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Watson Farley & Williams
Department profile | Watson Farley & Williams
Shipping: Finance

About

Provided by Watson Farley & Williams

WFW has the largest dedicated maritime practice of any law firm in the world, with 200 lawyers (50 of which in Asia) in 15 global offices. With bases in all key shipping centres, including well-established offices in Hong Kong, Singapore and Bangkok, WFW is a leading legal powerhouse across much of the Asia Pacific region’s maritime operations.

Our sector focus distinguishes us from the shipping practices of other firms; our expert lawyers work in the maritime industry daily, enabling us to provide our clients with innovative and commercially savvy advice. In addition to a thriving ship finance team, our dedicated practice goes beyond pure maritime transport and includes legal expertise in related sectors such as offshore oil and gas, LNG, container boxes, ports and logistics, cruise and ferries.

Whilst being integrated geographically (meaning we’re able to advise cohesively on complex cross-border deals), our teams are also structured to collaborate vertically. In this way, our acclaimed shipping practice works in partnership with our specialist practitioners in asset finance, competition and regulatory, sanctions, corporate, commercial contracts, disputes, tax and employment law, to ensure we are equipped to advise across the entire maritime value chain.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Shipping: Finance - Asia-Pacific Region

1
Band 1

What the Team is Known For

Watson Farley & Williams has an outstanding regional ship finance legal team, especially renowned for its prowess in China and Singapore, together with its noted Thailand office. The regional team also works regularly on financing and restructuring transactions for Korean ECAs and commercial banks. Its talented practitioners provide expertise to leading financial institutions and ship owners on sale and leaseback transactions, loan facilities and debt restructuring, particularly on matters pertaining to FPSOs and other offshore vessels. The firm is also active advising Chinese leasing companies, and regularly advises international banks. The team handles matters across the oil and gas, logistics, and cruise and ferry industries.

Notable practitioners

Madeline Leong in Hong Kong and Andrew Nimmo in Singapore are key points of contact for the firm's regional practice.

Work Highlights

Provided by Watson Farley & Williams

  • Watson Farley & Williams advised PB Vessels Holding Ltd a on a USD150 million three-year unsecured revolving credit facility extended by a syndicate of international banks led by BNP Paribas and Citigroup Global Markets Asia Limited as joint coordinating mandated lead arrangers and bookrunners.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

They have been very responsive and their service is top-notch, including instances where we had to get hold of them without notice on public holidays and even past working hours.

Shipping: Finance respondent
Asia-Pacific

Their strengths lie in their extensive experience in ship finance and quick responses. They are always available 24/7 to assist with urgent matters. 

Shipping: Finance respondent
Asia-Pacific

Members

Provided by Watson Farley & Williams

Clients

Provided by Watson Farley & Williams

ABN AMRO

ANZ

BNP Paribas

BW Maritime Pte Ltd

Bank of America

Berge Bulk Ltd

CMB Leasing

China Merchants Bank

Credit Suisse

Crédit Industriel et Commercial

DVB Bank SE

Export Import Bank of China Ltd

Golar LNG Limited

Greathorse Chemical Limited

ICBC Financial Leasing Co. Ltd

ING Bank N.V.

Korea Development Bank

Mizuho Bank Ltd

Nord LB

Standard Chartered Bank

Woori Bank

Industries

Provided by Watson Farley & Williams

Banks

Energy

Financial Services

Mining & Metals

Transportation

Utilities