Simon J. Murfitt 麥富德

Partner | Corporate

About

Simon is an experienced international asset and project finance, banking, energy, trade and transport finance lawyer with significant expertise in the aviation (commercial and private), marine (commercial and super yachts), renewables (both on and offshore) and all other aspects of the aviation and shipping sectors gained while working, both in house and in private practice the UK, North America, Europe and Asia. During his career, he has advised on a wide range of transportation projects for sponsors, financiers, charterers, regulators and other stakeholders at all stages of the commercial and operative life of such assets/projects.

  • Specifically, Simon is able to advise on the initial procurement, concession and/or franchise process, ongoing facility/project management, operational, compliance and reporting issues, re-financing and re-structuring, and any default and enforcement processes for such high net worth assets. Most recently, he has advised on a variety of non-traditional asset finance models for super yachts, restructuring and alternative finance models.

    Simon also has international and domestic expertise in all major energy and transport sectors, including air, rail, road and sea, and advising financial institutions and other parties on a wide range of situations and transactions.

    In addition to being qualified in England and Wales, Simon is also a solicitor and notary public in Scotland and also qualified to practise and advise on the laws of both the Republics of Kiribati and Tuvalu law. He has also been previously a registered foreign practitioner in Hong Kong and the Isle of Man, having worked and still working extensively in all those jurisdictions.

    Simon Advises:

    • Corporate and Individual Borrowers and other Sponsors

    • Traditional and alternative financiers

    • Airlines, Ship Owners, and Charterers

    • Key Aviation and Marine industry service providers

    • National and International Aviation and Marine Regulatory Authorities, both governmental and NGOs

    • Insurers

    • High Net Worth Individuals

    Simon also regularly contributes to the Super Yacht Magazine, Tradewinds, BBC News at 6, BBC Five Live, and BBC Solent.

Practices

  • Bankruptcy, Financial Restructuring, and Reorganization

  • Banking and Financial Services

  • Capital Markets

  • Commodities, Futures & Derivatives

  • Commercial Transactions

  • Emerging Companies

  • Energy, Renewables, and Sustainability

  • FinTech and Blockchain

  • Government Affairs

  • Healthcare

  • Hospitality

  • Insurance

  • International Trade

  • Mergers and Acquisitions

  • Opinions

  • Outsourcing

  • Project Finance

  • Privacy and Data Protection

  • Private Client Services

  • Private Equity and Venture Capital

  • Private Investment Funds

  • Public Finance

  • Regulatory Law & Government Contracts

  • Securities

  • Trading & Markets

  • Trusts & Estates

Admissions

  • England and Wales

  • Scotland

  • Hong Kong

  • Isle of Man

  • Republic of Kiribati

  • Republic of Tuvalu

Education

  • Queens University at Kingston, BA (Hons)

  • University of Edinburgh, LL.B., Dip.LP.

Memberships

  • The Law Society of Scotland, Law Society of England & Wales, Law Society of Hong Kong

  • Liveryman Worshipful Company of Shipwrights

  • North Hants Magistrates Bench (Adult Criminal)

  • British Marine Federation

  • London School of Economics Hong Kong Association Entrepreneurial competition

  • Hong Kong Football Club

Experience

  • gunnercooke

  • Clifford Chance

  • Norton Rose

  • Mayer Brown JSM (then JSM)

  • Linklaters

  • Tods Murray WS

Representative Experience

Acting for:

  • a major Channel Islands commercial airline in all its fleet management requirements;

  • a UK Air Ambulance Charity Trust in both their existing service contracts and fleet management matters;

  • as sole legal advisor to a major UK retail bank vision with a running loan book of over GBP 500 million in its LIBOR/SONIA reference interest rate repapering exercise;

  • International Marine Engineering Services provider in its European and Middle Eastern operations;

  • a major London based UK private merchant bank advising in relation to its distressed superyacht portfolio;

  • a large UK marine pension fund with its vessel secured restructuring and periodic security reviews;

  • a major UK based aviation engine maintenance provider in all its non-contentious matters including but not limited to national and international JV, PBAs and CAA/FAA engine licence types transferals and regarding the provision of a fleet of Hawk MK67 advanced training aircraft for use within the UK MoD training programme;

  • a major Korean shipbuilder in their innovative subordinated builder credit post-delivery finance arrangements.

Advising:

  • a sole lender on the initial fleet procurement and operation of the first new high-speed passenger ferry link between Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR in over thirty years;

  • a major US cruise line operator in its negotiation of a sister ship new build contract with a major Italian yard;

  • on the review, amendment and implementation of a major Middle Eastern carbon fuel producer’s stand terms and conditions (FOB/CNF/CIF/Ex-Ship);

  • on the setting up and structuring of a new unique cross border jet procurement, ownership and chartering business model;

  • Sole UK advisor for the lender in relation to its UK security for a new client credit line; and

  • Sole UK advisor for the lessee in its acquisition of a Swiss made commercial aircraft simulator for EU export.