Department profile
Watson Farley & Williams

Shipping: International: Finance

Asia-Pacific Guide 2026 : Singapore


Watson Farley & Williams

Rankings

About

Provided by Watson Farley & Williams

WFW has a reputation in Singapore and internationally as perhaps the premier legal service provider in the maritime sector, winning “Shipping and Maritime Law Firm of the Year” at the Asia Legal Awards 2018 and winning 6 Marine Money deals of the year in 2019 including 3 in Asia. We are one of the largest team of fee earners in Singapore who practice English law in the maritime sector. The shipping finance team acts on the full range of shipping matters, from highly-structured, award-winning financing transactions recognised in the market for their complexity, to restructurings, work-outs and wet and dry shipping issues. We have particular expertise advising on JOLCOs, Chinese leasings, sale and purchases, newbuilding contracts, vessel employment, transhipment agreements, pooling agreements, transactional and advisory services, newbuild and second-hand ship financing.


We are distinguished from other shipping firms as our practice goes beyond pure maritime transport and includes expertise in related sectors such as oil and gas, LNG, container boxes, ports and logistics and cruise & ferries. 


Further, the WFW team handles a range of dispute resolution matters including commodity disputes, ship arrests and maritime casualty cases. These include the investigation and subsequent handling of collision, grounding, salvage and piracy incidents and matters relating to security, jurisdiction, limitation, cargo damage, marine insurance, oil pollution and charterparty disputes.

Clients (30)

  • Bank of America NA
  • Bank of Communications Co., Ltd.
  • BW Maritime Pte Ltd
  • Credit Suisse
  • Crédit Industriel et Commercial, Singapore Branch
  • Deutsche Bank AG
  • Dorian LNG Limited
  • DVB Bank SE
  • Golar LNG Limited
  • HBA NAM DU Pte Ltd
  • Harvest Technology Pty Ltd.
  • ING Bank N.V
  • Korea Development Bank
  • MISC Berhad
  • MUFG Bank Ltd
  • Nord LB
  • NTT Finance Corporation
  • Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation, Limited
  • Petrofac
  • PetroVietnam Technical Service Corporation
  • Precious Shipping Public Company Limited
  • Sapura Energy Berhad
  • Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Limited
  • Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation
  • Thome Ship Management Pte Ltd
  • Thoresen Shipping Singapore Pte. Ltd.
  • Tiger Group
  • U-Ming
  • Woori Bank
  • Yinson Holdings Bhd

Industries (4)

  • Financial Services
  • Banks
  • Energy
  • Transportation

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Shipping: International: Finance - Singapore

Band 1

Band 1


What the Team is Known For

Watson Farley & Williams' expert team handles the full range of shipping finance matters in Singapore. The lawyers advise international banks and shipping companies on sale and leaseback transactions, sale and purchase agreements, restructuring and offshore transactions. The practice has particular expertise in the financing of vessels involved in the offshore oil and gas industry, including FPSOs and LNG carriers, and also has notable experience on JOLCO lending structures.

Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • Watson Farley & Williams advised an Asian financial institution on a USD202 million sustainability-linked JOLCO with Ocean Network Express as lessee and Financial Partners Group as equity provider for two portfolios of container boxes.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • We have worked with WFW on various complex matters and the result is always excellent.

    Shipping: International: Finance respondentAsia-Pacific
  • Watson Farley have subject knowledge and a network of experts in their firm.

    Shipping: International: Finance respondentAsia-Pacific

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Band 1Andrew Nimmo
    Band 1Andrew Nimmo

    Andrew Nimmo

    Andrew Nimmo is well regarded in the Singapore legal market and is experienced in handling ship finance matters for shipping companies and international banks. He also has significant expertise regarding offshore energy.
    • Andrew is hands-on with the projects he takes on.

      Shipping: International: Finance respondentAsia-Pacific
  • Band 3Lizzie Roe
    Band 3Lizzie Roe

    Lizzie Roe

    Lizzie Roe offers expertise in representing both lenders and borrowers in complex and high-value shipping financing matters.
    • Lizzie is an excellent maritime lawyer. She is great at coming up with simple solutions to complex problems while understanding the commercial issues at play.

      Shipping: International: Finance respondentAsia-Pacific

Ranked Individuals at Watson Farley & Williams (2)

Singapore

Members

Provided by Watson Farley & Williams

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