Watson Farley & Williams LLP > Paris, France > Firm Profile
Watson Farley & Williams LLP Offices
28 Avenue Victor Hugo
75116 Paris
France
Watson Farley & Williams LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings
France > Shipping finance Tier 1
With a strong presence in major ship finance hubs, the Paris-based global shipping practice at Watson Farley & Williams LLP maintains its leading position in the field. The practice advises owners, operators, and major financial institutions on a wide range of complex, high-value, multijurisdictional ship finance transactions. Co-heading the team are Alexia Russell, a specialist in asset finance, leasing, and project finance; and Laurence Martinez-Bellet, an expert in cross-border transactions, as well as ECA and DFI-backed transactions involving JVs and debt or equity investment funds. The practice also benefits from the expertise of Philippe Monfort, who focuses on transport asset finance, and Isabella Roberts, a maritime specialist with extensive experience in multi-jurisdictional finance transactions, earning her the reputation as a ‘golden bridge across cultures‘.Practice head(s):
Alexia Russell; Laurence Martinez-Bellet
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘WFW Paris is the place to go in the European market for shipping finance deals.’
‘Alexia Russell and Isabella Roberts are rising stars: not just skilled English solicitors but also golden bridges across cultures.’
Key clients
BNP Paribas
Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank
Société Générale
Work highlights
- Advising Société Générale on the financing and delivery of LNG vessel “Lech Kaczyński” built by Hyundai Heavy Industry Co., Ltd and bareboat chartered to an affiliate of Knutsen.
- Advising Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank on a multi-tranche term loan syndicated facility made available to the FINAV Holding Group to finance young eco or super-eco MR product tankers.
France > Aviation finance Tier 2
Watson Farley & Williams LLP's aviation finance practice reflects the firm’s global strengths in this space, where the group counts clients such as lessors, arrangers, and manufacturers amongst its portfolio, advising them on the gamut of English and French law transactions. A specific focus of the practice lies in debt restructuring as well as sale and leaseback transactions, with additional capabilities relating to cross-border matters. Asset finance expert Alexia Russell heads the team and offers particular expertise in ECA-backed financings. Philippe Monfort is another key member of the team and is qualified in France as well as England and Wales.Practice head(s):
Alexia Russell
Other key lawyers:
Philippe Monfort; Lisa Tavlaridis
Testimonials
‘Responsive, well-structured team, good resource allocation, very helpful, great final product.’
‘Lisa Tavlaridis is an excellent up-and-coming associate.’
Key clients
French Ministry of Defence
LCI
RIVE Private Investment
Société Générale
Turning Rock Partners
Work highlights
- Advised RIVE Private Investment, LCI and Turning Rock Partners on their joint acquisition of a $115m portfolio of 19 helicopters as part of the expansion of their international helicopter leasing platform in Europe and beyond.
- Advised the French Ministry of Defence in relation to the carrying out of their A400M aircraft programme and in connection with the preparation of new contracts and amendments to the existing contractual documentation.
- Advised a group of lessors, together owning approximately 30 aircraft and/or aircraft engines in Lion Air’s fleet, regarding safeguard and receivership proceedings initiated before the French courts relating to the French subsidiaries of Indonesian airline group Lion Air.
France > Industry focus: Energy Tier 2
The sizeable team at Watson Farley & Williams LLP wins plaudits for its ability to handle the structuring and financing of major energy projects, ranging from offshore wind projects to green hydrogen production plants. Corporate PPAs, acquisitions and energy interconnection projects are further areas of strength. Public law and regulatory specialists Laurent Battoue and Arnaud Troizier co-head the practice alongside corporate expert Thomas Rabain and Laurence Martinez-Bellet, a practitioner with longstanding experience of advising on project finance mandates in the energy space. Rachel Campbell and Antoine Bois-Minot are further names to note.Practice head(s):
Laurent Battoue; Laurence Martinez-Bellet; Thomas Rabain; Arnaud Troizier
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The team has good knowledge of the industry, including the regulatory aspects.’
