We have many years of experience advising clients on cross-border transactions for the financing of commercial and cargo aircraft, helicopters, business jets, and aircraft equipment and services.

For over twenty years our firm has represented the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM Bank) on numerous aviation financing transactions. As deal counsel in these transactions, we were responsible for the drafting and negotiation of transaction documents, selection of and coordination with local counsel, review and collection of conditions precedent requirements, and management of security filings and aircraft registrations in all relevant jurisdictions.

Through our strategic alliance with Mexico City-based SAI Derecho & Economía, S.C. (SAI), we have expanded our aviation practice into Mexico through SAI’s well-established full-service law firm. We have been involved in all types of aviation finance and leasing structures in Mexico. Our firm has acted as lead counsel in financings of aircraft, helicopters, engines and other transportation-related equipment by Mexico’s major air carriers and helicopter and business jet operators. We have advised market participants in the structuring, negotiation, documentation and closing of transactions involving credit and leasing facilities secured by guarantee trusts, pledges, guarantees and other security arrangements, as well as contracts and assignments involving state-owned enterprises. In the enforcement arena, we have direct, on-the-ground experience with foreclosure proceedings under Mexican guaranty trusts and with the remarketing and sale of aircraft subject to bankruptcy proceedings.

These transactions have involved the operation and registration of aircraft and security interests worldwide:

Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business has noted that industry professionals rank our firm as “one of the preeminent aviation finance groups in Washington D.C.”

Our representation of EXIM Bank has been recognized with multiple awards by leading publications in the industry:

• 2022 European Supported Finance Deal of the Year from Airline Economics for the first EXIM Bank-guaranteed loan facility covering pre-delivery payment obligations of SunExpress.

• 2021 Europe Deal of the Year from Airfinance Journal for the French lease structured EXIM Bank-guaranteed financing of nine Boeing 737 MAX aircraft and three GEnx spare engines for Turkish Airlines.

• 2016 Export Credit Deal of the Year award from Airfinance Journal for the French lease structured EXIM Bank guaranteed financing of Boeing 737 aircraft purchased by SunExpress.

• 2012 South America Deal of the Year award from Airfinance Journal for the purchase of engine overhaul services by GOL Linhas Aèreas S.A. financed through the direct issuance of EXIM Bank-backed bonds.

• 2012 Deal of the Year award from Trade Finance Magazine for the guaranteed financing of ten Boeing 787 (Dreamliner) aircraft for Ethiopian Airlines.

• 2012 Africa Deal of the Year from Airfinance Journal for the guaranteed financing of ten Boeing 787 (Dreamliner) aircraft for Ethiopian Airlines.

• 2010 African Aircraft Debt Deal of the Year award from Jane’s Transport Finance for the guaranteed financing of five Boeing 777 aircraft for Ethiopian Airlines.

• 2008 Latin America Deal of the Year award from Airfinance Journal for the guaranteed financing of four Boeing 777 aircraft for LATAM Airlines.

We also acted as lender’s counsel on an Aviation Capital Group (Aircraft Financing Solutions)-supported financing for one Airbus Model A350-1000 for Virgin Atlantic Airways which was named 2019 Deal of the Year for Innovation by Airline Economics.

Geraldine Mataka, Bok Lee, and Mariano Gomezperalta have been consistently recognized by Who’s Who Legal: Transport as leaders in the field of aviation finance.