Mark J. Ditto > Vedder Price > Chicago, United States > Lawyer Profile

Vedder Price
222 NORTH LASALLE STREET, SUITE 2600
CHICAGO, IL 60601-1003
ILLINOIS
United States

Work Department

Global Transportation Finance

Position

Shareholder

Career

Mr. Ditto represents operating lessors, commercial banks, finance companies, private equity firms and hedge funds in complex commercial aircraft and high-value equipment transactions, including securitizations and warehouse financings, Rule 144A and Regulation S capital markets offerings, including those involving syndicated equity, joint ventures, cross-border operating and finance leases, ECA financings, distressed-debt trades and workouts, and the establishment of offshore leasing platforms.

Mr. Ditto also represents financiers and lessors in manufacturing facility financings, including those in the steel, timber, chemical, distribution and water treatment industries. In addition, Mr. Ditto has considerable experience in financings involving automobile loans and leases, credit card receivables, dealer floorplan receivables, marine container leases, mortgage loans, railcar leases, student loans, trade receivables and vessel loans. He advises clients on various day-to-day matters including tax-based corporate structuring, consignment arrangements, servicing and management agreements, and general corporate and securities law matters.

Mr. Ditto has been involved in several pro bono matters representing political asylum clients from Darfur, the Central African Republic, Sierra Leone, and Tibet.

Memberships

  • Member, American Bar Association
  • Member, Illinois State Bar Association
  • Member, International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading (ISTAT)

Education

  • University of Texas School of Law, J.D., 2007, magna cum laude, Order of the Coif
  • DePauw University, B.A., 2004, summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa

Lawyer Rankings

United States > Transport > Aviation and air travel: finance

Housing ‘one of the premier aviation finance legal practices’, Vedder Price‘s client base ranges from major airlines, export credit agencies, operating lessors and asset managers to investment funds, finance companies, and manufacturers and manufacturer finance companies. The team handles the full gamut of aircraft finance deals, with its expertise covering large-value M&A deals, aircraft-related asset-backed securities, and portfolio debt financings. It also assists with structured multi-aircraft financings in the capital markets, sale and leaseback deals, individual aircraft sales, and maintenance, repair and overhaul agreements. In Chicago, Geoffrey Kass is a specialist in aviation sector-related structured financings; Adam Beringer focuses on commercial aircraft finance; Mark Ditto represents operating lessors, commercial banks, finance companies, private equity firms and hedge funds in commercial aircraft and high-value equipment transactions; and Michael Draz is another key aviation finance practitioner. Over in New York, Jeffrey Veber is well known for his work with EXIM Bank on cross-border aircraft leasings; Cameron Gee is ‘one of the best aviation partners around‘; and Justine Chilvers advises on an array of cross-border and domestic aircraft finance transactions. Another key adviser is aircraft finance transaction expert Raviv Surpin in Los Angeles.