Key clients
Bpifrance
BPCE/Natixis group
Crédit Agricole group
Société Générale
La Banque Postale
Meridiam group
Tikehau Capital
Infrared/TRIG
Republic of Guinea
TotalEnergies
Engie
EDPR
Eiffage
Predica Energies Durables
Réseau de Transport d’Électricité (RTE)
Qair
BayWa
Ocean Winds (JV Engie and EDP Renewables)
Eolmed (TotalEnergies Renewables, Qair Marine and BW Ideol)
Amarenco
Driveco
ERG S.p.A.
Work highlights
- Advising project company Eolmed on the structuring and financing of one of the first pilot floating offshore wind farms in France, near Gruissan.
- Advising an IPP on the financing of the construction of the largest lithium-ion battery storage project in France and one of the largest in Europe, with a total capacity of 105 MW.
- Assisting developers with the development, contractual and regulatory structuring and financing of a green hydrogen production plant to be built in Port-la-Nouvelle.
France > Banking and finance: transactional work Tier 3
Watson Farley & Williams LLP is a well-known name in the field of asset finance among leading banking institutions. Leveraging its international platform and with in-house French and UK law capabilities, the Paris team often advises on high-end shipping finance deals while also handling project finance, export credit, trade and commodity finance in relation to Africa and the French renewables energy sector (including the construction of new battery storage facilities). The group's workload also includes advising on acquisition finance. The experienced Laurence Martinez-Bellet heads the practice, which also includes Alexia Russell, Philippe Wolanski and Rachel Campbell.Practice head(s):
Laurence Martinez-Bellet
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The team is very involved in files, available and very commercial.’
‘Philippe Wolanski is available and easy to deal with. A great professional on trust issues.’
Key clients
BNP Paribas
Bpifrance
Crédit Agricole
Société Générale
Group BPCE/Natixis
La Banque Postale
HSBC
SACE
Amundi
Banque Populaire
Amarenco Group
Eolmed
Ocean Winds
Work highlights
- Advising HSBC on US$300m Push Facility with SACE for Nogaholding.
- Advising Société Générale on the financing and delivery of the 174,000 cbm Class LNG vessel “Lech Kaczyński” built and completed in December 2022 by Hyundai Heavy Industry Co., Ltd., South Korea.
- Advising a group of lessors, together owning approximately 30 aircraft and/or aircraft engines in Lion Air’s fleet, regarding safeguard and receivership proceedings initiated before the French courts relating to the French subsidiaries of Indonesian airline group Lion Air.
France > Administrative and public law Tier 4
Watson Farley & Williams LLP has a prominent practice in the field of renewables energy and particular strength in the regulatory area, notably advising sponsors and developers involved in large offshore wind projects, while also providing key guidance on innovative initiatives concerning the development of hydrogen factories, e-battery storage and corporate PPAs. The team’s involvement also extends to other fields, such as public housing. The practice is headed by Laurent Battoue and also includes Arnaud Troizier. Counsel Antoine Bois-Minot provides additional support.Practice head(s):
Laurent Battoue
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘An available and responsive team that masters subjects related to public law.’
‘Expertise, experience, responsiveness.’
‘Very good knowledge of the renewable energy market. Experience in renewable energy deals/transactions. Reactive and proactive team, providing solutions’.
‘Laurent Battoue: exceptional deal maker, ultra pragmatic and solution oriented, knows the market perfectly, reference on regulatory aspects’.
‘Antoine Bois-Minot: available, clear answers.’
Key clients
Republic of Guinea
Amarenco Group
Bpifrance
Eiffage
French Ministry of Defence
Ocean Winds
Predica Energies Durables
Tikehau Capital
ZE Energy
Work highlights
- Advised the Republic of Guinea on the $15bn Simandou project.
- Advised the French Ministry of Defence for the whole bidding process relating to a concession (BOT) for the renovation, construction, maintenance and operation of approx. 12,000 houses.
