Debevoise is one of the few firms that has experience handling the full range of aviation transactional matters – including aircraft and non-aircraft financings, capital markets transactions, fleet purchases, M&A, in- and out-of-court restructurings and airport infrastructure development and financing.
The practice’s clients include two of the world’s largest airlines, and it has been a trusted advisor to each in some of the largest and most complex transactions of their kind, including more than 22 EETC offerings covering well over 470 aircraft and raising more than $14.1 billion. Debevoise has for many years been at the forefront of developing innovative structures in aircraft financings, and has assisted clients in accomplishing critically important aircraft fleet transactions.
In addition, the Aviation practice has worked on a broad array of transactions involving aircraft leasing companies, including outright sales, portfolio sales, joint ventures and financing transactions, as well as aviation-sector transactions funded by private equity, hedge funds, pension plans and sovereign wealth funds. These include market-shaping deals, such as the firm’s recent representation of AIG in its $7.6 billion sale of International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC) to AerCap Holdings N.V.
Acknowledged by Chambers as providing an exceptionally high level of client service, the group’s multidisciplinary and international team is known for its ability to tackle challenging transactions in the face of demanding time constraints. The Aviation practice is able to draw upon resources and skills of all relevant practices, including the tax and litigation practices, and of the firm as a whole, taking a truly collaborative approach to client matters.
It should therefore come as little surprise that The Legal 500 US calls the Aviation practice “one of the country’s finest,” and that Chambers USA comments on the team’s superior client service: “[T]hey take the time to discuss and explore difficult topics, seek creative solutions when roadblocks appear and never flinch at demanding time constraints.”
For more than 60 years, Debevoise has been at the forefront of the global aviation industry, representing airlines and other industry participants in the full range of aviation-related matters, spanning a broad array of disciplines.
Finance & Capital Markets
Restructuring & Workouts
Mergers & Acquisitions
Fleet Transactions
Business Jets
Airport Infrastructure Development & Financing
Litigation