Kate Silverstein
Partner London
KATE IS A PARTNER IN THE ASSETS & STRUCTURED FINANCE GROUP.
She specialises in asset finance with a focus on shipping. She has experience on a variety of transactions including ECA-backed products, offshore and FSRU financings, container and cruise ship financings and has advised on loan facilities, leasing arrangements and leasetails, portfolio transfers, complex restructurings and intercreditor agreements.
Kate has acted for owners, lenders and charterers. She is ranked as a leading lawyer in Shipping Finance by Chambers UK Guide 2026. Chambers describes Kate as “always responsive and proactive” and “driving the deal forward” and notes that clients are “very happy with Kate’s service, insight, knowledge and problem-solving capabilities”. Kate has also advised on a number of award-winning deals including ‘Marine Money’s Structured Finance Deal of the Year Award 2023’.
She joined Watson Farley & Williams in 2007 as a trainee solicitor and qualified into the Asset Finance group of the Paris office in 2009 before returning to the London office in January 2012.
- Advised Höegh Evi Ltd. on the acquisition of a 50% stake in its shareholder Larus Holding by funds managed by Igneo Infrastructure Partners.
- Advised Höegh LNG on the refinancing of the Höegh Esperanza and Höegh Gannet FSRUs that will service Germany’s new FLNG terminals in the North Sea ports of Wilhelmshaven, Lower Saxony, and Brunsbüttel, Schleswig-Holstein. Marine Money’s Structured Finance Deal of the Year Award 2023.
- Advised Euronav as maritime counsel on its US$1.15bn share purchase agreement for the acquisition of CMB.Tech.
- Advising Höegh LNG on the refinancing of the Höegh Galleon FSRU on long term charter with Squadron Energy’s Australian Industrial Energy.
- Advising Höegh LNG on the ECA-backed US$230m debt financing for its eighth FSRU.
- Advising Hoegh LNG on its first ever sale and leaseback deal with China Construction Bank Financial Leasing (“CCBFL”) for its tenth Floating Storage Regasification Unit (“FSRU”), the Hoegh Galleon, which has been taken back on charter by Hoegh LNG for twelve years.
- Advised MSC Cruises on a ECA backed debt financing facility in excess of US$2 billion to fund the newbuilding programme for their four new luxury class ships currently under construction at Fincantieri, Italy.
- Advising MSC Cruises S.A., the world's fourth largest cruise operator, regarding two loan facilities for the development of its private resort island in the Bahamas known as "MSC Ocean Cay Marine Reserve".
- Advising Scorpio Tankers on a US$172m ECA-supported loan facility.
Education
- 2006 · College of Law, Legal Practice Course
- 2005 · University of Exeter, Bachelor of Laws, LLB (Hons)
memberships & associations
- Law Society of England & Wales
- EventWaves of Progress: Women steering the future of ESG and Finance
- PressWFW advises Höegh Evi on acquisition of 50% stake in shareholder Larus
- PressWFW acts as maritime counsel to Euronav on purchase of CMB.TECH
- PressWFW advises Höegh LNG on refinancing of two LNG FSRUs and entry into new German terminals
- ArticleA Year on for Poseidon Principles
