Recognised as a law firm that is trusted to deliver pragmatic, innovative solutions even when faced with the most complex of challenges, Watson Farley & Williams is a leading international law firm dedicated to client care, industry focus and investment in its people.
Working from offices in major financial centres across Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the USA, the firm delivers valued advice on a wide range of transactions and disputes.
The firm is acknowledged as a leader in maritime legal services, a reputation which we have acquired through our heritage in the sector going back over a generation and the quality of our lawyers, who together comprise the largest dedicated maritime legal practice of any law firm in the world.
We generally work in small, partner-led teams drawing together experience across legal disciplines including finance, corporate, tax, employment, regulatory and dispute resolution, and across offices to consistently deliver pragmatic, commercially focused advice through a combination of sector knowledge and technical expertise.
Our maritime pedigree is unparalleled having worked in every segment of this complex and exciting industry, helping our clients to execute marquee transactions and achieve their commercial aspirations.
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Watson Farley & Williams LLP Related News
Maritime London Annual Dinner 2024
Maritime London once again held its annual dinner on December 3rd at the Royal Automobile Club in Pall Mall.Following the pre-dinner drinks, the guests...Read More
Maritime London runs inaugural London Ship Finance Forum
Maritime London held the inaugural London Ship Finance Forum on November 12th. Hosted by Clarksons, the event consisted of two sessions, concluding with...Read More
WFW advises BPER on Red Coral bulk carrier financing
Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) advised BPER Banca S.p.A. (BPER) on a medium to long-term financing of up to approximately US$7.7m to Maltese company...Read More
Cuba sanctions: US government authorizes ‘u-turn’ financial transactions
On May 28, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) amended the Cuban Asset Control Regulations (CACR) slightly easing...Read More
WFW advises CEXIM on US$192m term loan facility
Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) has advised The Export-Import Bank of China (CEXIM) on a SINOSURE-backed term loan facility of up to US$192m granted...Read More
Supreme Court guidance on war risk provisions in charterparties
WFW London Maritime Disputes Partner Mike Phillips discusses a recent UK Supreme Court decision on recovery of piracy ransom payments and its relevance...Read More
WFW Athens adds three partners to maritime dispute resolution team
Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) is delighted to announce the expansion of its maritime dispute resolution practice in Athens with the arrival of three...Read More
WFW advises GPH on €35.9m Banco Santander financing
Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) has advised Global Ports Holding (GPH) on a €35.9m loan granted to it by Banco Santander, via its affiliate Global...Read More
WFW advises BPER on Coscos financing
Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) has advised BPER Banca (BPER) on a financing granted to Coscos S.r.l. (Coscos) for the acquisition of the entire share...Read More
WFW advises ENI on purchase of Scarabeo 5 from Saipem
Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) has advised Eni Group (Eni) on the contract documents for the purchase of the Scarabeo 5 drilling floater which is...Read More
What’s that trundling over the hill – is it an answer?
On 7 June 2023, the European Commission (the “Commission”) closed its consultation on the much-maligned...Read More
WFW Mei Lin Goh Study Abroad Scholarship for University of Nottingham law students
In February 2022, Watson Farley & Williams’ (WFW) long-standing and much-loved Singapore Office Head Mei Lin Goh sadly passed away from cancer. In...Read More
WFW advises BCC Iccrea Bank on financing for Nemeca Z tug acquisition
Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) has advised BCC Iccrea Bank on a financing to Greek maritime company Nemeca Z Maritime Company (Nemeca) for its acquisition...Read More
WFW advises CACIB on K-Sure backed US$115m ECA loan facility
Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) has advised Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank (CACIB) on a pre- and post-delivery, K-Sure-backed up to...Read More
WFW advises Pangaea on port terminal operations acquisition from Host
Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) has advised Pangaea Logistics Solutions Ltd. (Pangaea) on its acquisition of marine port terminal operations in Port...Read More
WFW advises NYK on long-term charter contracts for four LNG carriers
Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) has advised NYK Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) on the execution of long-term charter contracts with major German...Read More
