Banking & Finance: Asset Finance & Leasing
Asia-Pacific Guide 2025 : Australia
Band 1
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
+61 2 9225 5000Chambers Review
Herbert Smith Freehills is renowned for its full-service practice with high-quality capabilities across the sector. The banking and finance team has notable experience in asset leasing matters combined with well-honed expertise acting on high-value real estate development and corporate financing and refinancing arrangements, acting for borrowers and lenders. The team has further expertise representing borrowers in relation to acquisition financings. The law firm also operates on complex cross-border financing, leveraging its broader global presence to assist multinational clients.
Work Highlights
- Herbert Smith Freehills advised Citibank and a syndicate lending group on a bilateral bridge facility and an upsize to Orora's existing syndicated facilities.
- Herbert Smith Freehills advised Virgin Australia Airlines on new lease agreements to expand the Virgin aircraft fleet including seven Boeing 737-800 and seven Boeing 737-700 leases with four different lessors, as well as three A320-200 deliveries with other lessors.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"The team is highly knowledgeable and has a great ability to navigate complex issues."
"They see a wide cross-section of deals, so have a lot of market knowledge. They bring innovative solutions based on that knowledge and are very easy to work with."
"The team is highly knowledgeable and has a great ability to navigate complex issues."
"They see a wide cross-section of deals, so have a lot of market knowledge. They bring innovative solutions based on that knowledge and are very easy to work with."
Notable Practitioners
John Angus has a longstanding reputation in the asset finance and leasing market and has considerable experience in aviation finance.
"John's service levels are of the highest level in terms of quality and timeliness. He has a thorough knowledge of our business and transactions and always thinks through third-order consequences."
"John's recall is phenomenal. He remembers things that I would have completely forgotten."
Hayley Neilson enjoys a strong reputation for acquisition finance, especially in private equity financing transactions, and regularly acts on complex matters.
"Hayley Neilson is good at prioritising the key issues. She always pushes to get a good deal for clients but does so in a way that is constructive."
Melita Cottrell is recognised for her expertise in major property finance matters and regularly acts for large funds, REITs, major banks and other investors.
"Melita is a highly valued adviser for our institution."
"Melita Cottrell moved heaven and earth to get the deal done for us."
Steven Catanzariti is an up-and-coming practitioner in the market who specialises in advising Australian and international clients on complex structured finance and asset-based transactions.
"Steven's service levels are of the highest in terms of quality and timeliness. He has a very good knowledge of our business and transactions and how they interact with each other."
"Steven is a class act. He partners deep local knowledge and experience with commercial, pragmatic advice."
Ranked Lawyers at
Herbert Smith Freehills
Australia