Shipping: International: Finance
Asia-Pacific Guide 2025 : Singapore
Band 1
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
+65 6532 5335About
Provided by Watson Farley & Williams
WFW has a reputation in Singapore and internationally as perhaps the premier legal service provider in the maritime sector, winning “Shipping and Maritime Law Firm of the Year” at the Asia Legal Awards 2018 and winning 6 Marine Money deals of the year in 2019 including 3 in Asia. We are one of the largest team of fee earners in Singapore who practice English law in the maritime sector. The shipping finance team acts on the full range of shipping matters, from highly-structured, award-winning financing transactions recognised in the market for their complexity, to restructurings, work-outs and wet and dry shipping issues. We have particular expertise advising on JOLCOs, Chinese leasings, sale and purchases, newbuilding contracts, vessel employment, transhipment agreements, pooling agreements, transactional and advisory services, newbuild and second-hand ship financing.
We are distinguished from other shipping firms as our practice goes beyond pure maritime transport and includes expertise in related sectors such as oil and gas, LNG, container boxes, ports and logistics and cruise & ferries.
Further, the WFW team handles a range of dispute resolution matters including commodity disputes, ship arrests and maritime casualty cases. These include the investigation and subsequent handling of collision, grounding, salvage and piracy incidents and matters relating to security, jurisdiction, limitation, cargo damage, marine insurance, oil pollution and charterparty disputes.
Chambers Review
Watson Farley & Williams' expert team handles the full range of shipping finance matters in Singapore. The lawyers advise international banks and shipping companies on sale and leaseback transactions, sale and purchase agreements, restructuring and offshore transactions. The practice has particular expertise in the financing of vessels involved in the offshore oil and gas industry, including FPSOs and LNG carriers, and also has notable experience on JOLCO lending structures. The firm also offers litigation expertise.
Work Highlights
- Watson Farley & Williams advised a syndicate of seven banks on a USD315 million financing for six very large gas carriers for Petredec Global. ING Bank acted as coordinating bank, bookrunner and facility agent for the loan.
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."
"Watson Farley & Williams is very strong in solving complex matters with a mix of creative thinking as well as using precedents."
"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."
"Watson Farley & Williams is very strong in solving complex matters with a mix of creative thinking as well as using precedents."
Notable Practitioners
Andrew Nimmo is well regarded in the Singapore legal market and is experienced in handling ship finance matters for shipping companies and international banks. He also has significant expertise regarding offshore energy.
"Andy is very knowledgeable and has deep experience in shipping finance."
"I always find Andy helpful and supportive. He takes the care and trouble to listen and provides constructive replies and suggestions."
Lizzie Roe offers expertise in representing both lenders and borrowers in complex and high-value shipping financing matters.
"Lizzie has excellent technical skills and wide knowledge of the industry. She is commercially minded, understands the issues quickly and her responses are well thought out and concise."
"Lizzie is a skilled lawyer who is able to balance both legal and commercial aspects of a deal. She is hands-on and always available to discuss and provide input to a deal."
Ranked Lawyers at
Watson Farley & Williams
Singapore
Clients
Provided by Watson Farley & Williams
BW Maritime Pte Ltd
Bank of America NA
Bank of Communications Co., Ltd.
Credit Suisse
Crédit Industriel et Commercial, Singapore Branch
DVB Bank SE
Deutsche Bank AG
Dorian LNG Limited
Golar LNG Limited
HBA NAM DU Pte Ltd
Harvest Technology Pty Ltd.
ING Bank N.V
Korea Development Bank
MISC Berhad
MUFG Bank Ltd
NTT Finance Corporation
Nord LB
Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation, Limited
PetroVietnam Technical Service Corporation
Petrofac
Precious Shipping Public Company Limited
Sapura Energy Berhad
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation
Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Limited
Thome Ship Management Pte Ltd
Thoresen Shipping Singapore Pte. Ltd.
Tiger Group
U-Ming
Woori Bank
Yinson Holdings Bhd
Industries
Provided by Watson Farley & Williams
Banks
Energy
Financial Services
Transportation