Mr John Howitt > Clifford Chance > New York, United States > Lawyer Profile

Clifford Chance
31 WEST 52ND STREET
NEW YORK, NY 10019-6131
NEW YORK
United States
John Howitt photo

Work Department

Banking & Finance

Position

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.

Education

University of California at Los Angeles School of Law (JD), 1978; University of California at Los Angeles (BA, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa), 1975

Lawyer Rankings

United States > Transport > Aviation and air travel: finance

(Hall of Fame)

John HowittClifford Chance

Clifford Chance‘s team in New York ‘marries technical excellence with commercial sensitivity’. The practice’s enviable client list comprises investment banks, arrangers, investors, governmental authorities, and finance and operating lessors. In addition to its Export Credit Agency finance specialism, the group is highly experienced in aviation-related debt and equity offerings, portfolio securitizations, and enhanced equipment trust certificate issuances. The firm additionally has a robust operating lessor practice, through which it acts for both established and newer operating leasing companies. With particular experience in financing and corporate transactions involving aircraft, rolling stock and vessels, Zarrar Sehgal heads the global asset finance group, as well as the global transport and logistics team. The practice also includes the ‘simply awesome’ aircraft leasing and financing expert Emily Wicker; Patrick O’Reilly, whose aircraft finance workload covers secured and unsecured lending, joint ventures, operating leases, and portfolio sales and acquisitions, along with M&A, securitization and restructuring; and renowned asset finance expert John Howitt. Other names to note are Benjamin Fisher, a specialist in aviation sector-related cross-border asset finance deals; and Olga Miller, whose aircraft finance experience encompasses pre-delivery payment facilities, new delivery and leaseback financings, business jet transactions, and spare parts and engine financings.