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Watson Farley & Williams LLP

Client Satisfaction
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Watson Farley & Williams LLP is a solid choice for clients looking to modernise their fleets, acting for lessors and asset managers on the acquisition of high-tech aircraft, while also advising corporations in the sector on M&A activity. Practice head Jim Bell specialises in structured and asset finance deals, including PDP finance, portfolio transfers and more. ‘Very effective litigator’ Tim Murray acts for airlines, lessors and airports in disputes concerning aircraft and engine leasing disputes and issues centred on lessee obligations.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'Tim Murray is a very effective litigator. He's gentle, pragmatic, but absolutely uncompromising when needs be.'
  • 'All of the team are very responsive to the requests raised and make an effort to understand the requirements and transfer them into any documents. Advice is given based on facts and experience and properly explained. The support for the aviation sector is great.'
  • 'The aviation team from Watson Farley has an extraordinarily broad experience in all cross-border aircraft financing and leasing topics. They are able to apply their profound knowledge perfectly in line with the economic needs of an airline and provide perfect, fast and reliable advice on complex transactions.'
  • 'Tim Murray has been an exceptional person to work with. He is very articulate, reasoned and considered. He understands the issues and practical considerations of other jurisdictions and manages the client accordingly. He is very prompt, responsive and easy to speak to.'

Key clients

  • Air Seychelles
  • Ryanair
  • Apollo Global Management
  • Avolon
  • JP Morgan Asset Management
  • NordLB
  • Minsheng Financial Leasing
  • AerSale
  • Ultimate Aviation Group
  • Aviation Working Group

Work highlights

  • Advised Ultimate Aviation Group on its acquisition of Offshore Helicopter Services UK from CHC Helicopter Group.
  • Advised RMI and a group of global banks on the development of a climate-aligned finance framework to support decarbonisation in the aviation sector.
  • Advised the Aviation Working Group on all of its principal projects.

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.

Jim Bell

Other key lawyers

Tim Murray, Simon Jennings, Liam Clozier