Europe - France

Watson Farley & Williams LLP

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With a strong presence in major ship finance hubs, the Paris-based global shipping practice at Watson Farley & Williams LLP maintains its leading position in the field. The practice advises owners, operators, and major financial institutions on a wide range of complex, high-value, multijurisdictional ship finance transactions. Co-heading the team are Alexia Russell, a specialist in asset finance, leasing, and project finance; and Laurence Martinez-Bellet, an expert in cross-border transactions, as well as ECA and DFI-backed transactions involving JVs and debt or equity investment funds. The practice also benefits from the expertise of Philippe Monfort, who focuses on transport asset finance, and Isabella Roberts, a maritime specialist with extensive experience in multi-jurisdictional finance transactions, earning her the reputation as a ‘golden bridge across cultures’.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'WFW Paris is the place to go in the European market for shipping finance deals.'
  • 'Alexia Russell and Isabella Roberts are rising stars: not just skilled English solicitors but also golden bridges across cultures.'

Key clients

  • BNP Paribas
  • Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank
  • Société Générale

Work highlights

  • Advising Société Générale on the financing and delivery of LNG vessel “Lech Kaczyński” built by Hyundai Heavy Industry Co., Ltd and bareboat chartered to an affiliate of Knutsen.
  • Advising Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank on a multi-tranche term loan syndicated facility made available to the FINAV Holding Group to finance young eco or super-eco MR product tankers.

Lawyers

Leading individuals

Alexia Russell

Alexia Russell

Watson Farley & Williams LLP

Alexia specialises in asset finance, leasing and project finance, where she acts primarily for banks and other financial institutions, equity investors, export credit agencies, and other lenders and lessors. Her asset finance and leasing practice focusses on transactions in the shipping, aviation and rail sectors, while in the project finance sphere she has developed strong expertise in the energy sector, especially as relating to renewables. Alexia has extensive experience in structuring, documenting and negotiating acquisitions, financing and leasing transactions and has been involved in numerous complex restructurings in the last few years. She has also developed a strong track record advising on ECA-backed financings.

Next Generation Partners

Philippe Monfort

Philippe Monfort

Watson Farley & Williams LLP

Philippe specialises in banking and finance law. He advises on French, English and cross-border aspects of financing transactions: corporate lending, acquisition finance, tax lease transactions (including in favour of the French overseas territories) and structured finance, with a particular focus on asset finance (aviation, shipping, rail and infrastructure). Philippe is a dually qualified: he is admitted as avocat to the Paris Bar and as solicitor in England and Wales.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Alexia Russell, Laurence Martinez-Bellet

Other key lawyers

Philippe Monfort, Isabella Roberts