Watson Farley & Williams (New York) LLP > New York, United States > Firm Profile
Watson Farley & Williams (New York) LLP Offices
120 West 45th Street
20th Floor
New York, New York 10036
United States
- Go to...
- Rankings
- Firm Profile
- Lawyer Profiles
Watson Farley & Williams (New York) LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings
Transport > Shipping: finance Tier 1
The marine practice at Watson Farley & Williams (New York) LLP leverages ‘deep knowledge’ of the shipping sector, with the team’s extensive expertise extending beyond the US to include Marshall Islands, Liberia and Vanuatu corporate and maritime matters. The firm is praised for its client-centric approach, representing clients in capital markets and private equity transactions, restructurings, insolvencies and sanctions, as well as advising on various aspects of the Jones Act. Senior partner George Paleokrassas heads the New York practice, acting for leading shipping lenders and shipowners in a broad range of transactions; Christopher Belisle is highly regarded for his commercial litigation experience and frequently advises on asset-based loan facilities for ships, lease financings and various aspects of the Jones Act; Steven Hollander handles a range of international transactions; whilst John Benson represents financial institutions, private equity funds and shipowners and operators in cross-border asset-backed structured transactions. Robert Kritzman brings extensive experience within the global cruise sector. Filana Silberberg and Will Vogel are key contacts for corporate and securities matters, and counsel C J Chido acts in cross-border asset-backed financings in the maritime sector.Practice head(s):
George Paleokrassas
Other key lawyers:
Christopher Belisle; John Benson; Steven Hollander; Filana Silderberg; Will Vogel; Robert Kritzman; CJ Chido; Maxi Adamski-De Visser
Testimonials
‘Deep knowledge of the law and industry.’
‘Creativity in finding solutions, real interest in what is in the best interest of the company.’
‘Loyalty to their clients.’
Key clients
Altera Infrastructure
Dorian LPG Ltd.
Dynagas
Global Ship Lease
Globus Maritime Limited
ICON Energy
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines
Navigator Holdings
Okeanis Eco Tankers
Pavimar
Performance Shipping Inc.
Royal Caribbean Group
SEACOR
Seanergy Maritime Holdings Corp.
Teekay Corporation
Top Ships Inc.
Transcend Cruises
United Maritime Corporation
Work highlights
- Advised Okeanis Eco Tankers Corp. (Okeanis), as U.S. securities and Marshall Islands legal counsel, on its listing of common shares on the New York Stock Exchange, including filing and having declared effective a registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
- Advised Icon Energy Corp. on its initial public offering on the Nasdaq Capital Market of 1.25 million common shares at US$4.00 per share. The company’s common shares began trading on July 12, 2024, under the symbol ICON.
- Acted as special maritime counsel to SEACOR Holdings Inc. (SEACOR), through its subsidiary Seabulk Tankers, on the formation of a joint venture with Crowley through the final contribution date under the joint venture agreement.
Transport > Aviation and air travel: finance Tier 2
The global aviation sector practice at Watson Farley & Williams (New York) LLP, manages an international team serving clients who have a significant market share in the industry. It works with major banks, trusts, and international corporations on the full gamut of the sector, ranging from share acquisition and transaction financing to Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings and advice on the economic consequences of the Russia-Ukraine war. Susanne Burstein leverages a broad skill set, working with lessors, borrowers, and investors in complex financings and securitization transactions. Bernstein works alongside Philip Jackmauh in New York, who focuses on structuring and completing lucrative aircraft portfolio acquisitions, warehouse facilities, and term loans. Recently he advised Major League Soccer on an air transportation charter agreement with Sun Country Airlines. In London, Dominic Pearson is qualified to practice in both New York and California, working for banks, underwriters, and airlines in a variety of deals, including advising the Aviation Working Group on the Global Aircraft Trading System. Julia Sim and Celinda Metro add additional strength to the team.Other key lawyers:
Julia Sim; Celinda Metro; Dominic Pearson; Susanne Burstein; Phillip Jackumah
Testimonials
‘Phil Jackmauh in New York possesses decades of in-house experience in aircraft leasing companies, both in the US and in Ireland, which he is able to bring to bear on trading, leasing and financing matters. Phil assisted us on a contentious matter and we found him to be commercially minded and practical.’
‘Susanne Burstein is another experienced partner in New York with whom we have worked over the years.’
Key clients
Investec Bank
Airbus Bank
Astatine Investment Partners
Carlyle Aviation Partners
Wilmington Trust
Aviation Working Group
CAVIC Aviation Leasing (Ireland) Co
ORIX Aviation Systems Limited
Major League Soccer, LLC
Falko
Work highlights
- Advising Apollo Global Management (“Apollo”) as special aviation counsel on its bid, together with co-investors, to acquire a majority equity stake in the airline Scandinavian Airlines (“SAS”) in the airline’s exit from its ongoing New York Chapter 11 restructuring. The deal would have seen Apollo become a major shareholder alongside, among others, the Danish state.
- Advised Crédit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank (“CA-CIB”) on the JOLCO acquisition financing of one Boeing 777F freighter aircraft for Atlas Air Inc. (“Atlas Air”), the first post-pandemic JOLCO financing for a major US air carrier.
