Robert A. Wilkins

Rob has a leading reputation in acting for investment banks, funds, and private equity clients investing in the maritime and offshore industries.

A recognised practitioner with more than two decades of experience advising on shipping transactions, Rob has led from the buy side in most of the large non-performing shipping loan portfolio transactions in the market over the past few years, and on numerous large and complex restructurings, M&A transactions, joint ventures, and structured financings.

Experience

Representative matters

Acting for Bank of America in relation to residual value guarantee transactions for vessels and other assets.

Acting for, HSH Nordbank AG, Bank of America and Barclays Bank plc. (amongst others) in relation to various vessel debt and lease finance transactions.

Acting for Eagle Bulk Shipping, Vale, Unicorn, Capital and other shipowners / operators in relation to the construction, sale and purchase and financing of various vessels and marine/offshore related assets.

Acting for Bank of America in relation to residual value guarantee transactions for vessels and other assets.

Acting for, HSH Nordbank AG, Bank of America and Barclays Bank plc. (amongst others) in relation to various vessel debt and lease finance transactions.

Advising Eagle Bulk Shipping in relation to its US$1.1 billion acquisition of 26 Supramax newbuilding contracts from Greek interests and related US$1.6 billion financing.

Acting for a major panamax and capesize bulk carrier owner/operator on its long term charters (including purchase options) and joint ventures/pooling arrangements

Acting for Sea Containers on the US$585 million sale of its Baltic ferry subsidiary Silja Oy AS to Estonian Ferry operator AS Tallink Group

Acting for a U.S. investment fund in relation to the sale and leaseback of four tanker vessels from a Malaysian owner for a total purchase price of over US$167,000,000 including financing arrangements provided by a major German bank.

Acting for a Brazilian bank in relation to the shipping related security aspects of a US$42,700,000 Brazilian bond issue by a Brazilian shipowner.

Acting for a commodities house in relation to the establishment of a joint venture vehicle with an Italian shipowner for the purchase and operation of drybulk vessels.

Acting for a Korean shipyard in relation to the negotiation of contractual documentation related to two newbuilding vessels with a combined purchase price of in excess of US$200,000,000.

Acting for a Middle East based owner in relation to the purchase of a jackup drilling rig for US$178,000,000.

Acting for a US investment fund in relation to a mezzanine finance facility made available to a Greek ship owner.

Acting for a US private equity fund in relation to a US$175,000,000 joint venture with US listed shipowner and another US private equity house to acquire vessels.

Recognitions

Ranked in Chambers Global for Global Market Leaders Shipping: Finance, 2021-2025
Ranked in Chambers UK for UK-wide Asset Finance: Shipping Finance, 2019-2026
Listed as a Leading Partner in The Legal 500 UK 2026 for Transport Finance & Leasing