Department profile
Watson Farley & Williams

Transportation: Aviation: Finance

France Guide 2026 : France

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Watson Farley & Williams

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About

Provided by Watson Farley & Williams

WFW has one of the largest dedicated ship and aircraft finance teams worldwide, offering a wide range of services to clients in this sector.


WFW’s increasingly well-established reputation in shipping finance and aviation finance in the French market regularly secures high-level instructions from industry key players on complex cross-border deals. Given the depth of our expertise at all stages of a transaction, our team has also been instructed on a large number of restructurings, work-outs and enforcements.

Our lawyers also have unrivalled experience in advising a broad range of shipowners, operators, and aircraft manufacturers, export credit agencies, arrangers, lessors and banking clients on a range of both English and French law transactions from the Paris office.

The quality of our team and practice is also underlined by WFW’s presence on the panels of leading financial institutions and ECAs.

Industries (2)

  • Aviation
  • Maritime

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Transportation: Aviation: Finance - France

Band 2

What the Team is Known For

Watson Farley & Williams has an impressive asset finance practice, offering capabilities in both shipping and aviation matters. The department acts for various lenders on a large number of restructurings, tax leases and debt refinancings. It acts for a solid client base of high-profile French and international banks, in addition to export credit agencies and shipping companies.

À propos de l’équipe

Watson Farley & Williams a une pratique impressionnante en matière de financement d’actifs, offrant des compétences en matière de transport maritime et d’aviation. Le département agit pour le compte de divers prêteurs dans le cadre d’un grand nombre de restructurations, de contrats de location fiscale et de refinancements de dettes. Elle agit pour le compte d’une solide clientèle de banques françaises et internationales de premier plan, ainsi que d’organismes de crédit export et de compagnies maritimes.

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Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • Watson Farley & Williams assisted RIVE Private Investment with the USD50 million refinancing of a portfolio of turboprop engines and auxiliary power units.

  • Watson Farley & Williams a accompagné RIVE Private Investment dans le cadre du refinancement, pour un montant de USD50 millions, d'un portefeuille de turbopropulseurs et de groupes auxiliaires de puissance.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Watson Farley & Williams' international presence and number of touchpoints are extremely useful to most international transactions spanning many jurisdictions.

    Transportation: Aviation: Finance respondentFrance

  • Watson Farley & Williams goes beyond legal expertise and acts as a strategic business partner thanks to its unique sector knowledge.

    Transportation: Aviation: Finance respondentFrance

  • The quality of Watson Farley & Williams' advice and support during negotiations is excellent.

    Transportation: Aviation: Finance respondentFrance

  • Watson Farley & Williams is client-focused, produces accurate work under pressure and consistently meets ambitious deadlines.

    Transportation: Aviation: Finance respondentFrance

  • Watson Farley & Williams stands out for its strong sector expertise in the field of aviation, particularly in the financing of complex and cross-border assets.

    Transportation: Aviation: Finance respondentFrance

  • Watson Farley & Williams est orienté client, produit un travail précis sous pression et respecte systématiquement des délais ambitieux.

    Transportation: Aviation: Finance respondentFrance

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Alexia Russell
    Alexia Russell

    Alexia Russell

    Alexia Russell leverages her experience across the asset finance field to assist financial institutions and leasing companies with the financing and the sale and leaseback of vessels and aircraft.

    Alexia Russell tire parti de son expérience dans le domaine du financement d’actifs pour aider les institutions financières et les sociétés de crédit-bail dans le financement et la cession-bail de navires et d’avions.

    • Alexia Russell provides top-notch delivery.

      Transportation: Aviation: Finance respondentFrance

    • Alexia stands out for her perfect understanding of our sector and the specific mechanisms of aircraft leasing, her sense of anticipation and her ability to propose concrete and balanced solutions.

      Transportation: Aviation: Finance respondentFrance

    • I find Alexia Russell to be part of the solution, even when the solution is not obvious to all stakeholders, as she's not afraid to readjust priorities.

      Transportation: Aviation: Finance respondentFrance

    • Alexia Russell is very solution-focused, totally across all elements of the clients' needs and a trusted adviser.

      Transportation: Aviation: Finance respondentFrance

    • Alexa Russell is a trusted, proactive and committed partner who brings real added value far beyond the traditional legal scope.

      Transportation: Aviation: Finance respondentFrance

    • Je trouve qu'Alexia Russell fait partie de la solution, même lorsque celle-ci n'est pas évidente pour toutes les parties prenantes, car elle n'a pas peur de réajuster les priorités.

      Transportation: Aviation: Finance respondentFrance
    • Alexia se distingue par sa parfaite compréhension de notre secteur et des mécanismes spécifiques du leasing d'aéronefs, son sens de l'anticipation et sa capacité à proposer des solutions concrètes et équilibrées.
      Transportation: Aviation: Finance respondentFrance

    • Alexia Russell est très orientée solutions, maîtrise parfaitement l’ensemble des besoins des clients et constitue un conseil de confiance.

      Transportation: Aviation: Finance respondentFrance

    • Alexa Russell est une associée fiable, proactive et engagée qui apporte une réelle valeur ajoutée bien au-delà du cadre juridique traditionnel.

      Transportation: Aviation: Finance respondentFrance

    • Alexia Russell assure une prestation de premier ordre.

      Transportation: Aviation: Finance respondentFrance
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  • Philippe Monfort
    Philippe Monfort

    Philippe Monfort

    Philippe Monfort routinely acts for financial institutions and employs his skill to advise on the financing of a range of vessels and aircraft, including LNG carriers and superyachts.

    Philippe Monfort intervient régulièrement pour le compte d’institutions financières et tire parti de ses compétences dans le financement d’une gamme de navires, notamment des méthaniers et des superyachts.

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  • Laurence Martinez-Bellet
    Laurence Martinez-Bellet

    Laurence Martinez-Bellet

    Laurence Martinez-Bellet has substantial experience in handling ship financing and restructuring mandates on behalf of financial institutions. She is adept at handling cross-border matters.

    Laurence Martinez-Bellet dispose d’une solide expérience dans la gestion de mandats de financement et de restructuration de navires pour le compte d’institutions financières. Elle est experte dans la gestion des dossiers cross-border.

    • Laurence Martinez-Bellet is a strategic thinker.

      Transportation: Aviation: Finance respondentFrance

    • Laurence Martinez-Bellet est une stratège chevronnée.

      Transportation: Aviation: Finance respondentFrance
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Ranked Individuals at Watson Farley & Williams (5)

France

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Provided by Watson Farley & Williams

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