Watson Farley & Williams LLP — Germany
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About
- The Firm Watson Farley & Williams is a leading international law firm advising clients operating in the energy, infrastructure and transport sectors. With a network of offices spanning Asia, Europe and the USA, we bring together technical excellence and deep industry knowledge to deliver unparalleled advice on complex transactions and disputes. - Principal Areas of Work In all our core sectors, we provide integrated and commercially focussed advice across a broad range of capital markets, corporate, finance, dispute resolution, employment, real estate, regulatory and tax matters. - Senior Partner: George Paleokrassas - Managing Partner: Lindsey Keeble Energy (Mining; Oil and Gas; Power and Renewables; and Commodities and International Trade) - key contacts: Henry Stewart; María Pilar García Guijarro; and Clarinda Tjia-Dharmadi Infrastructure (Airports; Digital and E-Infrastructure; Ports and Terminals; Roads, Bridges and Tunnels; and Social Infrastructure) - key contacts: Florian Kutzbach and José María Anarte Transport (Aviation and Aerospace; Maritime; and Rail) - key contacts: Jim Bell and George Macheras - Energy – Mining We leverage the wealth of experience across our global network to support industry players across the whole mining life cycle, including in the emerging sectors of seabed and space mining, as well as investor-state dispute settlement. We are the go-to advisors for all mining participants from owners/licensees, developers and sponsors to financiers, contractors and governments. Operating globally and in areas beyond national jurisdiction enables us to advise on complex, multi-jurisdictional matters in all the major mineral-producing areas of the world, from Africa and Australasia to Asia and the Americas. - Energy – Oil & Gas We have over 30 years’ direct industry experience advising clients across the whole of the oil and gas value chain, covering upstream, midstream and downstream. We also have in-depth knowledge of new fuels and gases such as LNG, hydrogen, ammonia and SAF to help support the industry’s energy transition. Clients include exploration, development and production companies, traders, offshore services, storage and distribution companies, refinery developers and operators, funds and investors, banks and governments. - Energy – Power and Renewables With an international offering of sector specialist lawyers, we are the natural choice for clients across the power and renewables space. We have long been at the forefront of new technology and developments in the industry and have a successful track record advising on all aspects of the value chain and life cycle of projects from conventional power to renewables such as onshore and offshore wind, solar, biomass, and waste to energy. By leveraging our regulatory, transactional, ESG and dispute resolution experience, we offer an unrivalled full service in sector to clients including developers, investors, sponsors, financiers, contractors and both governments and government entities. - Energy – Commodities and International Trade We offer a comprehensive sector offering covering disputes, structured trade finance, sanctions and regulatory, ESG, project development & finance, and corporate matters. Our historical focus on the energy, infrastructure and maritime sectors, which each have strong synergies with commodities and international trade, give us a unique 360-degree perspective, allowing us to support our clients operating in these sectors across all key service lines. Clients include major corporates, trading houses, mining majors, energy traders, banks, independent trade financiers, investment funds and agricultural and food companies. - Infrastructure With the global demand for infrastructure rapidly increasing, we support our clients on major projects around the world. We act for a broad range of participants across transport-relevant infrastructures ranging from airports, ports and terminals, rail and roads, bridges and tunnels. We also work on energy-relevant projects ranging from transmission and storage, water and waste management and renewable energy assets, as well as social infrastructure to emerging sub-sectors such as smart and digital infrastructure. Our multi-disciplinary team, based across our global network of offices, provides first-rate advice and guidance to all participants in the infrastructure sector. - Transport - Aviation and Aerospace Always abreast of trends within the aviation and aerospace sectors, we have over 40 years’ experience advising key industry stakeholders. These include aircraft and engine leasing companies, banks and financial institutions, funds and investors, export credit agencies, airlines, tour operators and manufacturers. What propels our service beyond that of our competitors is our active involvement in making impactful changes to the industry at a global level. This includes being the principal advisors to the Aviation Working Group (AWG) and the prime choice for legal advice focussing on the decarbonisation of the industry, alternative fuels and emissions reduction. - Transport - Maritime With the largest dedicated maritime legal practice worldwide, we have been helping clients address the industry’s ups and downs for over 40 years. Our unrivalled shipping experience attracts clients including shipowners, charterers, ship managers, P&I and FD&D insurers, investors, banks and financiers with substantial shipping portfolios. Areas of special expertise include maritime infrastructure, commercial shipping, container shipping and logistics, offshore oil & gas, cruise, commercial contracts, sanctions, disputes and regulatory, loan portfolios and restructuring. We are at the forefront of the industry move towards decarbonisation, including having advised on the development of the Poseidon Principles to support the IMO’s goal to reduce shipping’s annual greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50% by 2050. ### Languages - 25+ languages ### Staffing Figures - 0 Partners - 19 Offices
Office locations
Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Watson Farley & Williams LLP Neue Mainzer Straße 6 -10 | Winx 60311 Frankfurt Am Main Frankfurt Germany
Hamburg
Hamburg
Watson Farley & Williams LLP Neuer Wall 88 20354 Hamburg Hamburg Germany
Munich
Munich
Watson Farley & Williams LLP Dienerstraße 12 / Alter Hof 80331 Munich Munich Germany
Practice areas
Lawyers in this office
Andreas Wiegreffe
Andreas specialises in advising national and international companies in all individual and collective employment law matters. In addition, he has extensive experience in employment court proceedings. One of Andreas’ main areas of practice is advising on business change processes, in particular restructurings and reorganisations as well as M&A transactions, offering efficient support from strategic planning through to final implementation. Clients also rely on Andreas’ extensive experience in relation to reconciliation of interests and social plan negotiations. A further focus of his work is advising on all issues relating to works councils. Andreas is recommended in leading legal directories (JUVE, Legal500). In the 2024 EMEA edition of Legal500, clients note: “Andreas Wiegreffe: High level of expertise paired with pragmatic solutions. Very well connected and able to convey complex issues to different groups of recipients in a clear and comprehensible manner. Important stylistic tool in works council negotiation.” And in the 2022 EMEA edition of Legal 500, clients note: “Dr. Andreas Wiegreffe: Very precise analysis of the existing problems. Very quick and practical answers that get to the point. Thanks to his expertise, we were able to solve very difficult cases well and promptly. Clear assessments are made and clearly communicated. His role in internal discussions and negotiations with works councils and trade unions is outstanding, where his negotiating tactics and forward-looking approach were able to solve the most difficult conflicts, some of which had been smoldering for years.” The German legal directory JUVE 2022/2023 praises Andreas for his “good advice and careful handling of mandates”. In the following year, he was recommended for his employment expertise. Most recently, in 2024/2025, Andreas was described as “reliable, competent, solution-orientated and professionally skilled and experienced“. Since 2020, he has also been recognised annually, most recently in 2024, for Labor and Employment law in the Best Lawyers in Germany ranking published by Handelsblatt in cooperation with Best Lawyers. · Individual Employment Law
Christian Finnern
Christian acts for owners, managers and charterers of all types of vessels. He also acts for banks, lessors, alternative finance provides, investors and a broad range of other market participants in the maritime industry. He focusses on shipbuilding, the sale and purchase of second-hand tonnage, all flag and registration matters as well as on the employment, operation and management of ships. Christian advises international and domestic clients on all aspects of ship finance. His advice ranges from debt financing, leasing transactions, complex syndicated financing structures to high profile restructurings as well as warehouse and platform solutions. Another strong focus of his practice is in investments, joint ventures and M&A transactions in the maritime sector. He also represents parties in insolvency and enforcement proceedings as well as in contentious matters. Legal 500 Germany describes Christian as a “strong communicator” who “manages to find practical solutions” and emphasises his “high presence in transactional advice“. He is also recognised in the shipping sector as being “very well connected both locally and globally” and is considered “highly assertive“. Christian’s advice to ship owners and other shipping companies is noted in the legal directories JUVE Handbuch and Chambers Europe. In Chambers Europe, he is recognised as “very active and visible in the market” and is praised to be “a strong practitioner who has a good character and is very supportive”. He has been recognised by legal directory Legal 500 EMEA for his “strong industry knowledge, pragmatic approach and good results” and his “goal-oriented” leadership of the Maritime Service practice group, which focuses on investments, joint ventures and M&A transactions. Furthermore, it says that Christian has “a distinct sense for transaction dynamics as well as excellent shipping know-how and is very well connected”. Christian is also recognised by Legal 500 Germany and Legal 500 EMEA as a leading name in Maritime Law and is praised for his “rapid analysis”, for being “always and immediately available” as well as for being “very helpful and responsive, flexible and unbureaucratic”. · Maritime Law
Florian Kutzbach
Florian advises in the areas of global energy, natural resources and infrastructure development, financings and M&A – acting for governments, developers/sponsors, multilaterals/DFIs/ECAs, financial institutions and institutional investors. His extensive experience includes many landmark projects and stretches across major markets in Europe, the Middle East, South America, Asia and Africa. Florian has also given external lectures, presentations and seminars, including in Turkey, Nigeria and Ghana and regularly speaks at conferences and on panels, most recently in Kyiv on Renewable Energy financing in Ukraine and in Serbia on PPP/infrastructure projects in the region. Although English law qualified, he has been ranked for several consecutive years as one of The Best Lawyers in Germany in the fields of Energy Law and Banking and Finance Law by Best Lawyers in cooperation with Handelsblatt. Clients also praise Florian as “one of the most well-known English law advisors in Turkey in infrastructure projects”. · Energy Law
Frederik Lorenzen
Frederik specialises in international asset, project and acquisition finance, corporate loans and leasing as well as restructuring transactions. His clients include banks and financial institutions and borrowers as well as lessees and lessors. He is recommended for his expertise by legal directory IFLR 1000. · Asset Finance
Malte Jordan LL.M.
