East Asia - Hong Kong

Watson Farley & Williams

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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.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Strong legal advice but always commercially orientated. Fast response and reliable time schedules.’

  • ‘Christoforos Bisbikos is an excellent legal expert with deep knowledge of the market and a commercial mindset.’

  • ‘In recent years, the law firm has strengthened its asset financing team, providing Asian clients with more diverse and comprehensive office coverage options.'

  • ‘Jackson Chow has very rich experience and years of practice in the industry.'

  • ‘WFW boasts the largest asset finance practice of any law firm internationally, with asset finance specialists and English law capabilities. WFW's aviation team is at the forefront of the industry and has a world-class reputation and comprises leading lawyers. They can advise on many of the industry's high-profile transactions.’

  • ‘Jackson Chow has extensive experience in dealing with PRC-related aircraft leasing and financing deals.’

  • ‘The team has extensive experience in aviation financing and is good at dealing with more complex and difficult projects and arrangements.'

  • 'Jackson Chow can accurately understand the concerns of both parties in business negotiations and propose practical solutions, which greatly improves the efficiency of contract negotiations.'

Key clients

  • Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation
  • Bank of Communications Financial Leasing
  • CALC
  • CCB Financial Leasing
  • CDB Aviation Lease Finance DAC
  • CMB Financial Leasing
  • The Export Import Bank of China
  • ICBC Financial Leasing
  • Greater Bay Airlines
  • Bank of America, N.A.
  • Minsheng Financial Leasing Co., Ltd
  • CITIC Financial Leasing Co., Ltd

Work highlights

  • Advised SPDB Financial Leasing Co., Ltd. on two sale and leaseback transactions involving the acquisition from, and bareboat charter back to Ciner Shipping group of eight bulk carriers.
  • Advised CITIC Financial Leasing Co., Ltd. on US$700m+ operating lease for three newbuilding 7000CEU dual fuel Pure Car and Truck Carriers, three newbuilding 8600 CEU dual fuel PCTCs and four 7200DWT General Cargo Carriers.
  • Advised CMB Financial Leasing (Ireland) Limited in relation to a combined Lessor supported predelivery payment financing and sale and leaseback transaction of seven (7) Airbus A320 family aircraft involving Volaris Airlines.

Lawyers

Hall of Fame

The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.

Madeline Leong

Madeline Leong

Hall of fameWatson Farley & Williams LLP

Madeline Leong joined Watson Farley & Williams in 2004 as a consultant and became a partner in 2005 in the firm's international Finance Group. Madeline has over 25 years’ experience practising law on an international basis. Her practice focuses on asset finance, project finance, leasing structures, ECA financings, structured finance, debt restructuring and work-outs. She has acted for most of the leading banks, leasing companies, other financial institutions and major sponsors, contractors, transportation, logistics and shipping companies/operators, and has particular experience in the transportation, natural resources and energy sectors. Recognised by Asia Pacific Legal 500 as possessing “mastery of the subject” of asset finance, a “star” who is “responsive, precise and knowledgeable” in banking and finance and an “intelligent, practical advisor" in the area of debt restructuring and insolvency.Madeline is head of the WFW Hong Kong office and has worked in Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore. She has considerable experience in Hong Kong, PRC and Korean transactions. She qualified as a solicitor of Western Australia (1989), in Hong Kong (1992) and in England and Wales (1992). Madeline is a regular speaker at maritime and finance international conferences and speaks fluent English, Cantonese and Mandarin.

Rising stars: Shipping Finance

Leading individuals: Aviation Finance

Leading individuals: Shipping Finance

Christoforos Bisbikos

Christoforos Bisbikos

Watson Farley & Williams LLP

Christoforos focusses on all types of cross-border asset and project financings (in particular ship lease and debt, including ECA, financings), loan restructurings, work-outs and enforcement. His clients include leading international banks in the shipping sector, Chinese financial leasing companies and top league shipping groups. Christoforos has a wealth of experience advising on finance deals involving Asia and the West and has led in high profile, award-winning and landscape changing ship finance transactions. He is recommended as a leading lawyer in Hong Kong for shipping finance by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific. Legal 500 most recently described him as “excellent”. He is registered as a Foreign Legal Consultant (England & Wales) with the HK law society.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Madeline Leong, Jackson Chow

Other key lawyers

Christoforos Bisbikos, Guan Jian, Valerie Lee