Europe - Ireland

Matheson LLP

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Matheson LLP stands out for its ‘immense strength and depth’ in the transport sector, with a sizeable cross-departmental group that works alongside the firm’s transportation tax team to advise on aviation, shipping, road and rail matters. The firm houses a particularly strong offering in the aviation sector, where Rory McPhillips, Stuart Kennedy, Yvonne McWeeney and Stephen Gardiner are frequently called upon to handle complex financial transactions in addition to providing M&A and regulatory advice; the team is also experienced in the financing of rail and shipping assets. In the transport infrastructure space, Nicola Dunleavy SC, Garret Farrelly and Rhona Henry advise on planning and environmental, projects and construction issues, respectively.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘The Matheson team is approachable with strong aviation knowledge. I enjoy working with them on transactions - their client focus makes transaction run smoothly and efficiently.’

  • ‘It is very apparent to the client that Stuart Kennedy, Yvonne McWeeney, Stephen Gardiner and Rory McPhillips actively work together to support each other to ensure that all deals are properly serviced and executed. I always feel when working with the team that there is a partner available to advise or support on any issue which we may have.’

  • ‘Industry profile, knowledge and experience, combined with responsiveness and service orientation, makes the Matheson team stand out from their peers.’

  • ‘I have always been impressed by the depth of knowledge and experience, in addition to the responsiveness, collaborative and solutions-driven approach of the Matheson team, and in particular Stephen Gardiner, Rory McPhillips and Yvonne McWeeney.’

  • ‘The experience of the team is unique and unrivalled. They have immense strength and depth in the transport sector. Their knowledge and training in the sector is excellent. They provide practical advice and solutions to difficult problems. They work with the Matheson tax team to get clients to where they need to be in an efficient and cost-effective manner.’

  • ‘Stuart Kennedy is excellent to work with. Very responsive and great quality of work.’

  • ‘The Matheson team have extensive experience, knowledge and strong commercial acumen. The team are friendly, proactive and are always available to provide advice. They focus on solutions rather than highlighting problems and provide guidance every step of the way. Matheson are our go-to firm for legal advice.’

  • ‘Stuart Kennedy has extensive knowledge about the aviation industry, providing an exceptional service and going the extra mile in terms of meeting clients' needs. Stuart offers practical advice and is very astute to the commercial aspects. He is professional and patient when explaining complex legal issues, taking the time to ensure we are fully informed on all aspects of our deals.’

Key clients

  • FTAI Aviation
  • Aergo Capital Limited
  • Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA
  • CDB Aviation
  • UK Export Finance (UKEF)
  • CCB Aviation
  • Aviation Capital Group
  • AerCap
  • Castlelake, L.P.
  • LR AirFinance
  • Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE)
  • Arctic Aviation Assets DAC
  • PK AirFinance
  • Jackson Square Aviation
  • Tokyo Century
  • Fortress Investment Group LLC
  • Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social (BNDES)
  • Bank of Communications Financial Leasing Co., Ltd. (BoComm Leasing)
  • CMB Financial Leasing (CMB Aviation)
  • Azorra Aviation
  • Irving Oil Company Limited
  • Exolum Corporation, S.A.
  • Drogheda Port Company

Work highlights

  • Acting for ALAFCO on the sale to Macquarie of 53 current and next-generation commercial passenger aircraft and an order for 20 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft (valued at USD 2.2bn).
  • Acting on an information barrier basis using two teams to advise Azorra Aviation and Voyager Aviation Holdings, LLC on the purchase by Azorra of substantially all of Voyager Aviation's assets.
  • Advising Drogheda Port Company on the development of a new deep-water multi-modal port near Balbriggan, North Dublin.

Lawyers

Leading individuals

Stuart Kennedy

Stuart Kennedy

Matheson LLP

Stuart is a partner in the Finance and Capital Markets Department and advises on all aspects of aviation, shipping, rail and other asset financing, trading and leasing matters on a daily basis.  Stuart has gained considerable experience in advising on the structuring of aircraft purchase, sale, financing and leasing transactions and acts for a number of aircraft lessors, financiers and airlines in leveraged, syndicated and export credit agency backed financing facilities.  Stuart also has considerable experience in advising on structured finance, ABS (asset-backed securities) and repackaging transactions relating to all such asset classes including the establishment of special purpose companies funded by public and private issuances. Stuart also regularly advises Irish airlines and leasing companies on airline licencing and registration issues with the Irish Aviation Authority and Commission for Aviation Regulation in addition to all aspects of the Cape Town Convention and Aircraft Protocol. Stuart regularly presents to aircraft and aircraft engine lessors on all aspects of the Cape Town Convention and Aircraft Protocol and to company directors on their duties and responsibilities under Irish law. Stuart is also a lecturer and tutor on the Law Society of Ireland’s Diploma in Aviation Leasing and Finance.

Rory McPhillips

Rory McPhillips

Matheson LLP

Rory McPhillips is a partner in the Finance and Capital Markets Department. Rory has considerable experience in advising financial institutions, equity participants, export credit agencies, commercial and investment banks, airlines, aircraft leasing companies and others in a wide range of matters over a number of years. He represents clients in the financing and leasing of aircraft, railcars, engines, simulators, trucks and industrial equipment, and routinely handles all Irish aspects of financing structures established across multiple jurisdictions with aircraft and other assets deployed globally.

Next Generation Partners

Stephen Gardiner

Stephen Gardiner

Matheson LLP

Stephen is a partner in the Finance and Capital Markets Department at Matheson. Stephen advises aircraft lessors, financiers and airlines on the trading, financing, leasing and repossession of aircraft. His practice includes the establishment of corporate structures in Ireland to facilitate the financing and leasing of various asset classes, including aviation, maritime and industrial assets. Stephen advises some of the world’s largest financial institutions and leading aviation industry participants on a variety of transactions and financing products utilising Irish corporate structures. These include joint ventures, operating leasing, orphan financings, sale and leasebacks, export credit agency supported financings, secured and unsecured lending, EETCs, JOLCOs, ABS and PDP financings, amongst others. Stephen is recognised as an experienced advisor in airline regulation and aircraft registration in Ireland, and has advised on the establishment of a major international airline in Ireland. Stephen was named as a key lawyer in transport in Ireland by Legal 500 in 2020 and as a Rising Star by Airfinance Journal in 2019. Stephen is faculty member on The Law Society of Ireland’s Certificate and Diploma courses in Aviation Leasing and Finance. He is also a licenced private pilot.

Yvonne McWeeney

Yvonne McWeeney

Matheson LLP

Yvonne is a partner in the Finance and Capital Markets Department and advises on all aspects of aviation, shipping, rail and other asset financing, trading and leasing matters on a daily basis. Yvonne has gained considerable experience in advising on all aspects of the structuring of asset purchase, sale, financing and leasing transactions and acts for a number of aircraft lessors, financiers and airlines in leveraged, syndicated and export credit agency backed financing facilities. Yvonne also has considerable experience in advising on structured finance, ABS (asset-backed securities) and repackaging transactions relating to all such asset classes including the establishment of special purpose companies funded by public and private issuances. Yvonne has significant experience in advising on all aspects of the Cape Town Convention and in addition regularly provides advice on registration issues with the Irish Aviation Authority. Yvonne is also a lecturer and tutor on the Law Society of Ireland’s Certificate and Diploma courses in Aviation Leasing and Finance.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Rory McPhillips, Stuart Kennedy, Nicola Dunleavy SC, Garret Farrelly, Rhona Henry

Other key lawyers

Connor Blennerhassett