Hall Of Fame

Next Generation Partners

Aviation finance in France

Norton Rose Fulbright

Norton Rose Fulbright fields a diverse and experienced aviation finance practice, covering regulatory matters, lessor trading, ECA financings and construction of credit tax leases. The team’s client roster includes major global airlines, international banks and financial institutions. Practice head George Paterson frequently advises large banks on export credit and lease financings. Sébastien Allain and Alex Wass handle aircraft financing, leasing, and sale transactions.

Responsables de la pratique:

George Paterson


Autres avocats clés:

Sébastien Allain; Alexandre Roth; Alex Wass


Les références

‘Excellent communication and expertise.’

‘Whenever we have this team on our side, we know we are in great and knowledgeable hands. Their industry expertise is outstanding, and their dedication to providing top legal services is in a class of its own. ’

‘Sébastien Allain – pragmatic, top-notch advice. Always available with solutions.’

Principaux clients

Crédit Agricole CIB


Société Générale


Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank


AV AirFinance


BNP Paribas


Citibank


Bank of China (BoC)


Helaba


Principaux dossiers


  •  
    Advising Société Générale on an AFIC supported financing of three Boeing 737-8 aircraft to Oman Air SAOC.
  •  
    Advised Société Générale as lender, lead arranger, facility agent and ECA agent alongside Bpifrance Assurance Export on a supported finance deal relating to CFM InternationalSA engines.
  •  
    Acted as lead counsel to the finance parties, Bank of China and Helaba, on the financing for GD Helicopter Finance Limited (GDHF) of multiple Airbus H160 helicopters.

Bird & Bird

Bird & Bird demonstrates proficiency in aircraft financings and restructurings and is frequently sought out by operating lessors, investors and airlines for advice on a variety of transactions, including sales and leasebacks. The team is headed by Laurence Hanley, a port of call for the firm’s clients on the borrower side. Experienced in cross-border transactions, Diane de Bustamante is adept at green financings and JOLCO structures. Futher key team members include Boubeker Moussaoui and Maria Miller.

Responsables de la pratique:

Laurence Hanley


Autres avocats clés:

Diane de Bustamante; Boubeker Moussaoui; Maria Miller


Les références

‘They are a great team. We have developed a great working relationship with them. They know their business, they are very knowledgeable and a tough opponent, but they also can be pragmatic when necessary.’

‘Diane de Bustamante, Maria Miller, Laurence Hanley and Boubeker Moussaoui are all great lawyers. Professional, friendly, pragmatic when needed, and take their clients’ best interest very seriously. They are knowledgeable and nice to work with. ’

‘Responsiveness, flexibility. Ability to find solutions and think outside the box. This is top-notch.’

‘I had the pleasure of working with Bird&Bird France, and I was very impressed by their professionalism and expertise. The team has an outstanding knowledge of the French law requirements and always ensured that everything was handled with precision.’

‘I had a great experience working with Maria Miller. She combined deep knowledge and professionalism with a very friendly and approachable manner, which made the whole process much easier and more reassuring. I’m very grateful for her support and would highly recommend her.’

‘Great team, attentive, customer-focused, available, and creative. I find them very responsive and customer-focused. Excellent value for money.’

‘I had the pleasure of working with Boubeker Moussaoui, who is very professional, always attentive, available, and highly competent. I am very satisfied with his services.’

‘Laurence Hanley is very attentive, highly competent, and approachable. She is a true team leader.’

Principaux clients

Société Air France


Transavia France


Air Côte D’ivoire (Aci)


Hop !


Hogan Lovells (Paris) LLP

Hogan Lovells (Paris) LLP boasts a wide range of expertise spanning from ECA-supported to commercial and tax-based financing, often with an international element. Working with many large domestic airline companies, the team also has strong expertise in German and Japanese tax-based financings. Leading the team, Alexander Premont handles a busy workload, including acquisitions and insurance financings. Tam Tran and Stephanie Saunders are particularly well versed in asset finance.

Responsables de la pratique:

Alexander Premont


Autres avocats clés:

Tam Tran; Alexandre Salem; Stephanie Saunders


Les références

‘We always receive excellent support for our transactions. We have complete confidence in the team when it comes to structuring and drafting financing arrangements. They combine technical expertise with excellent commercial acumen, all delivered with a smile. It’s nice to be able to rely on them.’

‘We have been working with Alexander Premont and Stephanie Saunders for many years and have complete confidence in them, as well as in the more junior members of their team. They are diligent, efficient, and highly reliable. Communication is clear and direct, and we know we can always count on them.’

‘Alexander Premont and Stephanie Saunders both stand out for their combination of technical excellence and commercial judgment. They provide clear, pragmatic advice and always keep the broader strategic picture in mind.

‘We value Alexander Premont’s informal yet direct and thoughtful approach. He inspires confidence and is respected by peers and clients alike, and is someone we strongly recommend.’

‘Stephanie Saunders is extremely impressive with great technical skills, strong project management and communication abilities. She has a strong ability to anticipate issues and propose practical solutions and is well recognised in the market.’

