Watson Farley & Williams LLP > Singapore, Singapore > Firm Profile
Watson Farley & Williams LLP Offices
88 Market Street #31-05 CapitaSpring
Singapore 048948
Singapore
Watson Farley & Williams LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings
Singapore > Asset finance: foreign firms Tier 2
Watson Farley & Williams LLP’s asset and structured finance team is renowned for its wide-ranging capabilities in aviation and shipping finance matters. It is prominent in a range of ESG and sustainability-linked financings. Led by Madeline Leong, the team has substantial experience in acting for leading banks, leasing companies, and other financial institutions. On the aviation side, it is experienced in financing transactions, restructuring, and the processing of JOLCO financings which Charles Viggers is particularly eminent. Lizzie Roe is recommended for financing and leasing, and Margaux Ith is noted for sustainability-linked and JOLCO financings.Practice head(s):
Madeline Leong; Charles Viggers
Other key lawyers:
Richard Williams; Andrew Nimmo; Lizzie Roe; Margaux Ith
Testimonials
‘Great breadth and strength across the geographies.’
‘Richard Williams is excellent.’
‘Great availability of Charles Viggers with strong negotiation skills. Great availability of Margaux with strong negotiation skills and profound knowledge of the industry.’
Key clients
Commerzbank AG
Maldivian Airlines
BNP Paribas
Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank
Development Bank of Japan
La Banque Postale
Avolon
Deutsche Bank
Korea Transportation Asset Management
MUFG Bank, Ltd.
UBS Bank AG
Euler Hermes
Société Générale
China Aircraft Leasing Corporation
Hamburg Commercial Bank
ING Bank
Work highlights
- Acted for CACIB, DBJ and LBP in the first ever sustainability linked ANPI supported JOLCO financing of one A350 aircraft leased to Air France.
- Advised BNP Paribas on US$1,170m JOLCOs backed by Chinese ECA SINOSURE arranged for Seaspan Corporation.
- Advised the China Aircraft Leasing Company and the lessor entities in the operating leasing of x 4 737-Max-8 aircraft to Virgin Australia Airlines.
Singapore > Restructuring and insolvency: foreign firms Tier 2
Jointly led by Madeline Leong and Charles Viggers, Watson Farley & Williams LLP’s asset and structured finance team is noted for its expertise across the transport and energy sectors, with demonstrable experience advising on restructurings arising out of the aviation and shipping industries. Viggers is global co-head of the firm's aviation practice and Leong counts banks, leasing companies and financial institutions among her key roster of clients.Practice head(s):
Madeline Leong; Charles Viggers
Work highlights
- Advised an enlarged working group of creditors on the shipping-related aspects of the debt restructuring of French shipowner Bourbon Maritime.
- Advised a Korean aircraft leasing company and two Korean banks on various aspects of the ongoing Garuda Indonesia restructuring, including all Indonesian and UK insolvency aspects, the pre-restructuring enforcement of security, potential criminal liability of Garuda and drawing down of letters of credit.
Singapore > Shipping: foreign firms Tier 2
Watson Farley & Williams LLP‘s group has a particular focus on transactional, financing, litigious and corporate shipping matters. The team acts on the full spectrum of financings, including JOLCO, asset finance, and sustainability backed loan-related matters. Its transactional work includes restructurings and acquisitions. The team’s client base consists of several major financial institutions, banks, and shipping companies. Hong Kong-based maritime finance specialist Madeline Leong, Bangkok-based Steven Burkill and international disputes expert Sumeet Malhotra all oversee the practice. Andrew Nimmo is experienced in offshore oil and gas matters, and Lizzie Roe is worthy of note also.Practice head(s):
Madeline Leong; Steve Burkill; Sumeet Malhotra
Other key lawyers:
Andrew Nimmo; Lizzie Roe; Andy Wilson
Testimonials
‘Lizzie Roe and Andy Wilson are extremely proactive and use previous experiences with our own and other ING teams to find satisfying compromises.’
‘WFW has an established reputation for its strength in the shipping sector, its representation of its client’s interests, delivery of innovative transaction structuring and its advisory and engagement work regarding communication of market developments.’
‘Madeline Leong always provides the highest level of client representation, her advisory, structuring and negotiations of shipping-related issues and banking/finance are the best in class and she sets the benchmark and standard for achieving the most beneficial outcome for her clients.’
