Transport finance and leasing

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP

Client Satisfaction

With strength-in-depth in London as well as being able to access expertise in the US and Asia, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP has strong traction among lessors, airlines, funds and banks across a wide range of cross-border finance and leasing structures. 'Responsive and solutions-oriented' team head Graham Tyler is a strong choice for leasing companies and funds on their portfolio acquisitions and financings; he recently advised an asset manager on the acquisition of a 16-cargo aircraft portfolio with debt finance supplied from a non-bank lender. As well as advising on conventional financings, Antony Single also regularly advises on Islamic finance structures for lenders and borrowers and leverages strong relationships with a number of Middle Eastern banks funding transactions in the aviation sector. Chris Knight is also recommended for his 'practical and business-oriented advice'. Debra Erni joined Holland & Knight (UK) LLP in January 2024.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

'The team work very well together and strong communication between the London and New York teams is ideal for cross time-zone transactions.'
'Graham Tyler is well-organised, diligent, responsive and solutions oriented.'
'Chris Knight provides practical and business-oriented advice.'

Key clients

AV AirFinance
Azorra
Deutsche Bank
Dubai Aerospace Enterprise
Dubai Islamic Bank
Emirates Airlines
ICBC Leasing
Investec Bank
MUFG
Novus Aviation Capital
Oaktree Capital Management

Work highlights

Advised Oaktree on the acquisition of a large 16-cargo aircraft portfolio from ACS together with the debt financing from Av AirFinance, part of the KKR group.
Represented DAE in relation to $3.2bn of new facilities in 2023.
Advised AV AirFinance in relation to the secured financing of a portfolio of aircraft for an equity-backed platform managed by Airborne Capital.