The practice group at Bennett Jones LLP is well-placed to handle aircraft purchases, sales, leasings, financings and debt restructuring matters, as well as compliance issues, litigation and regulatory mandates. Airlines, aircraft operators, aircraft manufacturers and financial institutions regularly feature on the group’s client roster. In addition, aircraft leasing companies look to the team for support with lease structures, aircraft purchases, aircraft financings and aircraft security issues. Calgary-based Patrick Brennan, K.C. heads up the department and specializes in asset-based financing and leasing, aircraft acquisition and disposition, and debt restructuring. Also in Calgary, Noriko Shimura and Taylor Davis focus on corporate-commercial transactions, including aircraft asset financings.
Key clients
- Flair Airlines
- Chorus Aviation
- Jazz Aviation
- Cygnet Aviation Academy
- Shock Trauma Air Rescue Service (STARS)
- General Bank of Canada
- De Havilland Aircraft of Canada
- Vancouver Airport Fuel Facilities Corporation
Work highlights
- Assisted Chorus with all aspects of establishing Cygnet Aviation Academy in compliance with all applicable regulations.
- Acted for Flair Airlines with respect to the highly publicized overnight seizure of four of its aircraft in March 2023 and the CAD $50m lawsuit launched by Flair against Airborne Capital.
- Provided transactional advice to Flair in connection with the negotiations of aircraft operating leases with SMBC Aviation Capital, as lessor, for two Boeing MAX 8 aircraft.
Lawyers
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Patrick Brennan, K.C.