Cruise and merchant shipping finance firm Watson Farley & Williams expands Dubai office

Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) a leading international law firm specialising in cruise and merchant shipping financing is expandings its Middle East presence with new appointments in Dubai.

WFW will strengthen its Middle East ship finance practice with the relocation of Assets & Structured Finance Partner Emily Widdrington from London to Dubai as of August 1st, 2024.

Emily has over 12 years’ experience advising and acting for banks and ship owners on loan and security documentation. 

Her experience ranges from advising on high-value ECA-backed financings to loan agreements involving sustainability-linked margin adjustments. 

Highlight matters she has led on include acting for MSC on the financing for two new LNG-powered cruise ships, a consortium of lenders on a US $1 billion term and revolving credit facility to Scorpio Tankers to finance 45 product tankers and Navigator on a ground-breaking US $200m sustainability and gender diversity-linked loan.

Emily joins fellow Partner Michael Savva and a team that is recognised as top tier for shipping finance in the UAE by leading legal directory Chambers Global, with clients commending “knowledgeable lawyers, reliability and cooperative spirit”.

“Dubai is a key shipping and finance hub and a talented lawyer such as Emily relocating to join us is just the boost our ship finance practice needs to take it to the next level. I’m delighted to welcome her to WFW Dubai,” said WFW Dubai Office Head Charlotte Bijlani.

 “Michael and the team have built a market leading ship finance practice since we opened in Dubai in 2014 and I look forward to helping add greater strength and depth to the service we offer our clients,” said Emily.

WFW has worked with some of the world’s leading cruise lines, including most recently MSC Cruises and Virgin Voyages. The firm advised MSC Cruises on the financing for its two new LNG-powered World-class cruise ships from Chantiers de l’Atlantique. 

The vessels, sister ships to MSC World Europa and MSC World America, are expected to be delivered in 2026 and 2027 respectively. The financing was provided by a syndicate of lenders led by Banco Santander with ECA support from Bpifrance Export Assurance.

WFW also advised Virgin Voyages on the delivery of their cruise ship Valiant Lady, the cruise line’s fourth ship, from Italian shipyard Fincantieri in 2022.