‘Madeline Leong has secured WFW as the principal and preferred legal firm for our company.’
Key clients
ING Bank N.V., Singapore Branch
Credit Agricole Asia Shipfinance Limited
Standard Chartered Bank
Oversea- Chinese Banking Corporation Ltd
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation
Berge Bulk
BW Group
BNP Paribas
Armada 98/2 Pte. Ltd.
Oka Tanker Pte Ltd
Work highlights
- Advised BNP Paribas on US$1,170m JOLCOs backed by Chinese ECA SINOSURE arranged for Seaspan Corporation.
- Advised ING Bank N.V. as agent and security agent and ING Bank N.V., Tokyo Branch as bank and mandated lead arranger on a US$127m sustainability-linked JOLCO.
- Advised Armada 98/2 Pte. Ltd., a joint venture between Shapoorji Pallonji and Bumi Armada, on the project documents and financing for the conversion, refurbishment, delivery and chartering of an FPSO for the KG 98/2 FPSO project offshore India.
Singapore > Banking and finance: foreign firms Tier 4
Watson Farley & Williams LLP has built out its wide-ranging banking and finance practice from its foundations in asset finance. The Singapore office has deep expertise in maritime, transport, natural resources, and energy. It has close links to major banks, export credit agencies (ECAs), private equity sponsors, funds and intermediaries. Madeline Leong is hugely experienced.Practice head(s):
Madeline Leong
Other key lawyers:
Richard Williams
Testimonials
‘Good geographic coverage, and strong across the board in terms of aviation and banking. ’
‘Richard Williams, newly made up partner is excellent. Calm, measured and client focussed. Knowledgeable and pragmatic. ’
‘WFW has an established reputation for its strength in tht banking and finance sector, its representation of its client’s interests, innovative transaction structuring and advisory and engagement with communication of market developments.’
‘Madeline Leong always provides the highest level of client representation, her advisory, structuring, and negotiations of finance facilities are the best in class and she sets the benchmark and standard for achieving the most beneficial outcome for her clients. Madeline Leong has secured WFW as the principal and preferred legal firm for our company.’
‘Quick response always in a timely manner.’
‘Always supportive especially in finding out practical solutions in negotiation with our clients.’
Key clients
ING Bank
Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank
Standard Chartered Bank
Oversea- Chinese Banking Corporation
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation
BNP Paribas
Hamburg Commercial Bank
Citibank
National Australia Bank Limited
Credit Suisse
Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank
China Aircraft Leasing Group Holdings
Euler Hermes
Development Bank of Japan
Work highlights
- Advised the lenders on the first ever sustainability linked ANPI supported JOLCO financing of one A350 aircraft leased to Air France.
- Advised BNP Paribas on $1.17bn JOLCOs backed by Chinese ECA SINOSURE arranged for Seaspan Corporation.
- Advised China Aircraft Leasing Company and the lessor entities in the operating leasing of four 737-Max-8 aircraft to Virgin Australia Airlines.
Singapore > Energy: foreign firms Tier 4
Watson Farley & Williams LLP has broad expertise in renewables, upstream M&A, LNG and energy transition. Kunal Kapoor is an established figure in offtake prepayment financings, particularly for traders, having joined the firm from Dentons Rodyk in January 2023, though his background extends to renewables and energy transition matters. Corporate partner Damian Adams is another key member of the team.Practice head(s):
Kunal Kapoor
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Tec Resources Limited
Coro Energy plc
Sapura Energy Berhad
Golar LNG Group
Freepoint Commodities
Pavilion Energy
Macquarie
Anglo American
Rio Tinto
Equinor
Work highlights
- Acting for SUSI Group in respect of its establishment of a joint venture with the group of Entoria Energy Group Pte. Ltd. in developing rooftop solar photovoltaic projects in Southeast Asia.
South Korea > Shipping: foreign firms
Watson Farley & Williams LLP fields a ‘highly specialised’ shipping practice, with particular expertise in restructurings involving shipping companies, and shipping disputes. The practice is co-headed by Ricky Kim, who oversees the assets and structured finance side, and Philip Do Youn Kim who is in charge of dispute resolution. The team also includes Madeline Leong
, who is highly knowledgeable in finance matters relating to the maritime sector, and Christoforos Bisbikos, another ship finance specialist with experience in a wide range of shipping projects, such as acquisitions of fleets and joint ventures in the maritime space. Practice head(s):
Ricky Kim; Philip Do Youn Kim
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Watson Farley & Williams LLP has a strong presence in shipping finance in multiple maritime centers in Asia, such as Singapore, Hong Kong, and Seoul. The people are all more experienced than other firms and highly specialised, which leads to high efficiency in deal executions and in general communication with industry players.’
