Norton Rose Fulbright’s team continues to be prominent within the region’s aviation, shipping, and offshore industries. Able to draw on its expansive Asian and global networks, the team consistently advises lessors, lessees, financiers, and manufacturers on a range of high-value transactions including acquisitions of aircraft and aviation equipment and portfolio management, often acting for high-profile financial institutions and major regional airliners. Its shipping team acts act as a regional hub offering a wide range of capabilities. Aviation industry veteran, Keith Sandilands, and Ben Rose, renowned for his shipping and offshore expertise, jointly lead the practice. Sue Ann Gan is recommended for ship financing and litigation. Edward Bentley, a regular advisor to lessors, banks, and export credit agencies, Chloe Goodwin, who focuses on aviation transactions, and Sophie Polisena are also noted.

Stephenson Harwood LLP’s structured and aviation finance, shipping and offshore finance team advises a range of major financial institutions, banks, lessors and lessees, on contentious and non-contentious matters. It has seen numerous restructurings and refinancings alongside lease work, sales and purchases, and portfolio management in the aviation space. Saugata Mukherjee is praised for his ‘unparalleled depth of aviation industry knowledge‘, and Clement Leung is recommended for advising on the hedging aspects of aviation finance transactions. Piloted by practice co-head Gregg Johnston, the team handles a broad mix of multi-jurisdictional complex transactions including sustainability-linked loans, restructurings, and disputes. Gregory Xu, with over 15 years of experience in the maritime sector, excels in complex financing and restructuring issues. Huay Yee Kwan is noted for her expertise in PRC leasing, together with Pedram Norton and Jeffrey Tanner, who bring further depth and breadth to all aspects of ship and offshore finance.

Clifford Chance is a regional ‘go-to’ for aviation matters across the Asia Pacific. Recent mandates include financings, restructurings, sales and leasebacks, JOLCO structured leasing transactions and sustainability-linked financings. It has garnered an impressive client list featuring major financial institutions, banks, and other investment groups. Practice head Fergus Evans ‘takes a commercial and problem-solving approach to transactions‘, specialising in finance and leasing matters including tax-driven structures and export credit-backed transactions. Nattawat Vilasdechanon counts a number of Korean institutional investors as his clients and handles a steady flow of structured finance and aircraft leasing transactions.

HFW Singapore LLP’s team handles a mix of shipping and aviation finance mandates.  The practice, led by ship finance specialist John Forrester, is particularly prominent for advising lessors on portfolio management, warehouse financings, aircraft portfolio acquisitions, and lease structuring, and has a wealth of experience in aviation finance transactions in China, Japan, and other Southeast Asian countries. The team also has notable knowledge in the aviation space, an area in which Ling Lui excels. Siri Wennevik is recommended for ship finance both in the APAC region and in Scandinavia.

Watson Farley & Williams LLP’s asset and structured finance team is renowned for its wide-ranging capabilities in aviation and shipping finance matters. It is prominent in a range of ESG and sustainability-linked financings. Led by Madeline Leong, the team has substantial experience in acting for leading banks, leasing companies, and other financial institutions. On the aviation side, it is experienced in financing transactions, restructuring, and the processing of JOLCO financings which Charles Viggers is particularly eminent. Lizzie Roe is recommended for financing and leasing, and Margaux Ith is noted for sustainability-linked and JOLCO financings.

Bird & Bird ATMD LLP  excels in aircraft and engine financing, refinancing, and leasing, regularly acting for a range of lenders and lessees. The team is also well known for airline restructurings and portfolio management. The widely respected aviation expert Leo Fattorini leads ‘a fantastic team of hard-working, solution-orientated and well-respected professionals‘. Fattorini counts blue-chip companies, leasing institutions, and aircraft financiers as his key clients, and his recent caseloads include sales and leasebacks, debt financing, and purchase agreements. The recent addition of Niel Liebenberg who joined from an in-house role further strengthens its aviation transaction capability.

Described by one client as a ‘skilled team that can handle with ease the most daunting of transactions’, Milbank remains a highly active player in the region’s aviation finance and restructuring scene. Following the departure of Paul Ng in summer 2023, David Paterson, noted for his transaction and leasing experience, is the key point of contact for the Singapore office. Paterson also works with the London Office’s asset and trade finance partners, Nick Swinburne, and James Cameron (the latter is a member of the firm’s transportation and space group.)

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP has significantly enhanced its asset finance offering following the hire of K&L Gates Straits Law LLC‘s aviation team. The practice is led by James Bradley, who oversees aircraft and engine transactions and lease work, as well as high-value reorganisations and debt restructuring. As the aviation sector looks to improve its sustainability, the firm also increasingly provides advice on ESG and SAF matters. Of counsel Terry Chang, recommended for cross-border financings and transactions, and associate director Ivan Qiu, noted for his expertise covering the JOL/JOLCO mandates, are other key contacts.

Reed Smith LLP fields a well-established asset finance team advising on complex and multi-jurisdictional financings, sales and leasebacks, restructurings, portfolio transfers, and secured lendings, with further specialisms covering engine leasing and financing. Practice head Simon Spells has ‘an extensive knowledge of the aviation financing and leasing market which is often demonstrated in the focused and pragmatic advice he provides‘. The addition of aviation finance specialist Hui Ling Teo in late 2022 has brought further breadth to the team, including in sustainable aviation.

Vedder Price has a wealth of experience advising leasing companies and airlines on operating lease transactions across Southeast Asia Pacific as well as Japan, South Korea, and India, counting a large number of well-known lessors as its key clients. Praised for its 'pragmatic and market-driven approach' and leveraging its strong ties with its US offices, the team is well-equipped to advise on English and New York law and on cross-border financing transactions as well as operating lease restructurings for airliners. The team is jointly led by Singapore-based Ji Woon Kim who is 'armed with global and in-depth knowledge and experience in the aviation industry', notably in transactions, financings, JOLCOs, and sales and leasebacks, and Geoffrey Kass who is based in its Chicago office.