The addition of Conor Warde from Mayer Brown in February 2023 has significantly revitalised CMS’s shipping finance practice. Tim Elliott leads the practice, sharing the helm with Warde, who contributes his expertise in advising clients on transactional, corporate, regulatory, and policy matters within ship finance and maritime transactions. Elliott’s specialisation spans a wide array of debt and leasing transactions across various asset classes, with a particular emphasis on offshore oil and gas shipping. London-based consultant Keith Wilson handles some Asia-related aviation finance and leasing work.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘The lawyers are highly professional and experienced. They can handle different types of leasing projects, and the quality and efficiency are guaranteed.'

  • ‘Conor Warde pays attention to customer needs, pays attention to service feedback, and can establish a continuous and good partnership with customers.'

  • ‘With his rich experience in dispute handling, Tim Elliott can put forward contract proposals from the perspective of future dispute handling, which can well protect the rights and interests of the company.'

  • ‘CMS’s service is far beyond each transaction, but continuous support during the whole life of the transaction ’

  • ‘Tim Elliot is a great partner who stands out.’

  • ‘Conor Warde arrival has greatly enhanced the team's service capabilities in shipping finance.'

  • 'Kathy Wong provides timely feedback, smooth communication, concise and professional high-quality transaction documents.'

Key clients

  • Bumi Armada Berhad
  • CCB Asia
  • CCB Financial Leasing Corporation Limited
  • GasLog Limited
  • China Aircraft Leasing Group Holdings Limited
  • CMB Financial Leasing
  • CM International Financial Leasing Co., Ltd.
  • Equinor UK Limited
  • GE Energy Financial Services
  • ICBC Financial Leasing
  • Jiangsu Financial Leasing Co., Ltd
  • Jiangsu Ocean Shipping Co., Ltd
  • Minsheng Financial Leasing Co. Ltd
  • Seaspan Corp
  • Shandong Huachen Financial Leasing Co., LTD

Work highlights

  • Advised a PRC financial leasing company on the lease financing of three roll-on/roll-off vehicle and passenger ferries to be utilised in Europe.
  • Advised a shipping company on the sale of 12 vessels to the respective bareboat charterer upon its exercise of the purchase option under the respective bareboat charter.
  • Advised a private equity fund based in Asia and Europe on the financing through a combination of European and Asian banks of certain of its container vessel assets.

Lawyers

Leading partners: Shipping Finance
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.

Tim Elliott, Conor Warde, Keith Wilson

Other key lawyers

Kathy Wong, Simon Barrell