Act space.
Chris has been recognized by Legal 500 as a member of their Hall of Fame for Shipping Finance, and is ranked in Band 3 for Transportation: Shipping/Maritime: Finance.
Capabilities
Areas of Focus
Credentials
Education
St. John’s University School of Law
- J.D., 1989
State University of New York at Stony Brook
- B.A., 1986
Bar Admissions
- New York
Representative Work
- Acting as counsel to an ad hoc group of secured bondholders on the Chapter 11 restructuring of Spirit Airlines.
- Acting as special maritime counsel to Beal Bank in respect of a loan facility of up to US$122.5m to Harley Marine Financing, LLC and Harley Marine Special Leasing LLC.
- Advising two international commodity trading companies with respect to a merger of their South American, United States and UK businesses.
- Advising secured lenders and DIP lenders with respect to the restructuring of distressed vessel loan facilities for vessels.
- Advising vessel owners and operators with respect to responses to private and government-based RFPs.
- Advising vessel owner with respect to a US$300m project financing of U.S. Jones Act tankers.
Recognitions
- Recognized by Chambers USA 2026: Transportation: Shipping/Maritime: Finance
- Highly Ranked by The Legal 500 U.S. 2026: Transport: Shipping – Finance
- Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Lawyers in Maritime, Admiralty, & The High Seas guide
Areas of Focus
Credentials
Education
St. John’s University School of Law
- J.D., 1989
State University of New York at Stony Brook
- B.A., 1986
Bar Admissions
- New York
Representative Work
- Acting as counsel to an ad hoc group of secured bondholders on the Chapter 11 restructuring of Spirit Airlines.
- Acting as special maritime counsel to Beal Bank in respect of a loan facility of up to US$122.5m to Harley Marine Financing, LLC and Harley Marine Special Leasing LLC.
- Advising two international commodity trading companies with respect to a merger of their South American, United States and UK businesses.
- Advising secured lenders and DIP lenders with respect to the restructuring of distressed vessel loan facilities for vessels.
- Advising vessel owners and operators with respect to responses to private and government-based RFPs.
- Advising vessel owner with respect to a US$300m project financing of U.S. Jones Act tankers.
Recognitions
- Recognized by Chambers USA 2026: Transportation: Shipping/Maritime: Finance
- Highly Ranked by The Legal 500 U.S. 2026: Transport: Shipping – Finance
- Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Lawyers in Maritime, Admiralty, & The High Seas guide
