Madeline Leong > Watson Farley & Williams > Hong Kong, Hong Kong > Lawyer Profile
Watson Farley & Williams Offices
UNITS 1703-1707
ONE PACIFIC PLACE, 88 QUEENSWAY
HONG KONG
Hong Kong
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Madeline Leong
Work Department
PARTNER IN AND HEAD OF ASIA ASSETS & STRUCTURED FINANCE GROUP
Position
Madeline Leong joined Watson Farley & Williams in 2004 as a consultant and became a partner in 2005 in the firm’s international Finance Group. Madeline has over 25 years’ experience practising law on an international basis. Her practice focuses on asset finance, project finance, leasing structures, ECA financings, structured finance, debt restructuring and work-outs. She has acted for most of the leading banks, leasing companies, other financial institutions and major sponsors, contractors, transportation, logistics and shipping companies/operators, and has particular experience in the transportation, natural resources and energy sectors. Recognised by Asia Pacific Legal 500 as possessing “mastery of the subject” of asset finance, a “star” who is “responsive, precise and knowledgeable” in banking and finance and an “intelligent, practical advisor” in the area of debt restructuring and insolvency.Madeline is head of the WFW Hong Kong office and has worked in Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore. She has considerable experience in Hong Kong, PRC and Korean transactions. She qualified as a solicitor of Western Australia (1989), in Hong Kong (1992) and in England and Wales (1992). Madeline is a regular speaker at maritime and finance international conferences and speaks fluent English, Cantonese and Mandarin.
Career
2005-present: Watson Farley & Williams – Partner 2004-05: Watson, Farley & Williams, Singapore – Consultant 1995-2003: Johnson Stokes & Master, Hong Kong – Partner (from 1995 to 2000) and Consultant (2000 to 2003) 1992-95: Johnson Stokes & Master, Hong Kong – Associate 1990-91: Baker & McKenzie, Hong Kong – Associate.
Languages
English, Cantonese and Mandarin
Memberships
Advocate & Solicitor of Western Australia and Australia Law Society of England & Wales Solicitor of Hong Kong.
Education
University of Western Australia.
Lawyer Rankings
Hong Kong > Shipping
Acting for blue-chip financial institutions, including international banks, insurance companies, and investment funds, Watson Farley & Williams is praised by clients for its ‘experience’ and ‘invaluable advice’, standing out for its shipping finance and complex sale and leaseback transactions focus. Christoforos Bisbikos and Madeline Leong
co-lead the outfit, with the former regularly overseeing projects in the maritime space, while the latter is an expert in the transportation, energy, and natural resources sectors. Marcus Gordon concentrates on dispute resolution claims in shipping, and Valerie Lee is also a key figure wtihin the team.
Hong Kong > Asset finance (including aviation and shipping finance)
(Hall of Fame)Watson Farley & Williams handles a range of asset finance and leasing matters, including asset and project finance, structured lending, leasing, and commercial aviation transactions, in addition to advising creditors in major airline restructurings, while maintaining a standout maritime practice. Jim Bell, Charles Viggers, George Macheras, and Christoforos Bisbikos collectively lead the group, and Jackson Chow is lauded for his negotiation skills, often working on cross-border financing and leasing mandates, while Madeline Leong maintains a market-leading reputation in shipping finance. Guan Jian, who regularly deals with international shipping and offshore financing transactions, is another key contact in the group.
Singapore > Shipping: foreign firms
Noted for its stellar offering in shipping finance, Watson Farley & Williams LLP advises on matters concerning sustainability-linked financing, sale and purchases, new-building contracts, finance leasing and shipping work-outs, with additional experience in commodity disputes, ship arrests and maritime casualty cases. Hong Kong-based Madeline Leong jointly leads the practice alongside Sumeet Malhotra, who represents clients in international commodity trading and shipping disputes, while Andrew Nimmo advises on project and asset financings, leasing transactions and joint venture structures in the maritime sector. Other key contacts in the group include Lizzie Roe and Kimarie Cheang.
Lawyer Rankings
- Asset finance (including aviation and shipping finance) Hong Kong
- Hall of Fame Hong Kong > Asset finance (including aviation and shipping finance)
- Shipping Hong Kong