Partner

Conor Warde

Languages

English

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A trusted adviser to leading players in the maritime, energy, and finance sectors, Conor Warde leads CMS’s shipping finance and transactional practice in Asia. Based in Hong Kong, Conor brings over two decades of international legal experience, guiding lenders, lessors, investors, and corporates through the complexities of high-value transactions and cross-border financings.

Conor’s expertise spans the full spectrum of shipping and offshore finance and transactional projects, including senior and subordinated debt facilities, asset finance, private equity investments, and M&A. He is renowned for his ability to deliver innovative solutions on matters ranging from restructurings, ship sale and purchase, and shipbuilding contracts, to regulatory compliance, international sanctions, and pollution incident response. His deep sector knowledge and commercial acumen make him a go-to adviser for owners, operators, and investors navigating the fast-evolving maritime and energy landscape.

With a career rooted in the maritime industry since 2004 and based in Asia since 2011, Conor is recognised for his thought leadership, regularly speaking at global industry conferences and contributing to leading publications. He is admitted as a solicitor/lawyer in five key jurisdictions: England & Wales, Hong Kong, Maryland (USA), Washington DC (USA), and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

Awards & Recognitions

01 –

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"Conor explains things really well to clients and is able to manage expectations. He is also transparent and open."

Chambers Greater China, 2025
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"Conor Warde is highly regarded by market commentators for his strong shipping finance practice. He offers his expertise to financial leasing houses, shipping companies and ship owners in sale and leaseback deals, sale and purchase of ships, restructuring and refinancing issues."

Chambers Greater China, 2024
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"He always does exactly what is asked of him and always carries out his work promptly."

Chambers Asia Pacific, 2022
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"Thinking ahead", "extremely organised" and "extremely well plugged into the industry."

Chambers Asia Pacific, 2021
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"His main strengths are responsiveness and accuracy."

Chambers Asia Pacific, 2021
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"Practical and great to work with", “solid in his understanding and works quickly and around the clock," and "he is very experienced, keeps things simple and ensures a smooth closing of matters."

Chambers Asia Pacific, 2020
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"He is a very good shipping lawyer who understands that advice needs to be commercial, precise and to the point."

Chambers Asia Pacific, 2020

Relevant experience

Minsheng Financial Leasing Co., Ltd. and certain of its subsidiaries in connection with a French court-approved restructuring of the Bourbon Maritime Group.
China Development Bank Financial Leasing Co., Ltd. in the USD 422m sale/leaseback of 14 product tankers with Maersk Product Tankers, which was awarded the 2020 Marine Money Leasing Deal of the Year.
Seaspan Corporation in numerous financing, sale and purchase and other maritime transactions.
A leading private alternative asset manager as junior lender in the USD 41,560,000 term loan refinancing of a leasing structure involving two car-carrier vessels.
A consortium of investors in the refinancing of an LNG carrier in connection with one of the largest LNG projects in South Asia.
One of the largest Chinese leasing houses on a multi-vessel lease financing for a UK-based shipowner.
A large Chinese financial leasing institution in the USD 60m sale/leaseback arrangements of eight vessels owned by subsidiaries of Nanjing Ocean Shipping Co., Ltd.
A major Chinese financial institution in relation to the USD 175m lease financing of one F&G JU2000E jack-up drilling rig built in China to a large Indonesian drilling contractor and operator, which was awarded by Marine Money Offshore as 2014 Leasing Deal of the Year.
A European lender in relation to a loan facility provided to a Singapore-listed shipping group in relation to the re-financing of four vessels.
A leading Chinese leasing company on the acquisition of two special purpose vehicles from another major Chinese leasing company and subsequent lease and bank financing of two newbuilding containerships to a well-known European operator.
A major Chinese financial institution in relation to the financing of 15 MR product tankers chartered to a major Korean shipping group.
A Hong Kong financial institution in multiple significant financings to provide funding for international investment portfolios.
A large Chinese leasing company on the lease financing of two bulk carriers chartered to a Chinese shipping group.
A major Chinese financial institution in relation to the bank and lease financing of an asphalt and bitumen carrier bareboat chartered to an American shipping group.
A large Chinese leasing company in connection with a financing involving 10 bulk carriers built in China.
A large Chinese bank in relation to the pre-delivery and post-delivery financing of two Handymax bulk carriers under construction at a major Chinese shipyard.
One of the world's leading private equity firms in a joint venture with a large Asia-based shipping group.
A Swiss financial institution on a USD 300m financing of drilling rigs and offshore supply vessels.

Memberships & Roles

Marshall Islands Quality Council of the Marshall Islands Shipping Registry
Georgetown University Alumni Admissions Program

Education

JD, The George Washington University Law School
BA, Georgetown University

Practice Areas

Banking & Finance Asset Finance

sectors

Infrastructure & Projects Maritime

Insights

Global Reach