Watson Farley & Williams LLP focuses on transactions and financing and advises shipowners, lenders and cruise operators on ship and container financing and leasing structures as well as shipbuilding contracts. A key contact here is practice head Christian Finnern, who assists with shipbuilding and sales as well as matters pertaining to flag flying and the registration of ships; he also supports insolvency proceedings in the maritime sector. The financing expert Clemens Hillmer is well versed in leasing contracts and restructuring.
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Long-term, excellent client support at the highest level.'
- 'Very easy to contact, quick response times, consistently good quality.'
- 'Clemens Hillmer is a very pleasant personality who usually comes up with very pragmatic ideas.'
- 'WFW offers excellent knowledge and many years of experience in the area of financing. Due to its positioning as a globally represented law firm and its many years of experience, the law firm is often able to offer quick, one-stop solutions in international cases.'
- 'Clemens Hillmer is characterized by high flexibility and competence. He finds practical solutions even in difficult situations and negotiations.'
- 'Very experienced team.'
Key clients
- MPC Capital Group
- MPC Container Ships ASA
- Hurtigruten Group
- TUI Cruises
- HCOB
- HSH Portfoliomanagement AöR
- Berenberg Bank
- Eurazeo Investment Manager – EIM
Work highlights
- Advising MPC Capital Group on the contract to build four ultra-modern, environmentally friendly 5,500 TEU container ships awarded to the South Korean shipyard HJ Shipbuilding and Construction.
- Advising HSH portfoliomanagement AöR on the due diligence relating to the sale of some ships, which are part of the client's remaining ship loan portfolio, to a bidding consortium consisting of Bank of America and Davidson Kempner Capital Management LP.
- Advised Hamburg Commercial Bank on a new $180 million banking facility provided to an intermediary holding company by MPC Container Ships ASA.
Lawyers
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Christian Finnern