Transportation: Shipping: Finance
Europe Guide 2024 : Germany
Band 1
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
+49 40 800 0840About
Provided by Watson Farley & Williams
Watson Farley & Williams is one of the leading law firms in Germany in the maritime/transport sector for both the financing side as well as all corporate legal services the industry requires. With unrivalled experience and technical excellence, our team provides first class support on complex cross-border transactions. We work closely together with our international offices. in all locations relevant to the maritime industry worldwide. With 200+ lawyers globally, the German team is key part of the largest dedicated maritime legal practice in the world.
Chambers Review
Watson Farley & Williams houses a highly reputed shipping finance practice based in Hamburg. The team is held in high esteem by prestigious and often international banks for its expertise across the full spectrum of shipping finance. Large refinancings, ship acquisition finance and sale-and-leaseback transactions are regularly handled by the firm. Other areas of expertise include fleet financings, vessel sales and portfolio leasing transactions as well as open lease structures. Clients, which also include private equity funds and investors, equally benefit from the law firm's international network, allowing the effective handling of cross-border mandates.
Work Highlights
- Watson Farley & Williams advised Berenberg Bank on two fund facilities, respectively valued at USD135 million and USD200 million, for the purpose of refinancing sale-and-leaseback ship transactions concluded by subsidiaries of funds managed by Oaktree and Meerbaum.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"The team's service level continues to be excellent. The lawyers are very professional, with quick responses."
"Watson Farley & Williams has a very competent team that is very responsive, with good communication."
"The team's service level continues to be excellent. The lawyers are very professional, with quick responses."
"Watson Farley & Williams has a very competent team that is very responsive, with good communication."
Notable Practitioners
Domestic and international banks frequently instruct Clemens Hillmer for his strength in shipping finance mandates ranging from sale-and-leaseback transactions to refinancings and vessel acquisition finance. He is also highly experienced in shipping loan portfolio deals.
"Clemens Hillmer has long-standing experience and is very professional, with deep knowledge of all market sentiments in the shipping sector."
"If there's an issue he is always there and available; he'll come up with a reliable and practical answer."
"Clemens Hillmer is deep into the maritime legal regulations, very competent, always friendly and quick to understand the task at hand."
Christian Finnern is head of Watson Farley & Williams' Germany operations. His expertise includes high-volume international shipbuilding matters and sale-and-leaseback transactions as well as vessel sales and acquisitions. He has additional experience in disputes concerning claims arising from chartering contracts.
Ranked Lawyers at
Watson Farley & Williams
Germany
Members
Provided by Watson Farley & Williams
Alexander Piepenbrock
Anna Kirchhoff
Christian Finnern
David Günther
Dorit Freier
Frederik Lorenzen
Jan Mommsen
Julia von der Blumensaat
Justus Langelittig
Kathrin Lübberstedt
Klaus Schmid-Burgk
Lotte Dillen
Marc Großmann
Maren Brandes
Paula Kleinschmidt
Peter Graß
Raphael-Felix Müller
Rosie James
Sofia Tzanaki
Clients
Provided by Watson Farley & Williams
Commerzbank AG
HSBC
HSH Nordbank
KfW IPEX-Bank
MPC Capital
MPC Container Ships ASA
Nord/LB
Industries
Provided by Watson Farley & Williams
Banks
Financial Services
Transportation
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