Nick Swinburne > Milbank > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Drawing upon the core sector expertise of ‘market leading, top-tier partners and exceptional associates’, and also able to leverage the firm’s impressive capital markets, insolvency prowess and US offices, Milbank is, according to one client, ‘the best team in the market for complicated and high-value aviation finance transactions’. The tone is set by the leadership at the team, with James Cameron able to bring a ‘wealth of experience and practical nous to any deal he works on’ for a varied mix of stakeholders including lessors, funds and banks. ‘At the top of his game’, Nick Swinburne co-heads the team alongside Cameron and is recognised as ‘a great person to have on highly complicated and structured transactions’, including EETC matters. At an associate level, Mark Leverkus is ‘head and shoulders above many of his peers‘, and Tom Jackson  has ‘a bright future ahead of him’. 

Milbank assists airlines, lessors and financial institutions on the spectrum of commercial aviation matters, including restructuring and insolvency, and M&A. The team has also assisted lessors in regard to Russian sanctions matters and associated insurance claims, while also acting on a range of other disputes and arbitrations. Heading the team are James Cameron, who focuses on transport asset finance and portfolio transactions, and Nick Swinburne, a finance, leasing and restructuring specialist.

Described by one client as a ‘skilled team that can handle with ease the most daunting of transactions’, Milbank remains a highly active player in the region’s aviation finance and restructuring scene. Following the departure of Paul Ng in summer 2023, David Paterson, noted for his transaction and leasing experience, is the key point of contact for the Singapore office. Paterson also works with the London Office’s asset and trade finance partners, Nick Swinburne, and James Cameron (the latter is a member of the firm’s transportation and space group.)