Aviation: Finance
Asia-Pacific Guide 2024 : Asia-Pacific Region
Band 2
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
+65 6226 1600About
Provided by Stephenson Harwood LLP
Our team of acknowledged leading practitioners and highly talented aviation lawyers bring to the table a genuine in-depth knowledge and understanding of the aviation industry, which, when combined with a practical hands-on approach and high levels of legal expertise, enables us to deliver the commercial outcome our clients are looking for, effectively and cost efficiently.
We have decades of accumulated experience acting for:
- airlines
- lessors
- financiers and the major transportation banks
- insurers
- maintenance repair and overhaul organisations
- airports
- airline associations.
This experience means our aviation specialist lawyers have a 360 degree understanding of how the aviation industry works, and can leverage that knowledge and experience to the benefit of clients without any re-invention of wheels or cost inefficiencies. Our approach is driven by listening to our clients’ commercial objectives, making sure we understand what it is that they want to achieve, within what timeframe, at what cost, and resourcing the job with the right team.
Chambers Review
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.
Work Highlights
- Stephenson Harwood assisted Lion Air with lease restructuring through bilateral agreements with all of the group's relevant lessors.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Stephenson Harwood has a well-balanced finance team in Singapore which combines excellent depth of technical expertise and experience with a commendable breadth of knowledge in related areas."
"It has great strength and client service in the PRC, with strong relationships in the China market. Many times I've got a deal with a China element and they are the go-to team in asset financing."
"Stephenson Harwood has a well-balanced finance team in Singapore which combines excellent depth of technical expertise and experience with a commendable breadth of knowledge in related areas."
"It has great strength and client service in the PRC, with strong relationships in the China market. Many times I've got a deal with a China element and they are the go-to team in asset financing."
Notable Practitioners
Saugata Mukherjee is frequently sought out to advise clients on large, complex deals in the aviation finance sector. He also comes recommended for his experience assisting with hedging strategies.
"Saugata is a top-quality lawyer. He is calm under pressure, commercially astute and an excellent negotiator. He is a very smart lawyer with very wide experience."
"Saugata is very responsive, friendly and great to work with. He is determined to find commercial solutions to work around complex legal issues."
Simon Wong's practice spans the full range of aviation finance transactions, regularly receiving mandates to handle sale and leaseback transactions and acquisitions. He is also recommended for his expertise in Islamic and ECA financings.
"He gives very practical advice and is very experienced in aviation finance, as well as customs."
"We found him to be very knowledgeable and results-oriented."
"We can rely on him to have relevant advice and good and creative solutions to various matters in aircraft financing. He is also open to sharing industry news and contacts."