Aviation finance

Watson Farley & Williams LLP

Client Satisfaction

Watson Farley & Williams LLP's aviation finance practice reflects the firm’s global strengths in this space, where the group counts clients such as lessors, arrangers, and manufacturers amongst its portfolio, advising them on the gamut of English and French law transactions. A specific focus of the practice lies in debt restructuring as well as sale and leaseback transactions, with additional capabilities relating to cross-border matters. Asset finance expert Alexia Russell heads the team and offers particular expertise in ECA-backed financings. Philippe Monfort is another key member of the team and is qualified in France as well as England and Wales.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

‘Responsive, well-structured team, good resource allocation, very helpful, great final product.’
‘Lisa Tavlaridis is an excellent up-and-coming associate.’

Key clients

French Ministry of Defence
LCI
RIVE Private Investment
Société Générale
Turning Rock Partners

Work highlights

Advised RIVE Private Investment, LCI and Turning Rock Partners on their joint acquisition of a $115m portfolio of 19 helicopters as part of the expansion of their international helicopter leasing platform in Europe and beyond.
Advised the French Ministry of Defence in relation to the carrying out of their A400M aircraft programme and in connection with the preparation of new contracts and amendments to the existing contractual documentation.
Advised a group of lessors, together owning approximately 30 aircraft and/or aircraft engines in Lion Air’s fleet, regarding safeguard and receivership proceedings initiated before the French courts relating to the French subsidiaries of Indonesian airline group Lion Air.