Watson Farley Williams
Interesting selling points
- Watson Farley & Williams is a specialist law firm in the energy, infrastructure and transport sectors, with a leading reputation for shipping law.
- The firm has the largest dedicated maritime practice of any firm in the world (see here).
- Notable clients include TUI Cruises, Air India, North Star Renewables, Vattenfall and Rude Health.
- Chambers and Partners have awarded the firm a Band 1 ranking for its Asset Finance: Shipping Finance department.
- Uniquely flexible six seat training contract, offering trainees the opportunity to sample more practice areas than would be the case at most other City firms (this can provide a better opportunity to identify the area of law that best aligns with their skills and interests).
- Small trainee intake.
- Every trainee is guaranteed an international secondment at some point in their training contract at one of the firm’s offices in Athens, Bangkok, Dubai, Hamburg, Paris or Singapore.
- Training includes the firm’s own trainee skills programme, a professional skills course, and a core training programme (including seminars delivered by partners and guest speakers), as well as practice specific training at the start of each seat.
- The firm has worked on high profile pro bono matters involving shipping, including supporting with the development of the Neptun Declaration Crew Change Indicator, along with the Global Maritime Forum, to provide up-to-date information on the impact of the crew change crisis and monitor developments over time.
- Commitment to sustainability evidenced by the firm's role advising a group of major banks and other leading industry players in connection with the development of the Poseidon Principles, to support the International Maritime Organization’s goal to reduce shipping’s total annual greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50% by 2050.
We cover these selling points in more detail below, alongside other relevant firm facts and characteristics.
Practice areas / services
Watson Farley & Williams is an international law firm with the following practice areas:
- Capital Markets
- Construction
- Corporate and M&A
- Dispute Resolution
- Employment
- Finance
- Private Equity
- Public Law
- Real Estate
- Regulatory and Competition
- Tax
Chambers and Partners, a leading analyst of the legal market, has awarded Watson Farley & Williams its highest ‘Band 1’ ranking for its Asset Finance: Shipping Finance department. See here for more information
Key sectors / industries
Watson Farley & Williams is a specialist in three sectors:
Work
Watson Farley & Williams works with a number of notable clients including:
- TUI Cruises: The firm advised TUI on the financial arrangements related to a €375 million bond issuance.
- Air India: Watson Farley & Williams advised multiple parties on the historic merger of Vistara with Air India, which has now made this combined entity the largest international carrier with more than 90 destinations worldwide.
- Rude Health: The firm advised Rude Health, one of Britain’s best-known plant-based milk brands, on its sale to Finnish plant-based food and drink company Oddlygood.
Older examples
- North Star Renewables: The firm advised North Star Renewables, a subsidiary of the North Star Group, on the financing of three service operation vessels (“SOVs”) to service and maintain the Dogger Bank Wind Farm in the North Sea. This financing was worth £96 million.
- Abbey Healthcare: the firm assisted with Abbey Healthcare’s case in the Court of Appeal, which saw the court ruling in favour of Abbey Healthcare, overturning the High Court’s decision that had restricted the use of a quicker and cheaper means of resolving construction disputes. The case concerned the care home operator’s claims against a contractor to recover losses suffered as a result of works taking place behind one of its care homes in London.
- Vattenfall: the firm advised Vattenfall on its signing of a contract with Siemens and Aker Solutions to deliver grid connection infrastructure for the Norfolk Borease Offshore Wind Farm off the east coast of the UK.
Offices / global footprint / expansion
Headquarters: London, 15 Appold Street.
Offices: The firm has 19 offices across the globe, including in London, Vietnam, the USA, the UAE, Thailand, Spain, Singapore and Japan.
Insights, internships and other opportunities
The firm offers several open days to provide the opportunity to learn more about the firm. the firm welcomes applications for open days from undergraduate students right from their first year. The open day itself includes an insight into the firm’s core practice areas, presentations, networking, and top tips about the recruitment process.
The firm also offers two-week vacation schemes during Easter and the summer. Vac schemers sit in one practice area and participate in a variety of training sessions and social events designed to give a good feel for life at the firm.
Training contract
The firm’s training contract is made up of six four-month seats. Every trainee must go on international secondment and sit in the firm’s Assets & Structured Finance department. Other seat options include Corporate, Energy & Projects, Employment, Real Estate, Tax, and Capital Markets.
Training also includes the firm’s own trainee skills programme to help develop the core skills required to be a successful solicitor, a professional skills course, and a core training programme (including seminars delivered by partners and guest speakers), as well as practice specific training at the start of each seat.
Secondments
Whilst there are no client secondments, every trainee is guaranteed an international secondment at one of the firm’s offices in Athens, Bangkok, Dubai, Hamburg, Paris or Singapore. The international secondment can be undertaken as early as the second seat.
Technology and innovation
The firm is focused on helping itself and the sectors it works with to tackle key environmental issues, in part through the use of technology and innovation. Examples include:
- Legatics: the firm is said to use Legatics, a legal tech product which helps lawyers manage transactions so that each party involved in the transaction can easily keep up to date with the transaction.
- Poseidon Principles: the firm has supported the development of the Poseidon Principle, which is a global framework to support the IMO’s goal to reduce shipping’s total annual greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50% by 2050. The principles are now widely used for assessing and disclosing the climate alignment of shipping portfolios.
- Vessel Technology Assessment System Project: the firm helped to create the Vessel Technology Assessment System Project, which helps inform the maritime industry regarding the comparative benefits of different fuel efficiency technologies.
Corporate social responsibility
The firm is committed to using its skills and expertise to address “key social issues” that are relevant to the firm and its sectors. As such, its pro bono work includes:
- East London Legal Advice Centre: the firm provides lawyers to help with the free legal assistance offered at the East London Legal Advice Centre. The centre helps claimants access disability benefits and appeal decisions made against them.
- Valorem Foundation: the firm’s Paris office has a long-term partnership with the Valorem Foundation to help the foundation address energy poverty in France and increase access to renewable energy in developing countries.
- The Global Maritime Forum: the firm supported the Global Maritime Forum in its development of the Neptune Declaration Crew Change Indicator. which seeks to provide up-to-date information on the impact of the crew change crisis and monitor developments over time.
- The Sustainability Imperative: this is the firm’s thought leadership report series, which draws on a series of in-depth interviews and a survey of over 500 senior industry leaders to examine the shipping world’s views on sustainability and governance and what actions it is taking as a result.
Diversity and inclusion
Watson Farley & Williams believes that difference is its strength, and it ensures this is embodied in the culture of the firm through initiatives such as:
- MOSAIC Network: this is the firm’s ethnic and racial diversity network, which provides a forum to discuss ethnic and racial diversity issues, champion practical steps to further the conversation on race and racism, and raise awareness of different backgrounds and experiences.
- PROUD Network: this is the firm’s LGBT+ and allies network, which is an internal resource for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans employees/partners and their allies. It regularly shares practical guidance and events to raise awareness of issues affecting LGBT+ people in the workplace.
- We Further Women: this is the firm’s global initiative which is dedicated to furthering gender balance in the firm and the sectors in which it operates. It provides a supportive forum for people to share challenges, exchange ideas and develop careers. This includes through participating in internal and external events.