- Advising the AWG as their primary international advisors on all of their principal projects including, on all Cape Town Convention matters, a project aimed at reducing transactional risk in non-CTC states, the development of the Best Practices Manual for the aviation industry, examination of lien/detention rights for aircraft globally, Russia matters, the development of the AWG carbon calculator and leading on a number of important sub-groups, including insolvency and disputes.
Watson Farley & Williams (New York) LLP > Firm Profile
Watson Farley & Williams is a leading international law firm advising clients operating in the energy, infrastructure and transport sectors. With a network of offices spanning Asia, Europe and the USA, we bring together technical excellence and deep industry knowledge to deliver unparalleled advice on complex transactions and disputes.
In all our core sectors, we provide integrated and commercially focussed advice across a broad range of capital markets, corporate, finance, dispute resolution, employment, real estate, regulatory and tax matters.
- Senior Partner: George Paleokrassas
- Managing Partner: Lindsey Keeble
- Energy (Mining; Oil and Gas; Power and Renewables; and Commodities and International Trade) – key contacts: Henry Stewart; María Pilar García Guijarro; and Clarinda Tjia-Dharmadi
- Infrastructure (Airports; Digital and E-Infrastructure; Ports and Terminals; Roads, Bridges and Tunnels; and Social Infrastructure) – key contacts: Florian Kutzbach and José María Anarte
- Transport (Aviation and Aerospace; Maritime; and Rail) – key contacts: Jim Bell and George Macheras
We leverage the wealth of experience across our global network to support industry players across the whole mining life cycle, including in the emerging sectors of seabed and space mining, as well as investor-state dispute settlement.
We are the go-to advisors for all mining participants from owners/licensees, developers and sponsors to financiers, contractors and governments. Operating globally and in areas beyond national jurisdiction enables us to advise on complex, multi-jurisdictional matters in all the major mineral-producing areas of the world, from Africa and Australasia to Asia and the Americas.
We have over 30 years’ direct industry experience advising clients across the whole of the oil and gas value chain, covering upstream, midstream and downstream. We also have in-depth knowledge of new fuels and gases such as LNG, hydrogen, ammonia and SAF to help support the industry’s energy transition.
Clients include exploration, development and production companies, traders, offshore services, storage and distribution companies, refinery developers and operators, funds and investors, banks and governments.
With an international offering of sector specialist lawyers, we are the natural choice for clients across the power and renewables space. We have long been at the forefront of new technology and developments in the industry and have a successful track record advising on all aspects of the value chain and life cycle of projects from conventional power to renewables such as onshore and offshore wind, solar, biomass, and waste to energy.
By leveraging our regulatory, transactional, ESG and dispute resolution experience, we offer an unrivalled full service in sector to clients including developers, investors, sponsors, financiers, contractors and both governments and government entities.
We offer a comprehensive sector offering covering disputes, structured trade finance, sanctions and regulatory, ESG, project development & finance, and corporate matters.
Our historical focus on the energy, infrastructure and maritime sectors, which each have strong synergies with commodities and international trade, give us a unique 360-degree perspective, allowing us to support our clients operating in these sectors across all key service lines.
Clients include major corporates, trading houses, mining majors, energy traders, banks, independent trade financiers, investment funds and agricultural and food companies.
With the global demand for infrastructure rapidly increasing, we support our clients on major projects around the world.
We act for a broad range of participants across transport-relevant infrastructures ranging from airports, ports and terminals, rail and roads, bridges and tunnels. We also work on energy-relevant projects ranging from transmission and storage, water and waste management and renewable energy assets, as well as social infrastructure to emerging sub-sectors such as smart and digital infrastructure.
Our multi-disciplinary team, based across our global network of offices, provides first-rate advice and guidance to all participants in the infrastructure sector.
Always abreast of trends within the aviation and aerospace sectors, we have over 40 years’ experience advising key industry stakeholders. These include aircraft and engine leasing companies, banks and financial institutions, funds and investors, export credit agencies, airlines, tour operators and manufacturers.
What propels our service beyond that of our competitors is our active involvement in making impactful changes to the industry at a global level. This includes being the principal advisors to the Aviation Working Group (AWG) and the prime choice for legal advice focussing on the decarbonisation of the industry, alternative fuels and emissions reduction.
With the largest dedicated maritime legal practice worldwide, we have been helping clients address the industry’s ups and downs for over 40 years.
Our unrivalled shipping experience attracts clients including shipowners, charterers, ship managers, P&I and FD&D insurers, investors, banks and financiers with substantial shipping portfolios. Areas of special expertise include maritime infrastructure, commercial shipping, container shipping and logistics, offshore oil & gas, cruise, commercial contracts, sanctions, disputes and regulatory, loan portfolios and restructuring.
We are at the forefront of the industry move towards decarbonisation, including having advised on the development of the Poseidon Principles to support the IMO’s goal to reduce shipping’s annual greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50% by 2050.
Lawyer Profiles
| Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Susanne Burstein | With a focus on the transportation sector, Susanne advises domestic and international… | View Profile |
|
|
C. J. Chido | C.J. focuses his practice in the maritime sector and primarily acts for… | View Profile |
|
|
George Paleokrassas | George advises on a broad range of work spanning the maritime sector,… | View Profile |
Staff Figures
Partners : 200+ Lawyers : 700+ Offices : 19Languages
25+ languages- Transport > Shipping: finance
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Transport > Aviation and air travel: finance