Under the expert leadership of market-leading rail finance lawyer Tom Johnson, Freeths LLP has successfully built out its offering in the space since his arrival in 2022. Clients including manufacturers, rolling stock lessors and train operating companies are appreciative of the team's ability to provide a one-stop-shop approach, through leveraging the firm's existing multi-disciplinary offering in the transport sector. The 'responsive, reliable and trustworthy' Johnson 'knows the rail industry inside out', ensuring that he is regularly top of the list for clients seeking advice on major rolling stock finance/procurement transactions, inter alia. Bristol-based Michael Bray heads up the overarching multi-disciplinary transport team and specialises in handling real estate work in the sector.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Freeths have shown a capability to provide legal support of the highest standard on projects and bring in specialists when required and often at short notice from within the Freeths team.'
- ‘Tom Johnson has many years of sound finance and leasing expertise.'
- 'Tom Johnson's knowledge and experience and ability to advise and support as part of a negotiating team has made him invaluable on a number of rail financing deals. He continues to be our go-to legal support on rail financing transactions.'
- 'Tom Johnson knows the railway industry inside out and is responsive, reliable and trustworthy.'
Key clients
- Porterbrook
- GB Railfreight
- Hitachi Rail Limited
- Stadler Rail
- Walsall Council
- Travis Perkins Group Plc
- Grant Thornton as administrators for Vivarail Limited
Work highlights
- Advising GB Railfreight in relation to the leasing of certain locomotives from A Locomotive Pool Structure 3 Ltd., a subsidiary of Akiem S.A.
- Advising Porterbrook in relation to the €500m financing, leasing and maintenance of a fleet of ten new rail tri-mode rolling stock assets to be manufactured by Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles S.A, financed by Porterbrook and leased to London North Eastern Railway Ltd.
- Advising Hitachi Rail on multiple updates to the contracts which relate to the £6bn InterCity Express Programme (IEP) – the largest rolling stock procurement ever undertaken in the UK – including in relation to design changes, alterations to routes and technological updates.
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.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Tom Johnson, Michael Bray