UK Tonnage Tax – new election window
For only the third time in its 23-year history, a UK tonnage tax “election window” is to be opened, comments in an article Richard Stephens, Partner...Read More
WFW promotes eleven to partnership for 2023
Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) has promoted eleven lawyers to the firm’s partnership for 2023, bringing the total number of partners to 195. The...Read More
WFW advises NAI on purchase of eight vessels from Vassholmen
Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) advised Nai Int. Ltd. (NAI) on the purchase of eight vessels from Vassholmen Shipping Ltd. (Vassholmen) – the “Valcadore”,...Read More
WFW advises Société Générale on financing and delivery of vessel “Lech Kaczyński”
Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) has advised Société Générale on the financing and delivery of the 174,000 cbm Class LNG vessel “Lech Kaczyński”...Read More
WFW advises SNAM on commercial contracts for ‘BW Singapore’ FSRU
Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) advised Snam Group (Snam) on the drafting of commercial contracts relating to the floating regasification and storage...Read More
WFW advises Anglo American on its maritime transportation strategy
Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) has been assisting Anglo American with its sustainable maritime transportation strategy, the first phase of which has...Read More
WFW publishes The Sustainability Imperative report – Part 2
Watson Farley and Williams (WFW) has published The Sustainability Imperative report – Part 2. Announcing it, WFW says: “At the time of publishing...Read More
Russian Sanctions, Price Cap and the Maritime Industry
Maritime London and Watson Farley & Williams LLP (WFW) ran a successful event, a panel discussion entitled “Russian Sanctions, Price Cap and the...Read More
UK Government’s budget contains positive news for UK tonnage tax
Tonnage tax has now been in place in the UK since 2000, says Richard Stephens, Partner of Watson, Farley & Williams (WFW) in an article, and has benefitted...Read More
WFW advises Höegh LNG on refinancing of two LNG FSRUs and entry into new German terminals
Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) advised long-standing client Höegh LNG Ltd on the refinancing of the Höegh Esperanza and Höegh Gannet floating...Read More
WFW advises BPER on US$6.5m Bulk Malta financing
Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) has advised BPER Banca S.p.A. (BPER) on a US$6.5m loan granted to Bulk Malta Limited (Bulk Malta), a Rimorchiatori Riuniti...Read More
WFW opens Seoul office
Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) is delighted to announce the opening of its 18th international office in Seoul, South Korea with the arrival of new...Read More
The CII conundrum – will it sink or swim?
In the race to charter ships with the highest carbon performance rating, the new CII requirements will...Read More
Seatrade Maritime Awards in London recognises 15 winners
In the first Seatrade Maritime Awards since before the pandemic, the industry gathered once again at the landmark Guildhall in London to celebrate winners...Read More
LISW23 Board of Advisors announced
Denis Petropoulos, Chairman of the Baltic Exchange and the newly appointed Chair of the LISW23 Board of Advisors, has announced the team he will lead...Read More
WFW advises Dea Capital on sale of five cargo vessels to Navigazione Montanari
Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) has advised IDeA CCRII Fund, managed by DeA Capital Alternative Funds SGR S.p.A., on the sale of five cargo vessels...Read More
WFW promotes eight lawyers to partnership for 2022
Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) has promoted eight lawyers to the firm’s partnership for 2022, bringing the total number of partners to 173. They...Read More
WFW advises MPCC on US $144.4m green container newbuild order
Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) has advised Norway-headquartered MPC Container Ships ASA (MPCC) on its US$144.4m order for the construction of two eco-design...Read More
The Clydebank Declaration: Green corridors kickstarting the adoption of long-term solutions
The Clydebank Declaration was launched at COP26 in November 2021 with initial supporters including Australia, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Denmark,...Read More
WFW Senior Partner George Paleokrassas moves to New York
Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) is delighted to announce that newly elected Senior Partner and Global Maritime Sector Co-Head George Paleokrassas has...Read More
Tribute to Mei Lin Goh
International legal firm Watson Farley Williams LLP (WFW) announces that it is with great sadness it is sharing that former long-standing head of WFW Singapore...Read More
WFW advises Banco BPM on US$15.5m d’Amico Tankers financing
Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) has advised Banco BPM S.p.A. (BBPM) on a US$15.5m loan granted to d’Amico Tankers Designated Activity Company...Read More
Deep-Sea Mining: why now and how?
