Yui Ota-Barclay
Senior Associate (Foreign Qualified) London
Yui is a Senior Associate (Foreign Qualified Lawyer) in the Asset Finance and Leasing Group.
Yui is an asset finance lawyer with a particular focus on the maritime and energy sectors. She assists shipping companies and financial institutions in navigating complex cross-border financing transactions with her in-depth legal knowledge, cultural insight and commercial acumen.
Yui’s wide-ranging expertise includes various financing arrangements: from traditional debt financings to highly sophisticated financial products such as JOLCOs. She has experience handling transactional matters involving container ships, LNG carriers and FSPOs, and she regularly implements tailored solutions to meet each client’s unique market needs.
Clients, including leading Japanese banks, international lenders and ship owners, rely on her ability to bridge cultural differences and deliver commercially sound solutions. Thanks to a decade of experience at top-tier international law firms in Tokyo and London, Yui has developed a deep understanding of the global shipping landscape, particularly in facilitating deals for Japanese shipping companies.
Yui is passionate about promoting diversity, equity and inclusion, striving to create a more equitable working environment within the legal and maritime sectors. Her dedication to these values enhances her ability to connect with clients and colleagues alike, fostering an environment of trust and collaboration.
- Advising funds managed by a leading U.S. private equity firm in relation toon their pending acquisition of an LNG carrier infrastructure platform. Tasks included due diligence of underlying French tax lease documentation including quiet enjoyment and step-in arrangements with the relevant charterers.
- Advising a private equity firm in relation to a non-recourse loan facility for eleven offshore wind farm service vessels. Preparing security documents and setting up a complex closing mechanics which allowed for the loan drawdowns and the acquisition finance completion to occur simultaneously.
- Advising a leading international bank in relation to a JOLCO transaction for financing of one LNG carrier. This transaction involved a complex closing mechanics across Japan, China, Greece, France and the UK.
- Advising a leading European bank on a K-SURE supported loan facility of one of Canada’s largest marine shipping companies.
- Advising a leading German shipping company on a US$15m term loan facility from a U.S. bank, discussing each clause of the facility agreement from the borrower’s point of view, in particular to address operational requirements involving various equity investors.
- Advising a group of purchasers on a series of bond financing transactions arranged by one of the large cruise companies. Tasks included review of all bond issuance documents from the English law perspective and collecting specialist advice.
- Advised two Japanese lenders regarding amendment and restatement of a term loan facility for the purposes of replacing the borrower and the financed vessel.
- Advising a leading Japanese financial institution in relation to purchases of shipping loan portfolios from a leading international bank.
- Advising leading Japanese and international banks (including ECAs) on various FSO and FPSO financings for Japanese sponsors, to be chartered on long term charter in Brazil.
- Advising a major Japanese trading house in relation to the double sale and leaseback of an LNG carrier, including in relation to the sale and purchase, chartering and multiple quiet enjoyment arrangements.
Education
- 2012 – 2013 · Master of Laws, Georgetown University Law Center
- 2008 – 2012 · Bachelor of Laws, Keio University
Memberships and associations
New York State Bar
