Watson Farley & Williams (“WFW”) is strengthening its Middle East ship finance practice with the relocation of Assets & Structured Finance Partner Emily Widdrington from London to Dubai as of 1 August 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$1bn 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.

She 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”.

WFW Dubai Office Head Charlotte Bijlani commented: “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”.

Emily added: “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”.