Jim Bell > Watson Farley & Williams LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Drawing upon ‘an enormous wealth of knowledge and experience’ throughout the transportation sector, Watson Farley & Williams LLP‘s ‘technically impressive’ 25-partner team provides ‘pragmatic and commercial’ advice to a myriad stakeholders on an eclectic mix of asset finance transactions, ranging from relatively commoditised bilateral loans, through to heavily structured transactions, as well as advice on politically sensitive issues including as it relates to Russian sanctions. Under the leadership of the ‘technically excellent and commercially pragmatic’ Jim Bell, the firm’s aviation offering has ‘extraordinary broad experience in all aircraft finance and lease topics’, and is now the equal of its historically better-known maritime practice. Chris Mitchell , who is ‘able to structure complex legal projects’, including as it relates to debt financing in the capital markets, is also key to the team’s success, as is the ‘no nonsense’ Louise Mor (who also has significant rail expertise) and the ‘solutions focused’ Patrick Moore, who regularly advises creditors on aviation restructurings. Led from London by ‘trusted advisor’ George Macheras, and also able to call upon expertise in other key maritime centres throughout Europe and Asia, the firm remains a ‘remarkable one-stop-shop for shipping financing’, with expertise across structured financing and long term charters, new builds and second hand sale and purchase. Other key practitioners on the ship finance front include the ‘pragmatic’ Gary Walsh, who is popular among banking clients; Simon Petch , who has ‘extensive knowledge especially in the field of maritime finance and ESG related business’; Patrick Kirkby, who has ‘vast experience in shipping financing’, including on highly structured mandates; and Kate Silverstein, who provides ‘great quality advice’ to owners, lenders and charterers. Hall of fame practitioner Lindsey Keeble is now managing partner of the firm.

Watson Farley & Williams LLP offers clients ‘extraordinarily broad experience’ in the aviation sector, advising on the spectrum of commercial issues, restructuring and insolvency and regulatory matters in addition to handling major disputes. The firm has also acted for clients in relation to Russian aircraft seizures and sanctions. Jim Bell heads the practice, acting for financiers, lessors and operators on structured finance transactions, while Andrew Ward, who co-heads the dispute resolution team, acts for banks, investors, airlines and lessors. Patrick Moore focuses on restructuring matters, handling matters ranging from lease arrangements to Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. A number of arrivals have augmented the practice, with Jeffrey Wool, on secondment as secretary general of the Aviation Working Group, arriving from Holland & Knight LLP as a senior global advisor in January 2023 and aviation disputes specialist Tim Murray following in June. Alison Weal arrived from Winston & Strawn LLP in May 2022, taking up a position as head of aviation knowledge management.