Dr Christian Finnern > Watson Farley & Williams LLP > Dusseldorf, Germany > Lawyer Profile

Watson Farley & Williams LLP
Andreas Quartier
Mühlenstraße 36
40213 Düsseldorf
Germany
Christian Finnern photo

Work Department

PARTNER IN THE MARITIME GROUP

Position

Christian acts for owners, managers and charterers of all types of vessels. He also acts for investors and a broad range of other market participants in the maritime industry.

He advises in relation to shipbuilding, the sale and purchase of second-hand tonnage, all flag and registration matters as well as on the employment, operation and management of ships. Another strong focus of his practice is in investments, joint ventures and M&A transactions in the maritime sector.

He also represents parties in insolvency and enforcement proceedings, including advising insolvency administrators on shipping-related issues, as well as on contentious matters.

Furthermore, Christian has broad experience in advising international and domestic clients on all aspects of ship finance. This includes advice in respect of leasing transactions, complex syndicated financing structures, high profile restructurings as well as warehouse and platform solutions.

Christian’s advice to ship owners and other shipping companies is noted in legal directory JUVE Handbuch.

He has been recognised by legal directory Legal 500 EMEA for his “strong industry knowledge, pragmatic approach and good results” and his “goal-oriented” leadership of the Maritime Service practice group, which focuses on investments, joint ventures and M&A transactions. Furthermore, it says that Christian has “a distinct sense for transaction dynamics as well as excellent shipping know-how and is very well connected”.

Christian is also recognised by Legal 500 Germany and Legal 500 EMEA as a leading name in Maritime Law and is praised for his “rapid analysis”, for being “always and immediately available” as well as for being “very helpful and responsive, flexible and unbureaucratic”.

Lawyer Rankings

Germany > Corporate and M&A > M&A

Watson Farley & Williams LLP‘s client roster includes private equity funds, investors, banks as well as municipalities and German companies, most of which stem from the transport and energy sectors, and advises them on joint ventures and mid-cap cross-border transactions. Christian Finnern has led the M&A practice since May 2022 and has particular expertise in joint ventures, investments and M&A transactions in the maritime sector. Marcus Bechtel acts for companies from the energy, infrastructure and real estate industries as well as private equity investors in joint ventures and M&A deals, while Dirk Janssen focuses on leveraged buyouts and cross-border deals.

Germany > Transport > Maritime and shipping

(Leading individuals)

Christian FinnernWatson Farley & Williams LLP

Watson Farley & Williams LLP focuses on transactions and financing and advises shipowners, lenders and cruise operators on ship and container financing and leasing structures as well as shipbuilding contracts. A key contact here is practice head Christian Finnern, who assists with shipbuilding and sales as well as matters pertaining to flag flying and the registration of ships; he also supports insolvency proceedings in the maritime sector. The financing expert Clemens Hillmer is well versed in leasing contracts and restructuring.

Germany > Transport > Advice to the transport sector

Watson Farley & Williams LLP demonstrates particular strength in ship financing and also advises on financing transactions in the rail and aviation sectors. Head of Germany Christian Finnern heads the group and is well versed in financing, construction matters as well as ship registration and management. Clemens Hillmer, head of the German assets and structured finance team, is another key contact for financing in the transport sector.