Showcasing stellar expertise in aviation finance, the cross-practice at Clifford Chance acts for major PRC lessors and financial institutions active in the aircraft finance market, in addition to leasing companies, capital providers and other investors, and maintains a strong track record in big-ticket, cross-border transactions. ‘Knowledgeable, trustworthy and reliable’ team leader Paul Greenwell is a key point of contact for clients in the Japanese and Chinese aviation sectors, while Hetty Lam has experience in handling cross-border leasing and financing deals. Jeffrey Ip is another key contact in the group.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Clifford Chance is great at providing one stop services. The collaborations between different offices and teams enable Clifford Chance to provide seamless advice to clients in respect of all sorts of matters.’
  • ‘Paul Greenwell is very knowledgeable, trustworthy and reliable. Jeffrey Ip is very responsive and he reacts quickly to changing circumstances in a transaction Beatrice Chu has great attention to detail.’

Key clients

  • AerCap Ireland Limited
  • AerDragon Aviation Partners Limited
  • Air Lease Corporation
  • AMCK Aviation
  • Avolon Aerospace Leasing Limited
  • Banc of America Leasing Ireland Co., Limited
  • China Construction Bank
  • China International Marine Containers (Group) Co., Ltd
  • CK Asset Holdings
  • High Ridge Aviation

Work highlights

  • Advised 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.
  • Advised Avolon on their debt-to-equity swap transaction with the HNA group in respect of their 41 aircraft on lease to the HNA group.
  • Acting for various major international and PRC operating lessors, creditors and financial institutions to various Russian airlines as English law and US law transaction counsel in relation to 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.

Lawyers

Leading partners: 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

Jeffrey Ip, Hetty Lam, Jeffrey Ip, Jonathon Leung