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Accounting and consultancy network has been a leading brand name in shipping for 75 years but has now formalised a global team approach to the industry.

“YOU STILL NEED A SUBSTANTIAL LONDON FIRM TO PROVIDE A TRULY GLOBAL SHIPPING OFFERING,” MR CONSTANTINOU SAID.

ACCOUNTANCY and advisory network Moore Stephens has formalised a group approach to international shipping that, it says, was underdeveloped in the past, despite its strong 75-year involvement in the industry.

The Moore Stephens Shipping Group was formed after the departure earlier this year of the network’s previous London team, with Costas Constantinou, managing partner of Moore Stephens Greece, now appointed global leader for shipping.

The Greek and Singapore offices have long been seen as strong hubs of shipping expertise and with complementary expertise being chipped in from centres such as London and Monaco, the case for a more joined-up approach was compelling, the network says.

“We want to be more competitive and to provide a seamless service to the industry, which is in any case how we are seen by the industry,” said Mr Constantinou.

“Shipping is an industry where Moore Stephens is recognised as an established and global market leader and we have the expertise spread across a number of countries.

“Now we will be becoming more visible as a group rather than just one firm, as well as more organised and flexible,” he said.

A key priority was to replace Moore Stephens LLP and this was achieved in May when UK Top 20 firm Kingston Smith joined the network as Moore Stephens’ main London-based firm.

“You still need a substantial London firm to provide a truly global shipping offering,” Mr Constantinou said.

Moore Stephens has also recently added highly rated Hamburg firm BRL GmbH in Germany’s maritime capital.

“We need to be able to serve clients that have interests around the globe — for example, not only in Greece, but in Singapore, Monaco and Cyprus as well, and we can,” he said. “We have a network where key individuals around the globe can function as a team and provide a lot to industry clients. The sum is definitely greater than the parts.”

Mr Constantinou, though, points to the continuity of the group, too, exemplified by the fact that managing partner Richard Moore and son Francis are both with Moore Stephens, representing the third and fourth generations of one of the founding families.

There are many shipping families that have been looked after for decades by Moore Stephens and taking care of such clients is a key part of our mission,” he said.

An example of recent collaboration between network offices saw personnel in Greece and Monaco pitch successfully for a project for an Athens-based shipping company traded on the Norwegian market.

The project was won in a competitive tender against other major firms. In another instance, Greek and Norwegian colleagues worked closely on the listing in Oslo of a Greek-led shipping company.

Mr Constantinou saw a lot of scope in future “to increase the number of opportunities that require combining our local presence and international expertise.”