Watson Farley & Williams LLP is home to a ‘dynamic team with great partner accessibility’ that is regularly engaged by banks, investors and major corporates in a host of banking and finance matters. The group is ‘able to excellently advise on a range of complex transactions in the infrastructure and energy space’. In addition to its strong credentials in the project finance space, the firm is also equipped to assist with acquisition finance, asset-backed deals, real estate-related transactions, trade finance and debt restructurings. Rodrigo Berasategui, whose notable areas of practice include the financing of energy (chiefly renewable) and infrastructure projects, spearheads the department. Project finance is also among Jose María Anarte‘s legal specialisms, while Laura Cadenas, who was promoted to the partnership in May 2023, specialises in asset finance, encompassing the financing of ships and aircraft.
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘An exceptional legal team made up of magnificent professionals who always give 100% to represent the client. Absolute disposition, extensive experience that provides added value in collaboration and work of the highest quality. ’
‘Very professional and exceptional quality of work. ’
‘Knowledge, reliability in their contracts, negotiation skills with the counterparty and knowledge of the market in general.’
‘The team works very efficiently and can excellently advise on a range of complex transactions in the infrastructure and energy space. They provide the full array of services across all disciplines from financing to corporate and have a second-to-none regulatory department. They have a client-centric approach and are always willing to go the extra mile. ’
‘Rodrigo Berasategui is very knowledgeable and good to have on one's side. He is very much available but also has a very capable team.'
‘Dynamic team with great partner accessibility.'
‘It is a team willing to work hard and with sector knowledge. They are very deal-driven.’
‘Team of great professionals.’
Key clients
- ABN AMRO and Commerzbank
- BBVA
- Opdenergy
- Bankinter
Work highlights
- Advised Banco Santander on a €1bn green loan with a European Export Credit Agency guarantee granted to Iberdrola for the financing of the acquisition of turbines for both onshore and offshore windfarm projects in Spain, Poland, Greece, Germany and the United Kingdom.
- Advised ABN AMRO and Commerzbank, as part of a syndicate of lenders including the European Investment Bank (EIB), on a €372m loan granted to Solaria for the long-term financing of a 736 MW Spanish solar PV portfolio currently under development.
- Assisted a banking syndicate led by BNP Paribas and Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, Sucursal en España in a financing granted in favour of companies of the Healthcare Activos Group for the purposes of refinancing the portfolio’s current debt and financing future acquisitions in Spain and Portugal.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Rodrigo Berasategui