Aftershocks from the Covid-19 Pandemic, geopolitical events and ongoing economic instability have exposed the aviation sector to a range of vulnerabilities. Airlines, aviation manufacturers, engineers, investors and lessors have faced difficult circumstances in recent years, characterised by fluctuations in demand, labour shortages, rising costs and squeezed profit margins.

In this market, your corporate transactions are more important than ever.

Despite economic conditions being nothing like “business as usual”, the issues that have preoccupied the industry in recent years remain – such as regulatory compliance with national and international authorities, addressing pressure to reduce carbon footprint and improve fuel efficiency and sustainability, technology transformation, ensuring protection against cyberattacks, and brand differentiation.  

We are a team of aviation professionals with decades of experience in the sector. We take an interest-based approach to solving problems and getting deals done for our clients.

Our lawyers have worked within airlines, ground service providers, manufacturers, lessors and aircraft engineering businesses, positioning them to provide advice that is informed and truly full-service.

Team members lead on groundbreaking aviation projects, from cross-border airline investment and cooperation, to restructuring and rebranding. We guide businesses through the complexities of cross-border competition clearances as well as compliance with aviation regulatory regimes at both domestic and supranational levels.  

We are committed to supporting our clients’ growth strategies, but we also protect their businesses by avoiding and resolving disputes. We handle aviation-related litigation and arbitration, acting for airlines, lessors, maintenance facilities and ground handling businesses.

Our expertise includes:

• Aircraft acquisition and sale – project management from letter of intent to delivery
• Aircraft finance – operating and finance leases and secured debt finance
• ACMI, dry leasing and chartering
• Ownership and operating structures, impact on tax (including VAT and customs duties and Benefits in Kind)
• Aircraft registration; International Registry & Cape Town Convention advice
• Power by the Hour, maintenance agreements and service programmes
• Commercial dispute resolution