International legal practice Norton Rose LLP has appointed Simon Lew as a shipping partner in its London banking practice. Simon was previously a partner at Clifford Chance.
Simon focuses on the shipping and offshore sectors, but also has considerable experience in rail and other asset classes. He specialises in structured finance, leasing and restructuring for both major transport and financial institutions clients.
Simon Hartley, co-head of shipping at Norton Rose Group, commented:
“The asset finance industry has changed a huge amount in the previous few years, especially in shipping. Bank debt is clearly less available, and complex restructurings are becoming more prevalent. It’s increasingly important to make the links between transport companies and alternative sources of finance, such as private equity and capital markets. Simon’s expertise fits this new market perfectly, and we look forward to welcoming him to the team.”
Simon Lew commented:
“Norton Rose’s reputation in the sector is second to none. It has strong transport roots, and is one of the few firms that can offer a genuinely top tier service in all the areas modern transport organisations demand. Coupled with its recent geographic expansion, it’s clearly an exciting time to be joining the practice. I’m looking forward to playing my part in its continued growth.”
Simon qualified as a lawyer in England and Wales in 1989. He has been a partner in Clifford Chance’s banking and finance practice for the past 16 years, heading up the ship finance practice for the last five years.
Transport is one of six key sectors strengths around which Norton Rose Group is structured. It has some 300 transport specialists worldwide and a longstanding reputation for world-class expertise in the aviation, rail and shipping sectors.
Norton Rose’s asset finance practice is currently ranked in Band 1 in the global-wide section of leading legal directory Chambers Global. The directory states: “This firm covers the major asset classes with equal ease, and its expertise in rail, shipping and aviation combines to produce a formidable practice.”
