Chambers Review
Provided by Chambers
Shipping: Finance (International Firms) - China
What the Team is Known For
Watson Farley & Williams has an impressive shipping finance team, regularly handling high-value transactions for a range of leading financial institutions, leasing firms and ship owners. The firm is especially well versed in sophisticated transactions such as sale and leaseback deals, debt restructurings and syndicated loans. The firm counts prominent Chinese and global entities among its clientele and acts on a host of cross-border deals spanning Africa, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.
Strengths
The team are particularly good at understanding the commercial nature of our transactions and always deliver accurate and professional advice when facing urgent deadlines.
Watson Farley & Williams has always been the most responsive firm, irrespective of time zones and seasonal factors, which is vital for efficient deal closings.
Work Highlights
Watson Farley & Williams advised PB Vessels 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.
Notable practitioners
Madeline Leong is a market-leading lawyer who enjoys a solid reputation in the field of shipping finance. She is frequently sought out by leasing firms and international banks for cross-border mandates in relation to high-value sale and leaseback transactions, syndicated loans and JOLCOs as well as restructuring mandates.
Madeline is a good negotiator and takes care of everything. She is very experienced and she knows shipping inside out.
Madeline knows everyone in the shipping world, in Asia and abroad.
Christoforos Bisbikos is experienced in handling cross-border shipping finance mandates for lenders and lessors, especially in relation to Europe, as well as the Asia-Pacific region.
Not only does Christoforos maintain good relationships with our clients, but he also plays a good role in balancing our needs and those of our clients.
Christoforos has strong negotiation skills and business sense.
Guan Jian has a busy shipping finance practice. He is experienced in advising on operating leases for newbuild vessels as well as sale and leaseback transactions.
Jian understands the commercial nature of provisions and makes appropriate amendments to documentation to best serve our interests.
Jian has a strong sense of service and business awareness, and is very familiar with the regulations and systems involving China.
Valerie Lee assists clients with the sale and purchase of vessels and ship financing transactions. Her client roster includes Chinese banks and financial institutions.
Valerie is good at delivering professional advice on various transactions with tight deadlines.
Valerie is a real asset to any deal teams. She has excellent knowledge of shipping law fundamentals and works all hours to ensure the transaction gets done.