Malte specialises in M&A, corporate restructurings and corporate finance, with a particular focus on private equity transactions and investments in the energy and infrastructure sectors. Recent transactions include strategic M&A deals in the energy and infrastructure sector, such as the development, financing, acquisition or disposal of wind farms, both onshore and offshore. His clients include investors, project developers and banks. Malte is recognised as a leading lawyer in the renewable energy space by legal directories Chambers Europe, Legal 500 EMEA, JUVE Handbuch, IFLR 1000 and Who’s Who Legal. In 2020, Chambers described him as “a leading lawyer in the area of renewables, advising clients on high-value refinancings, portfolio acquisitions and sales in the wind power sector. He is well versed in acting on large, multi-jurisdictional mandates.” In 2018, he was ranked in sector publication A Word About Wind’s Legal Power List. Malte has been ranked in The Best Lawyers in Germany in the fields of Energy Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law by Best Lawyers in cooperation with business magazine Handelsblatt. · Mergers and Acquisitions
Marcus M. Bechtel LL.M.
Marcus specialises in M&A, joint ventures and project development transactions, with a focus on the energy and infrastructure sectors as well as M&A transactions involving private equity investors. Recent transactional highlights include advising on the acquisition, financing and project development of onshore and offshore wind farms, photovoltaic plants and other renewable energy projects in Germany and Europe as well as on the establishment of joint ventures and M&A transactions regarding energy and infrastructure projects and businesses. Further, Marcus advises on corporate M&A transactions involving private equity investors, including acquisitions by portfolio companies in connection with “buy and build” structures. Marcus’ clients include financial investors, utilities and other strategic investors, banks and project developers. The German legal directory JUVE 2024/2025 describes Marcus as “very solution-orientated and pragmatic“. He was also recently praised in Legal500 EMEA 2024: “Marcus Bechtel is characterised – of course in addition to his excellent expertise – by his calm and mediating manner. He recognises and points out problems early on and also suggests proactive solutions for them.“ Marcus has been ranked in The Best Lawyers in Germany in the fields of Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law by Best Lawyers in cooperation with business magazine Handelsblatt.
Nikolaus Krienke
Nikolaus is a leading German employment lawyer advising both national and international companies on individual and collective employment law. Nikolaus’ focus is on providing employment law advice in change processes, in particular complex restructuring and reorganisation. Together with his team, he accompanies these from strategic planning and negotiations with trade unions and works councils to the final implementation vis-à-vis the individual employees. In the context of reconciliation of interests and social plan negotiations, clients can rely on his extensive experience from numerous major projects. He regularly assists his clients in all matters of employee data protection and, in particular, on issues in conflict with the participation of the works council regarding the monitoring of conduct and performance. Another focus of Nikolaus’ work is extensive compliance investigations and subsequent court proceedings. Furthermore, he reviews and drafts contractual employment provisions in M&A transactions. Nikolaus is a lecturer at the Bucerius Law School in Hamburg. Nikolaus has been recognised for his outstanding expertise in all common employment directories permanently for more than 10 years. The JUVE Handbook 2021/2022 describes Nikolaus as an “experienced and strong negotiator” and “pragmatic“. In addition, Nikolaus was also named among the Best Lawyers in Germany for Labour and Employment Law in the annual Best Lawyers ranking. · Employment Law
Sven Fretthold
Sven specialises in the renewables sector and in public private partnership projects (PPP). He acts for lenders, sponsors and borrowers in domestic as well as international project financing and real estate finance transactions. He regularly advises lending groups on complex and large scale-projects in the renewable energy sector. He also advises on structured financings of infrastructure and real estate projects. Sven is recommended as a leading projects lawyer for Germany by legal directories Chambers Europe 2019, 2020 and 2021 and Legal 500 EMEA 2018-19, with the latter highlighting his “ability to convey legal matters to non-lawyers”. Market sources comment that Sven has a “very good reputation in the German project finance market”. He has also been ranked in The Best Lawyers in Germany in 2024 in the field of Project Finance and Development Practice as well as ‘Lawyer of the Year for Project Finance and Development Practice’ in 2021 and 2022 by Best Lawyers in cooperation with business magazine Handelsblatt. · Project Finance
Thomas Hollenhorst
Thomas has extensive experience in a wide range of banking and finance related matters. He specialises in advising banks, investors and developers on the structuring and financing of energy and infrastructure projects in Germany, Europe and Asia. He has particular expertise in the renewables sector including on energy transition assets such as hydrogen, storage and e-mobility. He also advises on other financings, including ECA and general trade financing, acquisition finance, capital market transactions and restructurings in various asset classes. Furthermore, he advises banks, asset managers and other clients on banking and capital market related aspects. Thomas acts as a mediator from time to time. Thomas is recommended as a leading German energy lawyer by legal directories Chambers Europe, Legal 500 EMEA and JUVE Handbuch. In 2019, Chambers recognised him as a “reliable partner on time-critical projects” and describes him in 2022 as “knowledgeable of the transaction and parties involved across numerous projects“, while in JUVE competitors have styled him “competent, pragmatic and collegial”. Recently, Thomas is recommended by German legal directory JUVE 2024/2025 for Energy: Transactions/ Financing expertise. Thomas has also been ranked in Best Lawyers in Germany in the field of Project Finance and Structured Finance Law by peer-review publication Best Lawyers in cooperation with business magazine Handelsblatt. · Banking and Finance