Watson Farley & Williams

Lawyers 682
Turnover £215.4 million
Offices 19

When it opened for business in London in 1982, Watson Farley & Williams started life as an asset finance specialist focusing on the maritime and aviation industries. It has grown to become an international law firm advising on complex transactions and disputes and specialising in the energy and transport sectors. The firm opened its 19th office in Tokyo, Japan, this year, which will initially focus on asset and structured finance in the aviation and maritime sectors.

Deals over the past year have included advising the Republic of Guinea on the $15 billion Simandou project, the world’s largest mining and related rail and port infrastructure project.

It advised Höegh LNG, a pioneer within maritime energy infrastructure, providing fast-track floating liquefied natural gas terminals, in the refinancing of two floating storage regasification units. The units, which are vital components for transiting and transferring liquefied natural gas, will service Germany’s new North Sea terminals to help it achieve its goal of energy independence from Russia.