Transportation: Shipping: Finance
Europe Guide 2024 : France
Band 1
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
+33 156 88 21 21About
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.
Chambers Review
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.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"They know the shipping business very well, they understand the nuances of the market and they are pretty effective. The Watson Farley team is top-class for shipping finance in Europe."
"They give pertinent answers and have great availability."
"They know the shipping business very well, they understand the nuances of the market and they are pretty effective. The Watson Farley team is top-class for shipping finance in Europe."
"They give pertinent answers and have great availability."
Notable Practitioners
Alexia Russell leverages her experience across the asset finance field to assist financial institutions and leasing companies in the financing and the sale and leaseback of vessels and aircraft.
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.
Philippe Monfort routinely acts for financial institutions and employs his skill to advise on the financing of a range of vessels, including LNG carriers and superyachts.
"Philippe Monfort is very knowledgeable, knows us in detail and is always trying to improve our business and position. He is balanced and can think commercially, which is very important for us."
"Philippe has assisted with complex leasing structures, with an extremely high level of competence and strong expertise in the transportation sector."
"He is solution-oriented and has good relationships with everyone."
Ranked Lawyers at
Watson Farley & Williams
France
Industries
Provided by Watson Farley & Williams
Aviation
Maritime