‘They deliver a seamless service. Their work is consistently of the highest quality. They have the ability to take a step back and provide strategic oversight in complex situations differentiates. We know we can trust them with our most important matters. ’

Principaux clients

Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank (CACIB)


Société Générale


BRED Banque Populaire


Natixis SA


Simaero Leasing Limited and Simaero Holding SAS


FLC Holding


Sienna Investment Managers


Deutsche Bank UK Plc


BNP Paribas SA


HSBC Private Bank (Suisse) SA


Banque CIC Nord Ouest SA


La Banque Postale SA


Air France


Air Maroc


Attijariwafa Bank


Standard Chartered Bank


The Mauritius Commercial Bank Limited


Principaux dossiers


  • Advised as arrangers and lenders for a few financial institutions regarding the lease financing of 2 Airbus A-350-900 aircraft to Air France.
  • Advised BNB Paribas SA on the sustainability-linked loan financing of two Airbus A220 aircraft delivered to Air France.
  • Advised CACIB and other lenders on a Balthazar-supported loan for the purchase of a new Airbus A350-100 aircraft.

HFW

HFW regularly advises on acquiring new aircrafts, modernising fleets, restructurings and leasings of aircraft, while also handling related regulatory issues and offering noteworthy expertise in the helicopter segment. Led by Pierre Frühling, whose practice extends to advice on fleet purchases and state aid topics, the team's broad client base includes airlines, aviation insurers, airport and aircraft maintenance providers.

Responsables de la pratique:

Pierre Frühling


Principaux dossiers


  • Advised Aircalin International on the recent acquisition of two Airbus A350s.
  • Advised Air Corsica on modernising its fleet by adding 2 Airbus A320 and 7 ATR aircraft.

Odi-sé Avocats

Odi-sé Avocats is a French boutique firm focusing exclusively on the aviation sector. The firm is active in commercial and business aviation as well as aerospace defense. The team advises a range of banking clients, aircraft brokers and owners, and manufacturers and offers notable expertise in the structured financing of aerospace defense equipment. Leading the practice, Matthieu De Varax's varied portfolio extends to niche expertise in the outsourcing of aircraft and aviation related services by state authorities.

Responsables de la pratique:

Matthieu de Varax


Autres avocats clés:

Thomas Boone; Charles Derollez


Principaux clients

Mont Blanc Air Company SAS


SAF Aerogroup


Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank


French Bee


Air Caraïbes


LCI Aviation


Rive Private Investment


HBG Group


Air Tahiti Nui


BNP Paribas


Nova Capital


Principaux dossiers


  • Advising an Irish lessor on the delivery and the leasing of two new A320-200 neo aircraft to a French airline company.
  • Advising an Irish Lessor on the refinancing of ten Airbus H135 and 2 AgustaWestland AW109S helicopters with a South African bank
  • Advising French and foreign clients on the acquisition and financing of medium and large factory new and pre-owned business jets.

Stephenson Harwood

Stephenson Harwood’s aviation finance team handles financing transactions for an array of clients, including export credit agencies, airlines banks and lessors. The practice notably specialises on the lessor-side and frequently handles financing of aircraft assets. Practice head Florent Rigaud excels in international finance transactions, as does Hugo Le Ridou.

Responsables de la pratique:

Florent Rigaud


Autres avocats clés:

Hugo Le Ridou


Les références

‘Florent Rigaud and Hugo Le Ridou are our preferred counsels in France.  They know our business and what we expect from our French counsel. They are responsive, very knowledgeable, pragmatic and proactive. They are able to think about the next steps and are not afraid to apply creative and innovative thinking, as and when the need arises. They get the job done! ’

‘Florent Rigaud: Comprehensive expertise and excellent knowledge of the rental market, and strong organisational skills.’

‘Excellent service, very responsive, knowledgeable and capable.’

‘The whole team is very good’

 

Principaux clients

AerCap Ireland Ltd


Air Lease Corporation


Jackson Square Aviation


Regional One


SMBC Aviation Capital Limited


Transportation Partners


AerCap Materials (formerly GECAS Asset Management)


Aviation Capital Group


Aviator Capital


Zephyrus Aviation Capital


Aero Capital Solutions


Natixis


World Star Aviation


Petrus Aviation


Stifel Aviation


Aircraft Leasing & Management


Macquarie AirFinance


Sky Leasing


FTAI Aviation


Griffin Global Asset Management


Falko Regional Aircraft


Fly Amelia / Regourd Aviation


Principaux dossiers


  • Advised AerCap on the structuring, drafting, negotiation and finalising of a leasing structure involving one Airbus A330 Neo aircraft that was delivered to Corsair.
  • Represented a major international bank in connection with the refinancing of one Boeing 777F aircraft owned and operated by a French freight air carrier.
  • Represented a aircraft leasing company on a French tax lease structure in respect of two Airbus A350-1000 on lease to French airlines.

Watson Farley & Williams LLP

Watson Farley & Williams LLP’s aviation finance team advises a broad range of clients, including manufacturers, export credit agencies, banking institutions, and lessors, on both English and French law transactions. Alexia Russell handles aircraft financings and leases globally, and Philippe Monfort is recommended for structurings, tax considerations, and leases.

Responsables de la pratique:

Alexia Russell; Philippe Monfort


Autres avocats clés:

Hugues Hounkpati


Les références

‘Always attentive and responsive, customer focus.’

‘Alexia Russell: Broad knowledge and efficient team management.’

‘Alexia Russell and her team are unbelievably responsive, very clued in to the needs of clients, and tough when it comes to protecting our interests, but all done very professionally and calmly.’

Principaux clients

Investec Bank


RIVE Private Investment


Principaux dossiers


  • Advising RIVE Private Investment on refinancing of engine and APUs portfolio alongside global leases
  • Advising Investec Bank on the financing of a fleet of ten H135 and two AW109 helicopters for RIVE Private Investment