Peter Lee
Partner
Peter is a highly experienced shipping and asset finance lawyer, with recognized expertise in LNG, cruise, and offshore transactions across Asia.
Partner
Peter is a highly experienced shipping and asset finance lawyer, with recognized expertise in LNG, cruise, and offshore transactions across Asia.
Languages - English, Cantonese, Mandarin
Jurisdiction - Hong Kong, England and Wales
Peter is a shipping specialist with a primary focus on complex maritime transactions. He has more than 20 years’ experience in LNG, offshore oil and gas and cruise ship transactions, which call for innovative solutions and are often structured as multi-layered transactions combining purchase, conversion, construction, chartering and financing. He assists shipowners, energy companies, banks, and leasing companies from all around the world on China-related deals of this kind.
Peter’s practice also encompasses all types of sale, leasing, and financing of vessels, syndicated lending, equipment financing, and complex cross-border transactions for financial institutions, and investors across Asia.
Peter joins Stephenson Harwood from Reed Smith.
LNG shipping and energy infrastructure
From 2023 to 2024, advised China Merchants Energy in its bidding and negotiation for the construction, purchase and long-term chartering of ten LNG carriers to Qatar Gas (Phase II), with a total value exceeding US$2.5 billion.
Maritime transport and asset finance
Since 2003, advised China Cosco Shipping Group on over US$6.8 billion in shipping-related financings, including vessel lease and delivery, restructuring, term loans, and container financings across its global fleet.
Maritime leasing and energy transport
From 2022 to 2024, acted for China Development Bank Financial Leasing Co., Ltd. In its US$140 million lease financing of 21 vessels (17 feeder container ships and four oil tankers) for Marine Fleet.
Container shipping and oil transport
From 2022 to 2023, acted for Sinopec in an LNG shipping project with a value exceeding US$2 billion, involving NYK, COSCO and Shandong Marine.
LNG shipping and energy infrastructure
In 2022, advised a leading Chinese oil tanker firm on an LNG shipping project with a major Asia-Pacific oil company, covering joint ventures, shipbuilding, chartering, supervision, management, and financing.
Cruise shipping and tourism finance
From 2019 to 2022, advised Oriental Fleet on a US$100M two-tier cruise ship sale and leaseback with a major U.S. cruise firm and Chinese tourism group, followed by refinancing with a leading Chinese bank.
Offshore drilling and energy finance
From 2014 to 2020, acted for ICBC Leasing in its US$1.2 billion lease financing of a Brazilian oil and gas project involving two DP3 semi-submersible drilling platforms, including the subsequent termination, enforcement and disposal of the platforms.
LNG infrastructure and energy logistics
In 2020, advised a JV between VPower and CNTIC on building an LNG supply chain for Myanmar projects, covering carrier purchases, refinancing, terminal construction, and tugboat acquisition, with full LNG-related legal support.
Bulk shipping and maritime leasing
In 2019, acted for China Development Bank Leasing in its US$262 million purchase of four second-hand and six newbuilding bulk carriers from an Asian shipowner and bareboat chartering them to an Asian ship operator under an operating lease.
LNG shipping and maritime restructuring
In 2019, advised CIMC Capital on acquiring and leasing a distressed newbuilding LNG carrier, addressing complex legal issues involving a European operator and a financially troubled Chinese shipyard.
