Mr John Howitt > Clifford Chance > New York, United States > Lawyer Profile

In addition to advising investment banks, arrangers, and finance and operating lessors, Clifford Chance‘s New York-based group routinely represents servicers, investors, export credit agencies and governmental authorities. The practice houses both commercial and export credit agency financing specialists, and it is highly experienced in aviation capital markets deals, including substantial debt and equity offerings, as well as complex portfolio securitizations and enhanced equipment trust certificates issuances. Another key area is the firm’s operating lessor practice, which acts for several established and newer operating leasing companies. The aviation finance team is additionally supported by the firm’s tax, corporate, capital markets and litigation teams. The asset finance practice’s principal figures are Zarrar Sehgal, who is experienced in representing underwriters, lenders, lessors and governmental agencies in asset finance transactions; and aircraft finance specialist John Howitt. The department also showcases Emily Wicker, who focuses on secured lending and leasing transactions, particularly in relation to aircraft assets; and Patrick O’Reilly, who advises lenders, borrowers, airframe manufacturers and export credit agencies on a range of aircraft finance work. At counsel level, Benjamin Fisher specializes in cross-border asset finance transactions within the aviation sector, while Ken Lee is an asset finance transactional expert.