This article, the first of a two-part series, authored by WFW Partners Jan Mellmann, Toby Royal Daisy...Read More
Shipping: Global Tax Reform
OECD rules designed to implement a global minimum corporate tax rate for very large multinational groups...Read More
WFW expands Hong Kong Finance Practice with new Partner hire
Watson Farley & Williams LLP (WFW) is delighted to announce that assets and structured finance expert Jonathan Silver has joined the firm as a Partner...Read More
A greener and more ambitious EU Maritime ETS emerges
WFW’s Partner Nick Walker and Senior Associate Valentina Keys consider in the article below how leaked amendments to the draft EU Maritime Emissions...Read More
WFW advises MPC on green container vessel order
Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) has advised MPC Capital (MPC), together with partners, on an order for the construction of four state-of-the-art container...Read More
George Macheras named new WFW Global Maritime Sector Co-Head
Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) is delighted to announce that Partner George Macheras has been named as the firm’s new Global Maritime Sector Co-Head,...Read More
WFW advises Citibank and HSBC on first of their kind ECA-backed JOLCOs for Seaspan
Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) has advised Citibank N.A., London Branch (Citibank) and HSBC Bank (HSBC) respectively on two separate ECA-backed JOLCOs...Read More
WFW Partners elect George Paleokrassas and Lindsey Keeble as new Senior Partner and Managing Partner
Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) is delighted to announce that George Paleokrassas and Lindsey Keeble have been elected the firm’s new Senior Partner...Read More
WFW advises CPLP Shipping on US$150m Greek bond issuance
Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) acted as English law counsel to CPLP Shipping Holdings PLC on the issuance and public offering of a US$150m corporate...Read More
Court’s powers to preserve evidence, property and assets and order attendance of witness
In the second article of this series, WFW London Dispute Resolution Partner Mike Phillips discusses the...Read More
WFW advises CA-CIB and HCOB on US$140m financing for GSL
Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) has advised Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank (CA-CIB) in its capacities as facility agent, security agent,...Read More
WFW advises CIT on US$70m dry bulk fleet refinancing
Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) has advised CIT Bank N.A (CIT) regarding a US$70m loan granted to a Maltese subsidiary of Maritime Asset Partners Ltd....Read More
WFW advises EnTrust Global on Maas Capital Shipping acquisition
Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) has advised the Blue Ocean division of EnTrust Global (EnTrust) on its acquisition of Maas Capital Shipping B.V. (Maas...Read More
WFW advises on sustainability-focussed US$25m dry bulk carrier financing
Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) has advised a leading financial services company regarding a US$25m financing to companies controlled by Union Maritime...Read More
WFW advises DeA Capital on Monteverde and Montegreen restructurings
Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) has advised DeA Capital Alternative Funds SGR S.p.A. (DeA Capital) as creditor in relation to a restructuring agreement...Read More
WFW advises Societe Generale on financing of two hybrid power vessels
Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) has advised Societe Generale on a term loan granted to a Norwegian SPV managed by Clarksons Platou Project Finance AS...Read More
WFW advises lenders on secured term loan financings for Navios Acquisition
Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) has advised certain lenders in connection with newly arranged secured term loan financings used to assist Navios Maritime...Read More
Partner Simon Petch relocates to London from Singapore
Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) is delighted to announce the relocation of Maritime Assets and Structured Finance Partner Simon Petch from Singapore...Read More
Hogan Lovells and WFW advise on two green financings for Hapag-Lloyd
Hogan Lovells and Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) have advised on two separate Korea Trade Insurance Corporation (K-SURE) backed green financings for...Read More
WFW advises PointState Capital on US$253.7m TM IPO
Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) has advised PointState Capital LP (PointState Capital) regarding its participation in Taylor Maritime’s (TM) oversubscribed...Read More
New Neptune Declaration Crew Change Indicator takes the temperature of the crew change crisis
Data from top 10 ship managers on their seafarers is the basis of an indicator which provides up-to-date information on the impact of the crew change crisis...Read More
“Splitting the Steel” in shipping joint venture agreements
Ship-owning joint ventures are a common occurrence in today’s market, says WFW London Corporate Partner Dan Saunders in the article below exploring the...Read More
WFW advises Dorian on US$113m self-tender offer
Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) has advised long-standing client Dorian LPG Ltd. (Dorian) on its tender offer to repurchase its common shares.Originally,...Read More
