Watson Farley & Williams' banking and finance team focuses on the firm’s core industry sectors, namely infrastructure, real estate, energy (including renewables and natural resources) and transport (encompassing maritime, aviation and rail). Co-heading the group are project finance specialist Mario D’Ovidio and shipping financing expert Furio Samela.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘WFW is an extremely professional law firm, with great attention paid to the client.'

  • 'Supports the client on a range of issues while respecting the defined deadlines.’

  • ‘Extreme professionalism, availability and an excellent ability to establish a friendly relationship with the client, which is very useful in order to reduce the stress during negotiations.’

  • ‘WFW is very responsive and able to assists with matters that are difficult. They always push for good solutions.’

  • 'A strong energy team, whose expertise ranges from financing to corporate, regulatory and administrative law. They offer an excellent full legal service, which is what clients need to carry out complex projects with ease.'

  • 'They are able to establish a constructive and highly trusted relationship with clients, and clients are particularly satisfied with their project finance team, which stands out for its attentiveness, competence and availability.’

  • ‘Amelia Garavaglia and Mario D'Ovidio are very supportive and always very responsive.’

  • 'Matteo Trabacchin is an exceptional lawyer in the energy sector. Matteo is approachable, analytical and well-informed, providing efficient and innovative solutions.'

Key clients

  • Alpha Trains
  • Sunprime
  • Azimut
  • GreenGo
  • MSC Cruises
  • Nexrail

Work highlights

  • Advised Prysmian on the project finance structure for an interconnection project in the UAE.
  • Advised Alpha Trains on its raising of €548m through a combination of senior and HoldCo level-secured bank debt within its existing common terms financing platform.
  • Advised Sunprime on a €150m project finance loan, granted by a consortium of lenders to finance a portfolio of 250-plus Italian PV plants.

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.

Mario D’Ovidio, Furio Samela

Other key lawyers

Michele Autuori, Matteo Trabacchin, Amelia Garavaglia