France > Real estate Tier 4
The team at Watson Farley & Williams LLP is called upon by investors, developers, lenders, landlords, tenants and borrowers for its real estate expertise. The group is equipped to handle both transactional and advisory mandates, and has particular experience in the financing and refinancing of office, retail, hospitality, logistics and healthcare real estate. Cyrille Gogny-Goubert steers the practice.Practice head(s):
Cyrille Gogny-Goubert
Other key lawyers:
Philippe Wolanski
Testimonials
‘Availability, responsiveness and kindness. Very innovative team and always looking for solutions.’
Key clients
Phoenix Tower International (Blackstone)
Colony Capital
GIC
APG
La Banque Postale Leasing and Factoring
Banque Populaire Grand Ouest
Norma Capital
Almaviva Santé
Edgar Suites
Crédit Agricole
Société Générale
SCPI Atlantique Mur Régions
Work highlights
- Advised Phoenix Tower International, a subsidiary of Blackstone, in relation to the purchase in various batches from Cellnex, of over 3,200 telecom sites located throughout the French territory.
- Advised SCPI Vendome Regions in relation to the purchase of a 10,166 sqm, multi-tenant ‘Yellow 5’ office building located in Massy.
- Advised Atlantique Murs Regions, a real estate fund (SCPI) managed by Banque Populaire Grand Ouest Gestion d’Actifs, on the purchase in state of future completion from Vinci, of the ‘Solferino’ building, a HQE-certified 6,775 sqm building in Rennes.
France > Tax Tier 5
Practice head(s):
Romain Girtanner
Testimonials
‘Good team that knows how to work together.’
‘Efficient and fast.’
Key clients
Access Capital Partners
BNP Paribas
Bpifrance
CMA CGM
DIF Capital Partners
Groupe Crédit Agricole
Groupe Maisons de famille
JCDecaux Holding
MSC
Ocean Winds, joint venture between Engie and EDP Renewables
RGREEN INVEST
Republic of Guinea
Société Générale
Sucden
Tikehau Capital
VGRF (Volkswagen Group Retail France)
Work highlights
- Advising the Republic of Guinea on the US$15bn Simandou project.
- Advising French independent asset management company RGREEN INVEST on a €250m investment in independent Israeli renewable energy producer Econergy to enhance its strategic cooperation.
France > Mergers and acquisitions Tier 6
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Airseas
Böllhoff Group
Bpifrance
ERG S.p.A.
RGREEN INVEST
RIVE Private Investment
Rte (Réseau de Transport d’électricité)
Société Générale
Terres d’Energie Développement
Tikehau Capital
Work highlights
- Advising a group of lessors regarding safeguard and receivership proceedings initiated before the French courts relating to the French subsidiaries of Indonesian airline group Lion Air.
France > Dispute resolution: Commercial litigation
France > Insurance
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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Mr Laurent Battoue | With a strong focus on the energy and infrastructure sectors, Laurent has… | View Profile |
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Laurence Martinez Bellet | Laurence has over 20 years’ experience advising domestic and international clients on… | View Profile |
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Mrs Rachel Campbell | Both English and French law qualified, Rachel has almost 20 years’ experience… | View Profile |
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Mr Romain Girtanner | Romain specialises in French and international tax law. He advises on the… | View Profile |
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Mr Cyrille Gogny-Goubert | Cyrille is specialized in corporate real estate law. His scope of activity… | View Profile |
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Mr Philippe Monfort | Philippe specialises in banking and finance law. He advises on French, English… | View Profile |
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Mr Franck Poindessault | Franck has 20 years’ experience advising and representing French and international companies… | View Profile |
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Alexia Russell | Alexia specialises in asset finance, leasing and project finance, where she acts… | View Profile |
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Mr Arnaud Troizier | A specialist in economic public law, Arnaud has particular expertise advising on… | View Profile |
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Philippe Wolanski | Philippe advises on a broad range of banking and finance transactions, including… | View Profile |