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Leading the European legal department at aircraft leasing specialists Aircastle, Sarah Clarkin, senior vice president – legal, explains how her team are at the very forefront of the company’s business: ‘Aircraft transactions, while involving multi-functional deal teams, are spear-headed by a lawyer who brings each deal from proposal stage to closing, with the support of the transaction team’. Clarkin also explains how interconnected the legal team’s work and business success is, saying the ‘disciplined’ nature of her team throughout the world ‘informs and impacts’ commercial and management decision-making throughout the organisation’s offices in Connecticut, Singapore and Dublin. The Aircastle legal team, which plans to grow in the coming year due to business expansion, is currently comprised of three experienced lawyers who have led a number of large portfolio acquisitions and sales, each of which have been completed within ‘challenging timelines’, demonstrating the ability, poise and dedication to push things through on time. A team with the ability to make a tangible impact to company business, Clarkin states that they have a ‘proven track record in closing transactions and winning deals because it can close them effectively and efficiently’. Striving to meet high expectations within strict timescales, the Aircastle team’s workload includes several aspects crucial to the acquisition and leases of aircrafts. On top of dealing with the legal ramifications of the day-to-day leasing business, Clarkin’s team have overseen a surge in aircraft sales and acquisitions, which now stand at record levels. During the last three years Aircastle has undertaken 208 transactions, over half of which were closed by the Dublin legal team. Occupying an autonomous but closely-regarded position within the Aircastle business structure, the team enjoys ‘open and strong lines of communication between the team and senior management’, particularly referring to the execution of transactions. A conscientious and bright team that is extremely well-embedded into company structure, Clarkin and her team at Aircastle are able to provide excellent legal advice to the company as it continues to expand.