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England - London • Finance
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Transport finance and leasing

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Linklaters LLP

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Linklaters LLP provides expert counsel on cross-border financing and leasing transactions within the aviation and maritime sectors. The practice advises clients on a wide range of financial matters, including acquisitions and financing, restructurings, capital markets, and green financing solutions. Following Olga Petrovic’s departure in April 2025, Caroline Courtney assumed the role of practice head. Courtney brings extensive experience in aviation matters, including capital markets, restructurings, and insolvencies, and also advises on portfolio acquisitions, financing, chartering, and M&A transactions in the maritime sector. Aviation specialist David Murphy participates in structured loans, lease financings, export credit-backed financings, securitisations, and restructurings.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Pragmatic, fast, responsive.’

  • ‘Linklaters stands out in the legal industry for its deep sectoral expertise, global reach, and ability to deliver complex cross-border transactions under intense time constraints.'

  • ‘Caroline Courtney and David Murphy demonstrated a rare combination of legal mastery, commercial awareness, and operational leadership.'

  • ‘All provided excellent support throughout the execution of all leasing transactions. The response times were very fast and the great commercial awareness allowed for a fast conclusion. We highly appreciate the professional manner and structure in which the team managed the transactions.’

  • ‘The team stands out in shipping finance for its deep industry expertise, clear execution, and forward-thinking approach to green and digital innovations.’

  • ‘Caroline Courtney stands out for her deep expertise in shipping finance, clear and structured communication, and ability to align legal advice with our commercial goals. We particularly value her proactive mindset, strategic thinking, and collaborative approach.'

  • 'With Chiara Larghi and David Murphy who bring strong technical skills, responsiveness, and a collaborative mindset that consistently add value, they form a cohesive and highly effective team.’

  • ‘Practice is highly experienced, the team is able to leverage insight from relevant counsel on a global scale.’

  • 'All the Linklaters people we work with are sharp and focused on getting the deal done in a pragmatic manner. I like that the deals are managed efficiently in terms of staffing but that when an issue arises, the partner or counsel have already got up the curve, know the issue and come up with ways around it.'

  • 'I have worked with Caroline Courtney and David Murphy on financing transactions, and I cannot fault their service. Both have been extremely attentive to the transaction and were available to our team whenever needed.'

Key clients

  • Hapag-Lloyd Aktiengesellschaft
  • Deutsche Bank AG
  • HSBC
  • Navig8
  • Citibank N.A.
  • Cross Ocean Partners
  • Bank of America
  • Strategic Value Partners
  • Goldman Sachs
  • Credit Agricole Commercial and Investment Bank
  • SeaCube Containers
  • SMBC Bank International Plc
  • hsh portfoliomanagement AöR
  • Banque et Caisse d'Epargne de l'Etat, Luxembourg
  • INEOS Olefins
  • Naviera Armas, S.A.
  • Mizuho Securities USA LLC
  • Bank of America
  • BNP Paribas
  • Cathay Pacific Airways Limited

Work highlights

Acted for Hapag-Lloyd Aktiengesellschafton a series of matters with a combined deal value of $1.8bn for a total of three newbuild dual-fuel propelled vessels which utilised green financings.
Acted on the implementation of the multi-billion USD ECA-backed project financing to support costs associated with a new floating LNG vessel.
Acted on a matter for an aircraft lessor on the complex re-financing of their sidecar joint venture vehicle through two secured loans over 23 aircraft on lease to 17 global airlines.

Practice head

Caroline Courtney

Other key lawyers

David Murphy; Chiara Larghi