Holland & Knight LLP ‘has one of the most reputable, dedicated aviation practices with a deep bench covering trading, leasing, finance, insurance, regulatory and restructuring’, led by Phillip L. Durham out of Chicago and New York. The team boasts a diverse client base, serving international banks, aviation corporations, and investment funds with any and all matters relating to the sector. Durham has strong credentials in leasing and acquisition work and directly advises some of the industry’s largest investors such as Nordic Aviation, AerCap, and BBAM Aircraft Management. Nathan Leavitt works out of the San Francisco office and is considered an authority in the Latin American aviation market, with a wealth of experience with bankruptcy proceedings, insurance matters, and aircraft leasing. In New York, Richard Furey is a dual-qualified attorney with considerable asset finance expertise and is heavily involved in a lot of the team’s portfolio financing work whilst John Pritchard is a widely respected figure in aviation, who acts for a variety of stakeholders in complex securitization transactions. Rounding out the New York office, Danielle Santucci focuses on complex leasing transactions and is particularly well-known in the Latin American market. Asset finance specialist Audrey Sung bolsters the firm West Coast presence alongside Brian Daigle who excels at arranging lending transactions for airlines and funds. In Dallas, Cynthia Liu excels at commercial aircraft finance and is able to advise clients on compliance with international trade regulations.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
- Profile
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Holland & Knight has one of the most reputable, dedicated aviation practices with a deep bench covering trading, leasing, finance, insurance, regulatory, and restructuring. We have used their teams in the US and in London to assist on aircraft trading, insurance settlement, and restructuring matters and have been extremely pleased with the resources they have made available to us and the quality of their advice.’
‘Phil Durham in New York is the leader of the practice and has been working with us on several aircraft trading assignments. The work product is consistently excellent.’
‘H&K’s aviation finance team is truly outstanding. They possess an exceptional understanding of the aviation market and financing structures, combined with top-tier legal expertise. The team is highly dedicated, efficient, and polished, ensuring that every matter is handled with precision and delivered in a smooth and seamless manner.
- 'Their client-focused approach makes them a trusted partner in the industry. They consistently deliver excellent results, setting them apart as a standout practice in this field. ’
‘The members of H&K’s aviation and finance team stand out for their dedication to finding efficient solutions and their extensive experience in the industry. Over the years, we have had the privilege of working with them on complex cross-border transactions involving some of the world’s largest aircraft leasing companies. Thanks to their expertise and commitment, these transactions have been successfully completed, delivering highly positive outcomes for the clients.
- We would like to highlight the contributions of the partners with whom we have had the pleasure of working on several occasions over the past year. That said, every member of the team is excellent, consistently demonstrating professionalism, knowledge, and dedication to achieving excellent results. ’
Key clients
- Avolon Aerospace Leasing Limited
- BBAM Aircraft Management LP
- AerCap Holdings N.V.
- SMBC Aviation Capital Limited
- Aircastle Limited
- Nordic Aviation Capital
- Muzinich & Co. Limited
- BOC Aviation
- Perseus Aviation
- Investec Bank Plc
Work highlights
- Represented nearly twenty lessors in GOL’s US$4 billion Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding.
- Represented numerous lessors in Azul’s US$1.9 billion out-of-court restructuring.
- Represented BBAM in connection with the US$556 million Horizon 2024-1 ABS transaction.
Lawyers
Hall of fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
John Pritchard
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Richard Furey
Nathan Leavitt
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Cynthia Liu
Danielle Santucci
Practice head
Phillip L. Durham
Other key lawyers
Audrey Sung; Cynthia Lung; John Pritchard; Brian Daigle;Richard Furey; Nathan Leavitt; Danielle Santucci