Watson Farley & Williams LLP
Client SatisfactionWatson Farley & Williams LLP‘s mining practice has particular strengths in M&A, capital markets, project finance, and dispute resolution. The team is jointly headed by Singapore-based Sumeet Malhotra and London-based Jan Mellmann. Mellmann specialises in corporate finance and M&A, which includes joint ventures, corporate restructurings, and commercial agreements.
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The team at Watson Farley & Williams was excellent! Extremely knowledgeable about the mining sector, first-rate client service, and thoughtful, practical advice made them a pleasure to work with.’
‘The ability of Jan Mellmann to bridge the gap between UK legal requirements and mining industry realities makes him a first-class adviser.'
'Daisy East is extremely knowledgeable about the "ins and outs" of natural resource financing and is able to frame any issues in a constructive way.’
‘Good appreciation of the mine-to-market commodity flow and what makes a commercial mining outfit. Their understanding of the commodity price build-up is hugely helpful when grappling with complex issues in tricky jurisdictions.’
‘They are readily available to debate and discuss issues in a way that makes one feel as if you have a true partner vested in outcomes, rather than only a legal service provider executing on a mandate.’
‘Pragmatic, commercial, and solutions focused.'
‘Jan Mellmann is hugely experienced and leads a strong team.’
'The team has demonstrated a strong commitment to delivering a significant project, showcasing extensive knowledge in mining and infrastructure projects. They have demonstrated their ability to quickly adapt to changes and handle the pressures associated.'
Key clients
- The Republic of Guinea
- San Cristobal Mining Inc.
- Chaarat Gold Holdings Limited
- ECAM LP
- Celsius Resources Limited
- Ascent Resources Plc
- Strandline Resources Limited
Work highlights
- Advising the Republic of Guinea on the development, financing and corporate aspects of the US$15bn Simandou project. The project involves the exploitation of four world-class iron ore blocks in the southern region of Guinea.
- Advising Vancouver-based San Cristobal Mining Inc. on the financing for the acquisition of the San Cristobal mine in Bolivia from Sumitomo Corporation.
- Advising Strandline Resources Limited on the UK aspects of its debt restructuring discussions with the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility, National Australia Bank and Nordic Bondholders.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Jan Mellmann, Sumeet Malhotra