Frank Dunne to become Senior Advisor at WFW
As of April 2021, Frank Dunne will be stepping down from his role as Senior Partner with WFW to become a consultant with the title of ‘Senior Advisor’.His...Read More
WFW advises TORM on purchase of eight MR product tankers from TEAM Tankers
Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) has advised TORM on its agreement to purchase eight 2007-2012 MR product tankers with chemical trading capabilities...Read More
WFW launches major maritime sector report
Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) is delighted to announce the launch today of its new maritime sector global report “The Sustainability Imperative:...Read More
WFW advises Macquarie Bank on first of its kind shipping loan/lease securitisation for Fleetscape
Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) has advised Macquarie Bank Limited (Macquarie) in relation to the securitisation of certain underlying loans for Fleetscape...Read More
WFW advises Banco BPM on €28m facility to Grimaldi Euromed
Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) has advised Banco BPM S.p.A. (Banco BPM) on a €28m loan facility granted to Grimaldi Euromed S.p.A. (Grimaldi Euromed)...Read More
Sea Cargo Charter: the next piece in the decarbonisation puzzle
Toby Royal, Partner and Marinos Papadopoulos, Senior Associate from the international legal firm Watson Farley Willaims authored the below article discussing...Read More
WFW advises US maritime lender on US$56m senior loan facility for Seamax
Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) has advised a US maritime lender on a US$56m senior secured financing for Seamax Container Shipping II LLC (Seamax”)....Read More
WFW advises group of core creditors on Bourbon Maritime debt restructuring
Watson Farley & Williams (“WFW”) has advised an enlarged working group of creditors comprising certain French banking groups (the “French...Read More
WFW advises UOG on UACC acquisition and financing
Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) has advised United Overseas Group Ltd (UOG) on the acquisition of United Arab Chemical Carriers Limited (UACC).The acquisition...Read More
WFW further expands Maritime Disputes practice with new London Partner hire
Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) is delighted to announce that well-known maritime disputes expert Mike Phillips has joined the firm as a Partner in...Read More
WFW advises Nordea on Exmar LPG US$310m loan facility
Watson Farley & Williams LLP (WFW) has advised Nordea Bank Abp, filial i Norge (Nordea) on a US$310m revolving credit facility for Exmar LPG BVBA,...Read More
Poseidon Principles issues first annual disclosure report
In a first-of-a-kind climate finance report, 15 Signatories of the Poseidon Principles disclose the climate alignment score of their ship finance portfolios....Read More
WFW advises lenders on US$155m Tangguh LNG carrier refinancing
Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) has advised MUFG Bank (MUFG), as Facility and Security Agent, and Development Bank of Japan Inc. (DBJ) as lenders on...Read More
How global tax reform will affect shipping
Since the last financial crisis, the global tax landscape has undergone incredible reform. Shipping,...Read More
Bliss for shipowners! Damages may be claimed in addition to demurrage for voyage charterparty delay
In a significant decision for the maritime sector, the English Commercial Court has resolved a much-debated question of answering that an owner can, under...Read More
Global tax reform in the context of commercial shipping structures
Maritime London hosted another successful webinar - “Global tax reform in the context of commercial...Read More
WFW advises Nordea on Euronav US$713m loan facility
Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) has advised Nordea Bank Abp filial i Norge (Nordea), on a US$713m loan facility for Euronav NV, comprising a revolving...Read More
BIMCO ‘SHIPLEASE’ Term Sheet explained
The ever-growing importance of sale and leaseback transactions as an alternative to financing ships by way of loan, makes it both timely and welcome...Read More
WFW issues ‘Sanctions and Shipping: Update and Overview’ report
International legal firm Watson Farley Williams LLP (WFW) has issued a report highlighting some recent developments and forthcoming changes in the sanctions...Read More
National Minimum Wage for seafarers
Watson Farley William LLP London Employment Partners Anna Robinson and Devan Khagram, and Alice Halpin, a trainee solicitor discuss the introduction in...Read More
WFW represents YieldStreet in successful court case against Lakhanis
Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) represented YieldStreet Management LLC (YieldStreeT) in a successful case before the UK Commercial Court concluded on...Read More
WFW Athens Head George Paleokrassas named Global Maritime Sector Co-Head alongside Lindsey Keeble
Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) is delighted to announce that long-standing Athens Office Head George Paleokrassas has been named Global Maritime Sector...Read More
Marcus Dodds joins WFW
Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) has announced that dispute resolution expert Marcus Dodds joined the firm as a Partner in London. He was previously...Read More
Ship scrapping: Who owes a duty of care?
