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.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
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
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Christian Finnern