Aviation and air travel: finance
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 Howitt is a partner in the US Finance and Restructuring Group of Clifford Chance specializing in asset finance. In particular, he focuses on aircraft finance, including leveraged lease transactions, operating leases (domestic and cross-border), new and used aircraft purchases (including portfolio acquisitions), sales (including portfolio sales) and sale-leasebacks, securitizations, restructurings and manufacturer support arrangements. John also has considerable experience in bank and private placement credit transactions, including asset-based financings; domestic and Latin American debt restructurings; acquisition and recapitalization financings; project financings; domestic, Eurodollar, and Eurocurrency loans; loan and note swaps; sales and participations; letter of credit facilities; and commercial paper facilities.
Leading the firm's Aviation practice, Timothy Lynes, managing partner of Katten's Washington, DC office, has spent more than 30 years representing manufacturers, airlines, lessors, financial institutions, equity investors and insurers in the sale, leasing and financing of aircraft. Clients rely on Tim's deep industry knowledge and his proven leadership in the field.Having spent so many years serving aviation clients, Tim has developed his own best practices that lead the rest of the sector. For example, he created and implemented novel private aviation cost-sharing structures involving non-exclusive leases and management agreements that now are used industrywide. This forward-looking, innovative approach is why clients turn to Tim again and again.Tim handles all types of aviation transactions with a singular focus on finding creative solutions to a client's most challenging problems. In every deal, he works to build consensus among all parties, paying particular attention to their unique needs. Tim never assumes he automatically knows what success looks like for a client – he listens and then develops a strategy that will accomplish their specific objectives.He has made numerous appearances on CNN and other outlets to discuss aviation issues from the perspective of manufacturers and airlines routinely writes on the aviation issues of the day.
Zarrar Sehgal is head of the Transport & Logistics Group and Co-Head of the US Asset Finance Practice. He concentrates his practice on a wide variety of international asset finance transactions, including acquisition financing, leveraged leasing, EETC transactions, secured lending, structured financing, export credit agency-supported financings and credit enhancements. He also has extensive experience representing underwriters and issuers in public offerings and private placement of securities, including portfolio securitizations and debt and equity offerings. Zarrar has particular expertise in financings involving aircraft and has worked on several of the most significant securitizations and financings in the market, including many transactions that have been awarded 'Deal of the Year' awards from industry publications.
Rising stars
Rising stars with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Madalyn’s asset finance experience involves representing underwriters, lenders, and lessors in a variety of asset finance transactions, including portfolio securitizations, acquisition financing, and secured and unsecured lending transactions. She has also expertise advising on transactions involving the acquisition or disposition of aviation leasing companies and large portfolios of aircraft assets.
Leading lawyers
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Aviation, Equipment Finance, Satellite/Telecoms, Banking and Financial Services, International, Joint Ventures and Other Strategic Alliances, Mergers and Acquisitions.
Partner in the Corporate Department, with primary focus on aviation matters and international lending and finance transactions (including equipment lending/leasing transactions, structured senior, second lien and subordinated loans, cash-flow loans, syndications, participations and Islamic-compliant financings), and with significant experience in distressed debt portfolio acquisitions, restructurings, international joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, product distribution, and general corporate and commercial matters.
Emily Wicker focuses on secured lending and leasing transactions with an emphasis on aircraft leasing and financing. Emily is experienced in all aspects of aircraft finance, leasing and related restructuring transactions, including pre-delivery payment facilities, aircraft and spare parts credit facilities, EETCs and similar structured finance transactions. Emily joined Clifford Chance from Debevoise where she advised American Airlines in its Chapter 11 reorganization and Delta Air Lines and American Airlines in numerous EETC offerings and other capital markets financings.
Comparative Guides
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Comparative Guides
United States: Aviation Finance & Leasing
United States
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