International law firm WFW’s Global Maritime Sector Head Lindsey Keeble (picutred), London Planning and Regulatory Partner Nick Walker and Senior...Read More
WFW advises TUIC on financing and implementation of US$1.3bn acquisition of HL Cruises
International law firm Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) has advised TUI Cruises GmbH (TUIC) on the financing and implementation of its acquisition of...Read More
WFW advises Globus Maritime on US$12m public offering
Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) has advised long-standing client Globus Maritime Limited in connection with a public offering, raising approximately...Read More
WFW advises Royal Caribbean on US$2.15bn private offerings
Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) has advised long-standing client Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd on matters of Liberian law in connection with concurrent...Read More
WFW advises Royal Caribbean Cruises on US$3.3bn private offering
Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) has advised long-standing client Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd and certain of its vessel-owning subsidiaries on matters...Read More
Ship finance in the age of COVID-19
A “Ship finance in the age of COVID-19” webinar, co-organised by Maritime London and Watson Farley...Read More
WFW advises Seanergy on four public offerings of common shares and warrants
Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) advised Seanergy Maritime Holdings Corp. (Seanergy) on four public offerings executed in quick succession, raising approximately...Read More
Cancellation, notices and the prevention principle in shipbuilding contracts
In a judgment handed down on April 30, Watson Farley & Williams acted for the successful party on...Read More
Lessee/Charterer issues in ship leasing transactions
As leasing becomes an ever more important source of finance for the global shipping industry, it is timely to draw attention to some structural and documentary...Read More
WFW makes up six new Partners for 2020
International law firm Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) has promoted six lawyers to the firm’s partnership for 2020, bringing the total number of Partners...Read More
Foreign Direct Investment controls – what is changing and what dealmakers should do
International law firm Watson Farley Williams LLP says in its briefing that European countries have long welcomed a tide of inward investment, but the...Read More
The UK response to the financial impact of COVID-19: Insolvency Law
Across the world, businesses and governments are grappling with the financial impact caused by COVID-19. Stephen Parker (pictured), Insolvency & Restructuring...Read More
Sanctions continue to be ongoing risk for shipping
In March 2020, the US State and Treasury Departments announced sanctions against various Chinese companies for trading in Iranian petrochemicals. Among...Read More
Suspension of wrongful trading in light of COVID-19
International law firm Watson Farley Williams LLP (WFW) has issued a briefing, in which Partners Dev...Read More
COVID-19: Issues under Shipping Contracts
International law firm Watson Farley Willaims (WFW) has issued an update “Issues under Shipping Contracts”.The COVID-19 pandemic has rocked...Read More
Ship Finance and COVID-19
International law firm Watson Farley Williams (WFW) has issued a briefing discussing the effects the COVID-19 pandemic is having on Ship Finance.As a result...Read More
WFW advises ICBC Financial Leasing on US$544m sale and leaseback with Frontline
Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) advised ICBC Financial Leasing Co., Ltd. (ICBC Leasing) on the US$544m sale and lease back of ten 2019-built Suezmax...Read More
Implementation of COVID-19 financial shield by German Government
International law firm Watson Farley Willaims LLP (WFW) in its recent briefing discusses the recent announcement by the German Federal Government to support...Read More
Demurrage time bar clauses
International law firm Watson Farlet Williams (WFW) has published an article discussing the demurrage...Read More
WFW urges ship operators to ‘plan the ship’s passage carefully’
Maritime Disputes Group Watson Farley Williams (WFW) comments on a significant decision, published on March 5 2020, in whcih the English Court of Appeal...Read More
WFW advises TUI Cruises on US$1.3bn acquisition of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises
Watson Farley & Williams (“WFW”) has advised TUI Cruises GmbH (“TUI Cruises”) on its acquisition of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises (“HL Cruises”)...Read More
WFW advises Teekay Tankers on US$533m revolving credit facility
Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) has advised long-standing client Teekay Tankers Ltd (Teekay Tankers)...Read More
BNP Paribas and Credit Suisse sign up to Poseidon Principles
With the signing by BNP Paribas and Credit Suisse, Signatories of the Poseidon Principles represent around...Read More
English High Court says MAIB reports may be used in maritime disputes
Watson Farley & Williams LLP (WFW) Maritime Disputes Partner Evangelos Catsambas has issued a briefing discussing how the English High Court recently...Read More
