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Watson Farley & Williams

Shipping: Finance

Asia-Pacific Guide 2026 : Asia-Pacific Region

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Watson Farley & Williams

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.

Clients (21)

  • Credit Suisse
  • DVB Bank SE
  • Bank of America
  • Nord LB
  • BW Maritime Pte Ltd
  • ABN AMRO
  • Woori Bank
  • Korea Development Bank
  • Greathorse Chemical Limited
  • Golar LNG Limited
  • ING Bank N.V.
  • BNP Paribas
  • Berge Bulk Ltd
  • Standard Chartered Bank
  • China Merchants Bank
  • ANZ
  • Export Import Bank of China Ltd
  • ICBC Financial Leasing Co. Ltd
  • CMB Leasing
  • Crédit Industriel et Commercial
  • Mizuho Bank Ltd

Industries (6)

  • Banks
  • Energy
  • Financial Services
  • Mining & Metals
  • Transportation
  • Utilities

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Shipping: Finance - Asia-Pacific Region

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 Hong Kong 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.

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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

  • Watson Farley have subject knowledge and a network of experts in their firm.

    Shipping: Finance respondentAsia-Pacific

Members

Provided by Watson Farley & Williams

  • Madeline Leong

  • Simon Petch

  • Christoforos Bisbikos

  • Andrew Nimmo

Watson Farley & Williams has rankings in the following guides

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