Shipping: Finance
Asia-Pacific Guide 2025 : Asia-Pacific Region
Band 1
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
+65 6532 5335About
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
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.
Madeline Leong in Hong Kong and Andrew Nimmo in Singapore are key points of contact for the firm's regional practice.
Work Highlights
- 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
"Their strengths lie in their extensive experience in ship finance and quick responses. They are always available 24/7 to assist with urgent matters."
"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."
"Their strengths lie in their extensive experience in ship finance and quick responses. They are always available 24/7 to assist with urgent matters."
"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."
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