The Legal 500

Norton Rose (Asia) LLP’s five-partner team advises on aviation, shipping and offshore finance. Gervais Green advised DVB Group Merchant Bank (Asia) on a $420m export credit supported loan facility to OSX 1 Leasing. Ben Rose assisted Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation with the $137m secured limited recourse project financing of the FSO Orkid. Aviation finance specialist Leigh Borello advised Standard Chartered Bank on the pre-delivery payment financing of 25 aircraft to Tiger Airways. Robert Driver was promoted to partner.

Paul Ng leads Stephenson Harwood’s global aviation practice, which advised Standard Chartered Bank/Pembroke Capital on its $200m leasing/operating deal with Malaysian Airlines. ‘Solid business partner’ Gregg Johnston advised Nordea Bank Finland following Korea Line Corporation’s bankruptcy. Ship finance head Martin Green, whose ‘practical solutions facilitate commercial agreement’ advised ABN AMRO and DnB NOR on a rare syndicated deal involving combined $640m facilities to a Korean owner for 20 vessels for a long-term COA charter. Iain Young represents banks buying ships. Asheesh Das relocated to London.

Chris Lowe leads Watson, Farley & Williams LLP’s ‘highly talented, diligent and hardworking’ ship finance practice. Goh Mei Lin advised a syndicate of international lenders, led by BNP Paribas, on a $159m post-delivery refinancing facility to J Lauritzen. Madeline Leong advised ING and DBS on the $200m sale and leaseback of containers. Mehraab Nazir and recently promoted partner Andrew Nimmo are recommended.

The ‘experienced, friendly and open-minded’ Jason Humphreys at Allen & Overy advises financiers and lessors. Clients recommend banking partner Kayal Sachi and Gautam Narasimhan, who joined from Latham & Watkins LLP

Allens Arthur Robinson TSMP’s team is supported by the firm’s regional strength, advising on complex, highly structured cross-border deals. Rod Howell, who is recommended for ‘resolving potentially explosive issues in a calm and collected manner’, assisted ANZ with a $600m asset leasing.

Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP recruited practice head and ship finance specialist Alistair Duffield and his five-strong team from Holman Fenwick Willan LLP. Tom Budgett, who divides his time between London and Singapore, David Brotherton and Davinia Brotherton focus on aviation financing. Highlights included advising ICBC Financial Leasing on the sale, purchase and leasing of eight aircraft for China Southern, Shanghai Airlines, Hainan Airlines and Air Berlin.

‘Stand-out lawyer’ Simon Briscoe and his team at Clifford Chance, supported by the firm’s strong regional capability, represent banks and airlines, notably advising BNP Paribas on the ECA financing of 16 aircraft for Air Asia, in 2010’s largest ECA financing in Asia.

Holman Fenwick Willan LLP lost Alistair Duffield and his team to Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP. ‘Resourceful, pragmatic’ partners Tan Lian Yok and James Donoghue advised Rickmers Trust Management on a $64m settlement and convertible loan agreement.

The ‘helpful, responsive’ Martin Brown at Ince & Co advised on leading ship and offshore finance deals, assisting Axis Bank with a $78.5m facility agreement. Amanda Darling joined from Norton Rose in London.

White & Case LLP recruited Niel Liebenberg from Hogan Lovells Lee & Lee. Sebastian Buss acted for BNP Paribas on the commercial loan financing of two aircraft for lease to Japan Airlines. Other clients include CDB and HSH Nordbank

Wikborg Rein represents Scandinavian shipowners in Asia and advises on the financing of offshore energy industry support vessels. Stephen Fordham and Chuen Yee Chee are leading names. June Ho specialises in corporate and asset financing for shipping and offshore companies.