‘Madeline Leong, Christoforos Bisbikos and Ricky Kim are all outstanding lawyers with many years experience in shipping. They are great listeners, have wide networks on both the finance and client side, and are very responsive in addressing queries or comments.’
Key clients
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Singapore Branch
Korea Development Bank
Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank
Work highlights
- Advised Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation on the financing of a 174,000 cubic metre newbuild LNG carrier.
- Advised The Korea Development Bank, Seoul Branch, on the refinancing of two large gas carriers.
- Advised Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank on the financing of two newbuild LPG carriers for SK Shipping.
Thailand > Corporate and M&A
Piyanuj (Lui) Ratprasatporn leads the team at Watson Farley & Williams (Thailand) Limited, which centrally focuses on the energy, transport and infrastructure fields. The team’s variety of undertakings include cross-border M&A, post-closing integration matters, sale and purchase agreements and joint venture agreements. Ratprasatporn specialises in compliance and legal requirements in relation to corporate and commercial operations and foreign direct investment in Thailand. Key contact Ivy Liu assists clients with cross-border transactions, among other issues. Kasma Visitkitjakarn is another key member of the team.Practice head(s):
Piyanuj Ratprasatporn
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘They are professional.’
Key clients
Atlantic Forwarding Ltd.
Guardforce AI Co., Ltd.
Infinity Spa Services Company Limited
LIV Golf Limited
MML Partnership Capital VII SCSp
Thai Rent A Car Holding Co Ltd
Xiamen C&D Inc.
Pin An Medicare Management Co., (Hong Kong) Limited
Work highlights
- Advising Atlantic Forwarding on the establishment of its Thai freight forwarding operations.
- Advising Guardforce AI on its NASDQ underwritten public offering & uplisting.
- Advised LIV Golf on its entry to the Thai market to host the LIV Golf Invitational Bangkok golf tournament.
Watson Farley & Williams LLP > Firm Profile
Dedicated to client care, industry focus and investment in our people
We are a sector specialist international law firm in the Energy, Infrastructure and Transport sectors advising on complex transactions and disputes through local knowledge and an integrated international network.
Our business exists to help our clients achieve their goals, partnering with them to meet the challenges they face today and will face tomorrow.
Our values rest on developing deep and long-lasting relationships externally and internally through respect, sharing, communication and integrity.
We strive for excellence in all that we do and view investment in our people as key to achieving our business goals and values.
Our teams are integrated across legal disciplines and offices delivering consistently high levels of service locally and in combination across borders.
History: Sector focus has been at the heart of our strategy since we opened for business in 1982. Having started life as an asset finance boutique focussing on the maritime and aviation industries, our transport focus quickly expanded to other supply-chain led industries, most notably, renewable and conventional energy and infrastructure across these industries.
Through our offices around the world, we provide a full suite of services within our core sectors enabling us to deliver exceptional value to our clients.
Facts
- Founded 1982
- 200+ partners
- 700+ lawyers
- 19 offices
Senior Partner: George Paleokrassas
Managing Partner: Lindsey Keeble
Key Contacts
Aviation: Jim Bell, Charles Viggers
Energy: Malte Jordan, Henry Stewart
Infrastructure: Florian Kutzbach, Jose Maria Anarte
Maritime: George Macheras, George Paleokrassas
Mining & Commodities: Sumeet Malhotra, Jan Mellmann
Oil & Gas: Chris Kilburn
Lawyer Profiles
| Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
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Damian Adams | Damian has over 20 years of experience in structuring, negotiating, managing and… | View Profile |
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Ivy Liu | She has significant expertise in advising investors, lenders and contractors on deal… | View Profile |
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Andrew Nimmo | Andrew specialises in the offshore oil & gas and maritime sectors, where… | View Profile |
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Charles Viggers | Charles’ practice focuses on the transport sector, with a special emphasis on… | View Profile |