Asia-Pacific Asia-Pacific Region Aviation: Finance

Clifford Chance remains an undisputed leading aviation finance firm in the Asia-Pacific market, with expertise housed in the Singapore and Hong Kong offices. It has significant experience in advising on cross-border matters involving jurisdictions such as Japan, the PRC, Taiwan, Korea, Thailand and Russia. It attracts frequent instructions from lessors, airlines and financiers on big-ticket transactions. The firm offers high-level capability in matters from portfolio disposal and lease restructuring to airline insolvency-related issues and joint venture matters. In addition, the team is well placed to advise on other financing devices such as JOLCOs, asset-based securitisations and bond issuances. It is also particularly active advising on M&A and asset acquisitions for a wide variety of startup aviation leasing companies across the region.

The vibrant aviation team at Mayer Brown has a highly regarded Hong Kong practice acting on a broad range of aviation transactions in the commercial and business jet areas in the wider Asia market. It remains a popular choice of counsel for leading airlines, leasing companies and banks on high-profile transactions. Its expertise encompasses sale and leaseback, financing, aircraft trade and dispute resolution. It is active on cross-border acquisitions and financings, and is highly skilled at managing transactions involving significant cross-border elements, with particular reference to Fiji, Vietnam, Taiwan, and China.

Milbank possesses a solid aviation practice which is based in Singapore and active across the region, handling matters involving Japan, Malaysia, China, Taiwan and Korea. It has a good track record in representing lessors and financiers, and particularly regarded for working with low-cost carriers, such as BOCOMM Financial and Cebu Pacific. It is also active advising Chinese lessors and airlines on acquisition, financing and leasing transactions. Milbank is experienced in advising private investment firms in the aviation sphere.

The aviation finance expertise is housed in Stephenson Harwood's Singapore and Hong Kong offices, which advise clients across the region including Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Nepal, Korea and India. It maintains notable expertise in advising low-cost carriers, lessors and financiers on a range of commercial and business aircraft trading transactions. It is frequently mandated by Chinese lessor and airline clients to act on financings, sale and leasebacks and capital market transactions. Stephenson Harwood is also experienced in handling portfolio and airline acquisitions and refinancings, as well as repossession matters. It is well placed to advise on private jet and helicopter financings, with solid expertise managing commercial debt financings. It is also adept at handling repossession and leasing cases.

Watson Farley & Williams fields an assets and structured finance offering that is active advising on aviation matters spanning various jurisdictions, including South Korea, Indonesia, Singapore and the PRC. It is frequently sought after by corporate and investment banks as well as leasing companies on an array of financing and leasing transactions, including ECA-backed financings. It demonstrates ability assisting with JOLCO financings. It is noted for its deft handling of restructuring matters, with expertise advising on aircraft repossession.

K&L Gates's aviation finance group demonstrates strength by advising on aircraft financing and leasing transactions in the Asia-Pacific region. Resources are available across various offices, such as Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo and Sydney. The team has an established presence in cross-border aircraft portfolio acquisition and financing deals. The team is notable for acting for lessors, airlines and banks, with a focus on Japanese clients. K&L Gates is further noted for its experience in JOLCO structures and for asset-backed securitisation matters. Its restructuring expertise complements the firm's aviation finance team and bolsters its cross-border capabilities.

Nishimura & Asahi's asset finance team is recognised by market sources for its strengths in handling mandates involving the Japanese market. It is supported by its Bangkok and Tokyo offices and assists Japanese and international airlines, leasing companies and financial institutions on a range of regional matters. The team demonstrates strong capabilities in handling JOL and JOLCO transactions.

Reed Smith houses a Singapore-based aviation finance practice that is well placed to handle cross-border mandates with an APAC focus. The team frequently assists leasing companies on leasing matters, including aircraft placements, restructurings and sale-and-leaseback transactions. Reed Smith is also highlighted for its capacity to assist with JOLCO refinancings. It counts Air Asia and Avolon Aerospace Leasing among its clientele.