Praised for its ‘deep experience’, Clifford Chance counts banks, financial institutions, lessors, and investors among its key roster of clients and is noted for its demonstrable capability in handling aviation finance deals. Commended for his ’exceptional knowledge’, Paul Greenwell leads the team and focuses on asset and structured finance matters, with notable experience of aviation and aircraft finance-related mandates in the PRC and Japanese markets. Hetty Lam is a ‘very experienced and efficient operator’, and advises on cross-border leasing and financing transactions arising out of the aviation sector.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Deep experience and very polished and efficient service. First class.’

  • ‘Paul Greenwell has exceptional knowledge and is a class act. Hetty Lam is a very experienced and efficient operator.’

  • ‘Good team of people, with excellent industry experience. Also offer international coverage through the CC brand.’

  • 'All very strong technically and the associates regularly benefit from secondments within the industry, giving them excellent context and experience.’

Key clients

  • CDB Aviation
  • Chow Tai Fook Enterprises
  • CK Asset Holdings
  • Clover Aircraft Leasing Company Limited
  • Goshawk Aviation
  • Merx Aviation Finance
  • NWS Holdings

Work highlights

  • Advised Goshawk Aviation (as seller), NWS Holdings and Chow Tai Fook Enterprises (each as seller's guarantor) on the sale of Goshawk Aviation's commercial aircraft leasing platform to SMBC Aviation Capital Limited.
  • Acting as English law and US law transaction counsel for various major international and PRC operating lessors in connection with their exposure to Russian airlines and counterparties (including, but without limitation to, Aeroflot) as a result of the imposition of US, EU and UK sanctions and export controls.
  • Advising various major international operating lessors, creditors and financial institutions on contingency planning and strategic advice in relation to their exposure to Hong Kong Airlines, as well as their rights and remedies under the UK restructuring plan and Hong Kong scheme of arrangement.

Lawyers

Leading individuals: Aviation Finance
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Paul Greenwell

Other key lawyers

Hetty Lam, Jeffrey Ip, Jonathon Leung