Watson Farley & Williams handles a wide range of complex, cross-border shipping disputes, from vessel construction and charterparty issues, to international trade and finance-related matters. The Dubai team represents an extensive client base of shipowners, charterers, P&I clubs, financiers, and offshore operators and is regularly instructed on high-value financings, sale and purchase work, and market-leading M&A transactions in the maritime sector. Charlotte Bijlani, head of the Dubai maritime dispute resolution practice, is well regarded for her work on major multi-jurisdictional disputes and international arbitrations. Natalie Jensen is another key contact, with expertise in advising bunk traders, insurers, and ship managers on both contentious and non-contentious matters.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘The team is knowledgeable, very good experience of asset financings. Always available and willing to help.’
- ‘Emily Widdrington has been advising us for years and she is definitely our go-to adviser for any financing topic. Always available, her deep knowledge of the industry and asset financing business allows us to benefit from excellent advice.'
- 'Emily Widdrington leads transactions very professionally and is always promoting business-oriented solutions to allow for successful closings.’
- ‘Very experienced team.'
- ‘Mike Savva and Charlotte Knight are very experienced.’
Key clients
- EnTrust Global Partners LP
- Maas Capital
- MSC Cruises SA
- National Bank of Fujairah PJSC
- The National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia
- Astro Offshore
- BNP Paribas
- Warba Bank
- Gulf Energy Maritime PJSC
- Tomini Shipping
- MUR Shipping B.V.
- ABN AMRO Bank N.V.
Work highlights
Acted for hull & machinery and fixed and floating objects insurers (the Swedish Club) and their insureds, Alize 1996 (owners) and CMA CGM SA (bare boat charterers) in a high-profile maritime incident involving CMA CGM Centaurus and Jebel Ali Port.
Advised Warba Bank and BNP Paribas on a first-of-its-kind cross-border sukuk for a French LNG vessel project.
Advised a bank consortium on a USD500m revolving credit facility for Scorpio Tankers to finance 26 product tankers.
Lawyers
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Other key lawyers
Charlotte Bijlani; Natalie Jensen Emily Widdrington; Mike Savva; Charlotte Knight