Watson Farley & Williams LLP
Watson Farley & Williams LLP is a well-known name in the field of asset finance among leading banking institutions. Leveraging its international platform and with in-house French and UK law capabilities, the Paris team often advises on high-end shipping finance deals while also handling project finance, export credit, trade and commodity finance in relation to Africa and the French renewables energy sector (including the construction of new battery storage facilities). The group's workload also includes advising on acquisition finance. The experienced Laurence Martinez-Bellet heads the practice, which also includes Alexia Russell, Philippe Wolanski and Rachel Campbell.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The team is very involved in files, available and very commercial.’
‘Philippe Wolanski is available and easy to deal with. A great professional on trust issues.’
Key clients
- BNP Paribas
- Bpifrance
- Crédit Agricole
- Société Générale
- Group BPCE/Natixis
- La Banque Postale
- HSBC
- SACE
- Amundi
- Banque Populaire
- Amarenco Group
- Eolmed
- Ocean Winds
Work highlights
- Advising HSBC on US$300m Push Facility with SACE for Nogaholding.
- Advising Société Générale on the financing and delivery of the 174,000 cbm Class LNG vessel “Lech Kaczyński” built and completed in December 2022 by Hyundai Heavy Industry Co., Ltd., South Korea.
- Advising a group of lessors, together owning approximately 30 aircraft and/or aircraft engines in Lion Air’s fleet, regarding safeguard and receivership proceedings initiated before the French courts relating to the French subsidiaries of Indonesian airline group Lion Air.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Laurence Martinez-Bellet