HFW

The ‘very engaged and well organised’ team at HFW remains best-known for its expertise within the shipping sector, where clients, which include lenders, lessors, operators and funds, benefit from a ’pragmatic and collaborative’ approach, not only on core finance matters but also broader concerns including litigation, regulation and decarbonisation within the industry. Dual UK and Sweden-qualified partner Gudmund Bernitz has a ‘fantastic knowledge of the shipping industry’, including on matters which have a connection to Scandinavia and northern Europe. As well as handling conventional finance work, including ECA-supported deals, Bernitz has also been involved in “green” financing deals, as well as leading the the firm’s efforts more generally on sustainable shipping projects. Other key ship finance practitioners include team head Adam Shire; recently promoted partner Ian Hughes , whose work includes advice to lenders to the super yacht industry; and Katherine Noble, whose ’excellent legal knowledge and commercial understanding’ is deployed to good effect for a lender-focused client base that includes banks and ECAs. Shire also handles corporate jet transactions and is part of a growing aviation offering that is spearheaded by David Brotherton following his recent return from the firm’s Singapore office. Other key aviation finance practitioners include Barbara Pansadoro, who is well versed across a range of aircraft and engine finance transactions, and Rebecca Quayle, whose broad transactional expertise in the space includes advice on sale and leasebacks, engine operating leasing, and export credit financings.