Paul Holland > Dentons > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Dentons is praised by clients for ‘timely deliverables and good visibility of the process‘, with one client remarking that the firm ‘always comes up with the required solutions and is very professional in dealing with other parties, even when disagreements arise‘. Head of banking and finance Paul Holland oversees the firm’s emerging markets group, which has a strong presence in Africa, the Middle East, the CEE, CIS and Russia, as well as other developing markets. Debt capital markets partner Nick Hayday  is ‘a wonderful lawyer who instils confidence in a client‘. He assisted CPI Property Group, a major owner of income-generating real estate in the Czech Republic and the CEE region, on a €700m sustainability-linked bond issue. Debt capital markets specialists Cameron Half, who was part of a team that advised JSC Silknet in Georgia on a $300m bond issuance and who ‘contributes from his vast expertise and pragmatic solutions‘, and David Cohen are key members of the emerging markets group. Trade and export finance specialist Ian Clements is ‘very attentive and understands the issues‘. Dominic Spacie  specialises in projects, particularly infrastructure transactions, in Africa and the Caribbean. New energy and infrastructure partner Colm Ó hUiginn, who joined from Shearman & Sterling LLP in 2022, and finance partner James Ingham are also key to the practice.

The ‘very experienced, practical and approachable’ five-partner team at Dentons remains best known for its aviation-related finance and leasing work, where its client base includes a varied array of stakeholders, including airlines, manufacturers, lessors and lenders. Most of the work is led from the London office, although its huge international network means it can provide a one-stop-shop service, not just on English law but also on relevant local law issues should they arise. The firm’s relatively recently launched Dublin office has also enabled the firm to provide unique English/Irish law solutions on matters and enhanced its ability to service some of its lessor clients, a good number of which are headquartered in Dublin. Paul Holland is ‘massively experienced’, particularly on matters with a Middle Eastern nexus, and has recently provided expert guidance to longstanding client, Emirates, as it dealt with vastly reduced demand throughout the pandemic. Nick Chandler has a balanced practice which includes work for banks and airlines, as well as an increasing volume of lessor-related work, including his recent work for Chorus Aviation  on the acquisition of Falko Regional Aircraft from Fortress Investment Group. Serge Sergiou is also one of the more senior members of the team, whose longstanding presence in the market has seen him active across a range of different leasing and finance structures, including for core client Airbus. The ‘very approachable and pragmatic’ Stephen Temple co-heads the team alongside Sarah Dyke. Greg Kahn left to join Keystone Law in October 2021.