Underpinned by a network of offices in the key shipping hubs, Watson Farley & Williams's Hong Kong office has a wide-ranging shipping practice, acting for many international and Chinese banks, leasing houses, export credit agencies, insurance companies, and investment funds. The group is jointly headed by Christoforos Bisbikos, cross-border shipping finance deals specialist and Marcus Gordon, an experienced litigator and arbitrator. Other key names include Madeline Leong, who has particular experience in the transportation, natural resources, and energy sectors, and Guan Jian, a specialist in financing transactions across the maritime and energy sectors.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Key clients
- CMB Financial Leasing
- Minsheng Financial Leasing
- ICBC Financial Leasing
- China Merchants Commerce Financial Leasing Co., Ltd
- SPDB Financial Leasing Co Ltd
- China Huarong Shipping Financial Leasing Co., Ltd
- Jiangsu Financial Leasing
- CSSC (Hong Kong) Shipping Company Limited
- AVIC International Leasing Co Ltd
- CCB Financial Leasing Corporation Limited
- 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 new building 7000CEU dual-fuel Pure Car and Truck Carriers, three new building 8600 CEU dual fuel PCTCs, and four 7200DWT General Cargo Carriers.
- Advised ENN LNG (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. on its international tender for the construction and long-term chartering of six 174,000-cbm LNG carriers, where the LNGCs will be constructed in Hudong Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) Co. Ltd. in China for two consortiums of international LNGC operators and chartered to ENN upon the LNGCs' delivery.
Lawyers
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Christoforos Bisbikos, Marcus Gordon