Pieter van Welzen

Pieter van Welzen is a Consultant Attorney in the Banking and Finance practice at Thomson Wilks. He is a Dutch and English-qualified lawyer with more than 35 years’ experience in banking, finance, capital markets, structured finance and cross-border lending transactions.

Pieter advises financial institutions, development finance institutions, institutional investors, private equity investors, corporates and public authorities on complex financing arrangements across Europe and Africa. His work is particularly valuable where a transaction involves multiple jurisdictions, different legal systems, bespoke financing structures or a combination of public and private sector stakeholders.

Pieter’s experience covers bond issues, funding platforms, asset-backed commercial paper and bond programmes, repackaging programmes, securitisations, receivables financing, loan participation arrangements, derivatives, asset finance, structured trade finance and commodities finance.

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Cross-border finance and structured transactions

Pieter has spent much of his career advising on transactions that do not fit neatly into a standard legal template. His work often requires a combination of technical banking and finance knowledge, commercial judgement and an understanding of how different legal systems interact.

His experience in both common law and civil law jurisdictions enables him to assist clients on matters involving English law, European legal systems and African markets. Pieter is also able to advise and transact in English, Dutch, French, Portuguese and German, which adds practical value in cross-border transactions where documents, counterparties and legal concepts often move between languages and jurisdictions.

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Africa-focused finance experience

Pieter has advised on a number of significant Africa-related finance transactions, including matters involving development finance institutions, commercial banks, public authorities and infrastructure entities.

His experience includes advising the African Development Bank in relation to loan facilities to Portos e Caminhos de Ferro de Moçambique and Transnet, advising Banco BAI in Angola on facility agreements, loan participation and repo transactions, advising Standard Bank South Africa and JUMO on a loan receivables-backed structured loan facility linked to mobile-enabled consumer finance in Uganda, and advising development finance institutions on project preparation and loan participation arrangements.

He has also advised on cross-border structured trade and commodities finance facilities, including matters for South African and African banking clients.

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Public international law, law of the sea and maritime matters

In addition to his banking and finance practice, Pieter has experience in matters connected with public international law, the law of the sea and maritime issues. He is a member of the International Law Association Committee on the Protection of People at Sea.

This combination of finance, public international law and maritime experience gives Pieter a distinctive profile for transactions and advisory matters involving infrastructure, ports, public authorities, development finance and cross-border commercial activity.

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Recognition

Pieter has been recognised by leading international legal directories, including Chambers and Partners, IFLR1000 and The Legal 500, for his technical skill, client service and contribution to the legal profession.

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Qualifications and admissions

Pieter holds a Dr. iur from the University of Hamburg, an M. Litt. from Magdalene College, Cambridge, a qualification in international relations from the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva, and an LL.M. from Erasmus University Rotterdam.

He was admitted as an advocaat in the Netherlands in 1990 and as a solicitor in England and Wales in 1999.