Department profile
Watson Farley & Williams

Transportation: Shipping: Finance

Germany Guide 2026 : Germany


Watson Farley & Williams

Rankings

About

Provided by Watson Farley & Williams

Watson Farley & Williams is one of the leading law firms in Germany in the maritime/transport sector for both the financing side as well as all corporate legal services the industry requires. With unrivalled experience and technical excellence, our team provides first class support on complex cross-border transactions. We work closely together with our international offices. in all locations relevant to the maritime industry worldwide. With 200+ lawyers globally, the German team is key part of the largest dedicated maritime legal practice in the world.

Clients (7)

  • HSBC
  • HSH Nordbank
  • Nord/LB
  • Commerzbank AG
  • MPC Capital
  • MPC Container Ships ASA
  • KfW IPEX-Bank

Industries (4)

  • Banks
  • Financial Services
  • Transportation
  • Travel & Leisure

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Transportation: Shipping: Finance - Germany

Band 1

Band 1


What the Team is Known For

Watson Farley & Williams houses a highly reputed shipping finance practice based in Hamburg. The team is held in high esteem by prestigious and often international banks for its expertise across the full spectrum of shipping finance. Large refinancing, ship acquisition finance and sale-and-leaseback transactions are regularly handled by the firm. Other areas of expertise include fleet financings, vessel sales and portfolio leasing transactions as well as open lease structures. Clients, which also include private equity funds and investors, benefit from the law firm's international network, allowing the effective handling of cross-border mandates. The firm also has a notable offering for general shipping matters, advising shipping groups on acquiring chemical tankers and container ships.

Wofür das Team bekannt ist

Watson Farley & Williams verfügt über eine hoch angesehene Praxisgruppe für Schiffsfinanzierung mit Sitz in Hamburg. Das Team genießt bei renommierten, oft internationalen Banken hohes Ansehen für seine umfassende Expertise im gesamten Spektrum der Schiffsfinanzierung. Große Refinanzierungen, Schiffsfinanzierungen und Sale-and-Leaseback-Transaktionen gehören regelmäßig zum Leistungsspektrum der Kanzlei. Weitere Kompetenzfelder umfassen Flottenfinanzierungen, Schiffsverkäufe und Portfolio-Leasing-Transaktionen sowie offene Leasingstrukturen. Mandanten, darunter auch Private-Equity-Fonds und Investoren, profitieren vom internationalen Netzwerk der Kanzlei, das die effektive Abwicklung grenzüberschreitender Mandate ermöglicht. Die Kanzlei bietet zudem ein bemerkenswertes Leistungsspektrum in allgemeinen Schifffahrtsangelegenheiten und berät Reedereien bei der Akquisition von Chemikalientankern und Containerschiffen.

Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • Watson Farley & Williams advised Hamburg Commercial Bank on its acquisition of NIBC Bank's entire shipping portfolio.

  • Watson Farley & Williams beriet die Hamburg Commercial Bank bei der Übernahme des gesamten Schifffahrtsportfolios der NIBC Bank.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Watson Farley & Williams knows what we need and our aims.

    Transportation: Shipping: Finance respondentGermany
  • Watson Farley & Williams weiß, was wir brauchen und welche Ziele wir verfolgen.

    Transportation: Shipping: Finance respondentGermany

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Band 3Christian Finnern
    Band 3Christian Finnern

    Christian Finnern

    Christian Finnern is head of Watson Farley & Williams' Germany operations. His expertise includes high-volume international shipbuilding matters and sale-and-leaseback transactions as well as vessel sales and acquisitions. He has additional experience in refinancing of vessels.

    Christian Finnern ist Leiter des Deutschlandgeschäfts von Watson Farley & Williams. Seine Expertise umfasst großvolumige internationale Schiffbauangelegenheiten und Sale-and-Leaseback-Transaktionen sowie Schiffsverkäufe. Er verfügt über zusätzliche Erfahrung in der Refinanzierung von Schiffen.

    • Christian Finnern is goal-oriented, pragmatic and helps us to avert risks commercially.

      Transportation: Shipping: Finance respondentGermany
    • Christian Finnern ist zielorientiert, pragmatisch und hilft uns, wirtschaftliche Risiken zu vermeiden.
      Transportation: Shipping: Finance respondentGermany

Ranked Individuals at Watson Farley & Williams (1)

Germany

Members

Provided by Watson Farley & Williams

  • Klaus Schmid-Burgk

  • Frederik Lorenzen

  • Christian Finnern

  • Jan Mommsen

  • Maren Brandes

  • Anna Kirchhoff

  • Paula Kleinschmidt

  • Justus Langelittig

  • Raphael-Felix Müller

  • Dorit Freier

  • Rosie James

  • Kathrin Lübberstedt

  • Sofia Tzanaki

  • Peter Graß

  • Julia von der Blumensaat

  • David Günther

  • Marc Großmann

  • Alexander Piepenbrock

  • Lotte Dillen

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