Nicholas Yu is a Senior Associate in the Assets and Structured Finance group.

Nicholas specialises in asset finance and leasing with a focus on both the aviation and shipping sectors.

Nicholas’ extensive experience covers a wide range of asset finance and leasing transactions advising financial institutions, leasing companies, funds, operators and export credit agencies. He has previously completed a secondment with BNP Paribas and had extensive experience advising Chinese banks and leasing houses in both aviation and shipping sectors.

Nicholas joined Watson Farley & Williams from a magic circle firm in London having previously worked in China at other international law firms.

He speaks native Mandarin and Shanghainese.

Show key areas

Show key areas

  • Acting for a major European bank on its financing for a major lessor for their purchase of a number of new Airbus aircraft to be leased to various airlines.
  • Acting for a major operating lessor on in relation to its purchase, financing and leasing of a portfolio of new ATR aircraft to an Indian airline.
  • Acting for an Asian airline on its PDP financing and operating lease of a number of new Boeing aircraft with a major lessor and associated lending business.
  • Acting for European banks on their GIEK-backed financing of two offshore vessels for a JV set up by two major project management, engineering and construction players in energy industry.
  • Acting for a private debt fund on its first sale and lease-back of one VLCC for a Chinese shipowner and the associated refinancing with an investment bank.

Education

  1. BPP Law School, Legal Practice Course (Distinction)
  2. BPP Law School, Graduate Diploma in Law
  3. The University of Manchester, L.L.M.
  4. Shanghai University of International Business and Economics, L.L.B.

 

Memberships and Associations

The Law Society of England and Wales