
Stephenson Harwood is a leading force in both aviation and shipping finance across the Asia Pacific region, boasting an ‘intellectually and technically excellent’ team that advises a broad spectrum of clients, including major banks, financial institutions, lessors, airlines, shipyards, energy companies, insurers, commodity traders, sponsors, and lenders. In aviation, the practice handles the full range of financing and leasing work, from commercial debt financings and bond private placements to derivatives, aircraft purchase agreements, and transactions involving private jets and helicopters. The shipping group, meanwhile, is well known for its expertise in complex cross-border financings, offshore projects, chartering and sale-and-leaseback arrangements, as well as corporate transactions, restructurings, and related disputes. The group is jointly led by Gregg Johnston, regarded as ’best in the field’ for international ship and offshore finance, and the ‘technically and commercially pragmatic’ Saugata Mukherjee, a leading figure in aviation finance, serving as a key contact for banks, financial institutions, lessors, and airlines. Huay Yee Kwan is the go-to counsel for PRC clients on leasing and ship finance matters. Pedram Norton stands out for his work in ship finance, debt restructuring, and sale-and-leaseback transactions; Jeffrey Tanner is active in asset finance, structured debt, and projects, with a particular focus on the maritime and offshore energy sectors.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction: Lawyer & team quality
Client satisfaction: Billing & efficiency
Client satisfaction: Sector knowledge
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘Gregg Johnston is the best in the field.’
- ‘This practice has both depth and breadth of experience. Each team member is intellectually and technically excellent, and together they have diverse experiences, so they are able to advise and identify risks from multiple perspectives beyond just the issue at hand. They have volume too, so enough people to turn around documents for e.g. large financings very quickly. The associates are more switched on when compared to other firms.’
- ‘Saugata Mukherjee is both technically and commercially pragmatic. He's a problem-solver who always looks for ways to move forward, and is equally adept at advising financiers, lessors and airlines.’
- ‘The team is established and provides sound commercial advice in a timely manner.’
- ‘The team, which is led by Huay yee Kwan, will always respond to the request of clients efficiently, demonstrating professional ability and diversified language skills.'
- ‘A constructive, knowledgeable team that helps transactions get to yes.’
Key clients
- VMIC Aviation
- Cebu Pacific
- Avation Plc
- Standard Chartered Bank
- BW LPG
- Bank of America
- The Korea Development Bank,
- The Export-Import Bank of Korea
- BNP Paribas
- ING Bank
- Yangzijiang Financial Holding Ltd
- Foresight Group
Work highlights
Advised Cebu Pacific on its first sustainability-linked Japanese Operating Lease with Call Option (JOLCO) financing for a new Airbus A321neo aircraft.
Advised Singapore-based lessor Avation PLC on the financing of its acquisition of a 2013-built Airbus A320 on long-term lease to Etihad Airways on the secondary-market.
Advised Standard Chartered Bank, as global coordinator, in relation to the due diligence and $1.3bn pre- and post-delivery financing of the project costs relating to the provision, operation and maintenance of a floating, production, storage and offloading asset for the Agogo Integrated West Hub Development Project in Angola by Yinson Production known as "FPSO Agogo".
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.

Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Practice head
Gregg Johnston; Saugata Mukherjee
Other key lawyers
Huay Yee Kwan; Pedram Norton; Jeffrey Tanner; Matthew Seah




