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

Clifford Chance‘s team in New York ‘marries technical excellence with commercial sensitivity’. The practice’s enviable client list comprises investment banks, arrangers, investors, governmental authorities, and finance and operating lessors. In addition to its Export Credit Agency finance specialism, the group is highly experienced in aviation-related debt and equity offerings, portfolio securitizations, and enhanced equipment trust certificate issuances. The firm additionally has a robust operating lessor practice, through which it acts for both established and newer operating leasing companies. With particular experience in financing and corporate transactions involving aircraft, rolling stock and vessels, Zarrar Sehgal heads the global asset finance group, as well as the global transport and logistics team. The practice also includes the ‘simply awesome’ aircraft leasing and financing expert Emily Wicker; Patrick O’Reilly, whose aircraft finance workload covers secured and unsecured lending, joint ventures, operating leases, and portfolio sales and acquisitions, along with M&A, securitization and restructuring; and renowned asset finance expert John Howitt. Other names to note are Benjamin Fisher, a specialist in aviation sector-related cross-border asset finance deals; and Olga Miller, whose aircraft finance experience encompasses pre-delivery payment facilities, new delivery and leaseback financings, business jet transactions, and spare parts and engine financings.