Madeline Leong > Watson Farley & Williams > Hong Kong, Hong Kong > Lawyer Profile

Watson Farley & Williams‘ ‘clients are deeply impressed by the professionalism and efficiency of the firm’s team members‘. The finance practice predominantly focuses on the firm’s specialist sectors, namely maritime, transport, natural resources and energy. Working from both Hong Kong and Singapore, Madeline Leong heads the firm’s Asia assets and structured finance group.

Underpinned by a network of offices in the key shipping hubs, Watson Farley & Williams‘s Hong Kong office has a wide-ranging shipping practice, acting for many international and Chinese banks, leasing houses, export credit agencies, insurance companies, and investment funds. The group is jointly headed by Christoforos Bisbikos, cross-border shipping finance deals specialist and Marcus Gordon, an experienced litigator and arbitrator. Other key names include Madeline Leong, who has particular experience in the transportation, natural resources, and energy sectors, and Guan Jian, a specialist in financing transactions across the maritime and energy sectors.

Praised for its ‘world-class reputation’, Watson Farley & Williams acts for creditor, debtor, and investor clients in leasing and finance transactions across a diverse range of transportation assets. Splitting her time between Hong Kong and Singapore, Madeline Leong leads the team and serves as a go-to debt restructuring adviser for a roster of leading banks, leasing companies, and other financial institutions, particularly within the transportation, natural resources, and energy sectors. Christoforos Bisbikos, who acts for Chinese lessors, is commended for his ‘deep knowledge of the market and commercial mindset’. Other notable figures in the team include Guan Jian, who frequently advises major banks, financial institutions, and leasing companies, covering a wide spectrum of financing matters within the shipping sector. Assisting the team is counsel Valerie Lee, who specialises in handling financings involving prominent export credit agencies in Asia. Jackson Chow maintains a strong presence in the aviation market, frequently representing various multinational finance and leasing deals.

Watson Farley & Williams LLP fields a ‘highly specialised’ shipping practice, with particular expertise in restructurings involving shipping companies, and shipping disputes. The practice is co-headed by Ricky Kim, who oversees the assets and structured finance side, and Philip Do Youn Kim who is in charge of dispute resolution. The team also includes Madeline Leong, who is highly knowledgeable in finance matters relating to the maritime sector, and Christoforos Bisbikos, another ship finance specialist with experience in  a wide range of shipping projects, such as acquisitions of fleets and joint ventures in the maritime space.