Clifford Chance services a wide-ranging client base, and consistently acts for investment banks, arrangers, and finance and operating lessors. It also routinely advises servicers, investors, export credit agencies and governmental authorities. The New York-based practice fields both commercial and export credit agency financing experts, and is highly experienced in aviation capital markets transactions. The department also has a robust operating lessor practice that acts for established and newer operating leasing companies. Clients additionally benefit from the aviation finance team’s ability to leverage specialists from the firm’s tax, corporate, capital markets and litigation groups. In recent highlights, the team advised Global Jet Capital on a Covid 19-related asset-backed security transaction involving aviation assets. Co-leading the US asset finance practice are aircraft finance expert John Howitt and Zarrar Sehgal, who is experienced in asset finance deals. Particularly focused on aircraft assets, Emily Wicker focuses on secured lending and leasing transactions, while Patrick O’Reilly acts for lenders, borrowers and export credit agencies on aircraft financings. Former partner Madalyn Miller departed the firm in January 2022.

Holland & Knight LLP is consistently involved in headline deals involving the purchase, sale, lease and financing of aircraft, engines and parts. It is also active in relation to helicopter and electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft transactions. Doing ‘everything possible to help the client succeed‘, the group completes a high volume of transactions. Heading up the practice, Phillip L. Durham, who divides his time between the firm’s Chicago and New York offices, is particularly focused on finance transactions in Latin America and other emerging markets. Also integral to the group is John F. Pritchard, who assists with aircraft financing and leasing work, including securitizations and enforcement matters. In San Francisco, William Piels acts for aircraft operating lessors and international financial institutions on aircraft leasing and financing deals; and Nathan Leavitt  is also active in relation to airlines operating in Latin America. At of counsel level, Fred Bass is another aircraft financing and leasing deal expert, while associate Laura Lewis regularly acts for aircraft leasing clients. All attorneys mentioned are based in the New York office, unless otherwise stated.

Vedder Price‘s global transportation finance practice covers the entire spectrum of aircraft finance transactions. Representative expertise for the ‘extremely commercial and strategically-thinking aviation team‘ ranges from large-value M&A to aircraft-related asset-backed securities work, portfolio debt financings, and structured multi-aircraft financings in the capital markets. The department also has a robust leaseback transactions practice. Heading up the team, corporate and securities law specialist Geoffrey R. Kass is highly rated for structured financings in the aviation transportation industry. Adam R. Beringer and Michael E. Draz are also widely respected aircraft finance experts, while Mark J. Ditto is regularly sought out for complex commercial aircraft and high-value equipment deals. In New York, Cameron A. Gee  routinely handles financing structures established across multiple jurisdictions; and Jeffrey T. Veber has great experience in transportation financings. On the West Coast, Raviv Surpin is an aircraft finance transactions expert in the Los Angeles office. At associate level, Justine L. Chilvers in New York ‘stands out for her ability to drive deals‘, while James Kilner‘s broad banking and finance practice includes aviation sales and leasebacks. All named lawyers are based  in the firm’s Chicago office unless otherwise mentioned.

Experienced in handling a broad array of aviation transactional matters, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP‘s New York-based practice covers aircraft and non-aircraft financings, capital markets deals, restructurings, and airport infrastructure development and financing. Co-heading the practice are Paul Brusiloff and Brian Liu. Praised by clients as ‘great to work with‘, Brusiloff, a long-standing counsel to American Airlines, advises borrowers on debt and equity financings. He also assists with refinancing, recapitalization and restructuring transactions. Liu acts for airlines, leasing companies and financial institutions on aviation and equipment finance deals. At associate level, Robert Gucwa advises on aviation-related secured debt and capital market financings, while Iryna Nikolaieva‘s project finance practice includes aircraft financing.

Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP houses experts in both asset-backed security deals and enhanced equipment trust certificate transactions. Co-chairing the aviation finance group are Steven Chung in Washington DC, who specializes in aircraft and other structured equipment financings; and senior counsel John Hoyns, who has longstanding aviation industry experience. In the Miami office, Mark Denham‘s expertise includes aircraft leases and loans, pre-delivery payment financings, warehouse facilities and securitizations. Also integral to the group are aviation finance experts Andrew Fowler and Terry Sanders, along with commercial aircraft finance-focused senior associates Sean Murphy Murphy and DC-based Cynthia Liu. In 2021, aviation finance specialist Thomas Healey joined the DC office from Katten. All named attorneys are based in New York, unless otherwise stated.

Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP‘s ‘diverse‘ and ‘extremely knowledgeable‘ aviation team acts on a broad array of aviation finance transactions. The client base ranges from airlines to operating lessors, hedge funds, US institutional equity investors, and commercial and investment banks. The firm has a notable ability to leverage global aviation expertise in numerous jurisdictions during cross-border transactions. Alyssa Marie Vazquez is head of aviation in the US, while Sean Corrigan has considerable aviation experience in equipment financing. Of counsel James D Tussing acts on US and cross-border transport finance and lease deals, while senior counsel Fiona Henderson is ‘well versed in both UK law and NY law‘. At senior associate level, Ryan Apar focuses on transportation equipment financings. All named individuals are based in the New York office.

K&L Gates‘ clients range from lenders and lessors, to airlines and aviation sector new technology providers. The team regularly advises on the financing programs for manufacturers of hydrogen fuel tanks, magnetic propulsion, range services, and aircraft and aerospace technology acquisitions. It has also recently assisted with major restructuring matters. Heading the Americas air finance practice from New York, Elizabeth Evans‘ practice covers aviation finance (both fixed wing and rotary). In Charleston, Amanda Darling focuses on asset and project finance, while Miami-based Marie-Pierre Grondin is a former deputy general counsel of GA Telesis, an aircraft engine overhaul and repair station.

Katten fields specialists in the financing of new and used aircraft, engines and related equipment. Its expertise also covers pooled aircraft securitizations, along with compliance work. Aviation transactions expert Timothy Lynes chairs the group, which includes commercial and business aircraft deal specialist Stewart Herman. Notable growth includes the July 2021 hire of Timothy Kirby, whose practice covers aviation finance, as partner from Milbank, while Brett Seifarth is a key associate. Former partner Thomas Healey recently left the firm. All advisers named are based in the firm’s Washington DC office unless stated otherwise.

Well known for its business jet expertise, King & Spalding LLP‘s commercial transactions practice is also growing substantially. The department, led by Atlanta-based Carolyn Alford, routinely covers the international acquisition, de-registration and financing of aircraft. Recent highlights include aircraft workout and repossession work for a business aircraft leasing and finance company. In addition to the transportation finance practice of Charlotte-based Chris Buchanan, who ‘provides prompt, effective and thought-out advice‘, he is an expert on the Payroll Support Program. Former transportation finance head Jason Huff left the firm in 2021.

Demonstrating ‘high levels of business acumen‘, McGuireWoods LLP‘s aviation practice represents leasing companies, financial institutions, investment firms, Fortune 500 companies and high-net-worth individuals on corporate aircraft financings. In Charlotte, practice leader Patricia Hosmer is a specialist in transactions involving aviation and other equipment; and David Whelpley Jr.’s experience covers aircraft-related work. Deepak Reddy in New York acts on commercial aircraft financings; and Peter Szurley  is the name to note in San Francisco. acting for financial institutions, hedge funds and finance companies, with both noted as ‘very knowledgeable and a pleasure to work with‘.

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP‘s ‘strong‘ and ‘very responsive‘ aviation practice routinely acts for financial institutions, leasing companies, airlines, manufacturers and export credit agencies. It is particularly noted for both its bank-side work and lessor finance practice. Firm-wide global finance leader, Mark Lessard, regularly advises on cross-border, asset-backed financings, while Melissa Jones-Prus assists with the financing and leasing of aircraft and other aviation assets. In Los Angeles, Richard Evans focuses on finance and leasing transactions involving commercial aircraft and private jets. Pat Reisinger is a key counsel. The practitioners mentioned are based in New York unless stated otherwise.

White & Case LLP’s national practice has longstanding experience in aircraft financing. In New York, Michael Smith is an aircraft finance and equipment leasing expert, while Todd K. Wolynski‘s broad experience in asset financing transactions includes aircraft and helicopter finance. In Miami, Christian Hansen, whose clients include both airlines and financial institutions, has a robust Latin American practice.

Routinely acting for finance and leasing companies, Winston & Strawn LLP‘s New York-based practice has a strong market reputation for capital markets, finance, leasing, and related restructuring and insolvency matters. Practice leader Pete Morgan and David Neier both regularly advise on aviation finance-related work. Also key to the team is David Gillespie, who assists major airlines, operating lessors, aircraft manufacturers and financial institutions with the leasing and financing of commercial aircrafts. Former aviation finance practice chair Michael O’Brien left the firm in July 2021.