Bennett Jones LLP houses a strong practice that is well-versed in corporate financing, aircraft financing, leasing, acquisition, debt restructuring, compliance issues, litigation and regulatory matters. The group is routinely instructed by major airlines, aircraft operators and aircraft manufacturers for advice on purchase and sale agreements with manufacturers and for used aircraft. Aircraft leasing companies and financiers seek out the team for assistance with lease structures, aircraft purchase, lease novations, aircraft financing and aircraft security issues. The team also demonstrates adept handling of contentious matters, and has experience representing clients in litigation relating to maintenance standards and aircraft crashes. Calgary-based Patrick Brennan steers the practice and focuses on aircraft acquisition, dispositions and financings. Also stationed in Calgary, key partner Noriko Shimura majors on aircraft leasing and financing transactions.
Aviation in Canada
Bennett Jones LLP
Responsables de la pratique:
Patrick Brennan K.C.
Autres avocats clés:
Noriko Shimura
Principaux clients
Flair Airlines
ATB Financial
Canadian Aviation Infrastructure Consortia
Calgary Fuel Facilities
Edmonton Fuel Facilities
Halifax International Fuel Facilities
International De-icing Facilities
Hamilton Airport Fuel Facilities
Kelowna Glycol Facilities
Montreal International Fuel Facilities
Ottawa International Fuel Facilities
International De-icing Facilities
Pearson International Fuel Facilities
St. John’s Fuel Facilities
Vancouver Airport Fuel Facilities
Winnipeg International Fuel Facilities
Chorus Aviation
Cygnet Aviation Academy
Chorus Aviation Capital (Ireland)
General Bank of Canada
Jazz Aviation
Voyageur Aviation
Longview Aviation Capital
Shock Trauma Air Rescue Service (STARS)
Eagle Copters
Viking Air
de Havilland Aircraft of Canada
Principaux dossiers
- Advised Flair on all of its aircraft lease negotiations, including the 2022 fleet expansion with the leasing and delivery of Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft.
- Counsel to Chorus in connection with the first amendment and restatement, as well as the second amendment and restatement of Chorus’s existing credit facility with The Bank of Nova Scotia as administrative agent.
- Counsel to a purchaser of a vintage aircraft who is commencing an action against an aircraft broker and aircraft maintenance company for falsely representing the safety and mechanical conditions of the aircraft prior during pre-purchase negotiations and inspection.
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Strategic aviation finance and regulatory advice are core strengths of the group at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP. The team is regularly instructed by aviation multinational corporations, manufacturers, financiers and lessors, and is well-versed in both aircraft and engine financings, aerospace M&A, airport and infrastructure financing and satellite financing. The group also boasts substantial knowledge on the federal government’s National Airports Policy. Toronto-based Jason MacIntyre steers the practice and offers significant expertise in aircraft repossessions, airline and aircraft maintenance licensing and certification, foreign investment in Canadian airlines and airport privatization. Auriol Marasco is highly active on aircraft financing and regulatory matters. Partner Donald Gray retired in December 2022. Eric Goneau focuses primarily on secured lending and structured finance transactions and is a key associate-level contact.
Responsables de la pratique:
Jason MacIntyre
Principaux clients
AerCap
Aergo Capital
Azorra Aviation Holdings
BOC Aviation
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
Castlelake
Export-Import Bank of the United States
Jackson Square Aviation
PNC Bank Aviation Finance
The Boeing Company
TrueNoord
Principaux dossiers
- Advised Azorra Aviation Holdings on the pre-delivery payment financing and sale-leaseback of 5xE195-E2 aircraft to Porter Airlines.
- Advised Aviation Working Group on the preparation of the AWG’s Cross Border Transferability (XBT) Handbook.
- Advised a drones delivery operator on aviation regulatory matters concerning foreign investment.
Dentons
The team at Dentons is well-versed in aviation issues, namely complex and structured financing transactions and compliance mandates. International aviation financiers, commercial and business aircraft lessors, aircraft chartered companies, airports and private operators routinely feature on its broad client roster. Vancouver-based practice co-head Robert Quon specializes in assisting aviation and aerospace clients with corporate and commercial transactions. Alongside him, Kathryn McCulloch co-leads from Toronto and has niche expertise in the regulatory structure for drones; her robust traditional aviation practice includes representing commercial air operators in litigation. In Montreal, partner Marie-Josée Couture assists with financing transactions.
Responsables de la pratique:
Robert Quon; Kathryn McCulloch
Autres avocats clés:
Marie-Josée Couture
DLA Piper (Canada) LLP
DLA Piper (Canada) LLP‘s aviation expertise encompasses the acquisition, leasing and financing of aviation equipment and flight simulators, as well as governmental compliance and regulatory matters. Aviation insurance claims, domestic and international baggage loss claims and the defence of air carriers in passenger injury and wrongful death claims are additional specialities. The group also boasts substantial knowledge of international and bilateral air treaties and conventions that govern international air transport. Toronto-based practice co-head Catherine Pawluch routinely represents clients before aviation regulatory authorities, including the Canadian Transportation Agency. Alongside her, Laura Safran KC co-leads from Calgary and is noted for her expertise in aircraft acquisitions and financings, regulatory matters and aviation claims work. Also in Calgary, associate Prasad Taksal supports on commercial, transactional and regulatory matters. Partner Andrew McFarlane left the practice in March 2023.
Responsables de la pratique:
Catherine Pawluch; Laura Safran KC
Autres avocats clés:
Prasad Taksal
Les références
‘The team includes experienced individuals in different aspects of aviation.’
‘Every individual in the team has made themselves available to us in urgent situations and at anytime we asked for help.’
Principaux clients
Air Canada
Cargolux International Airlines, Cargolux
Italia
Avianca
Canadian Helicopter Corps
SpringJet
HiFly
Japan Airlines
Cameco
Principaux dossiers
- Assisted Hi Fly and SpringJet in complying with the necessary Canadian regulatory requirements and obtaining the necessary aviation permits and authorizations for each individual flight required to transport Afghan, Ukrainian and other immigrants to Canada.
- Assisted Airble Aviation with preparing all necessary documentation, as well as advising on all applicable aviation regulatory matters, for its operation in the US market.
Stikeman Elliott LLP
Stikeman Elliott LLP's group is regularly instructed by aviation industry players seeking support with aircraft and equipment finance, and leasing, transactional, regulatory compliance and litigation matters. Domestic and cross-border aviation and aerospace commercial disputes, particularly those involving allegations of nonconformity with contractual specifications or product defects, are a key area of expertise for the department. The practice is co-led by Montreal-based partners Pierre-Paul Daunais and Serge Levy. Daunais is noted for his litigation expertise, which is centred on representing aviation companies, while Levy focuses on sophisticated debt financing transactions, including cross-border leveraged finance transactions.
Responsables de la pratique:
Pierre-Paul Daunais; Serge Levy
Principaux clients
Airbus Canada Limited Partnership
Bombardier Aerospace
Aircraft Terminal Services
Air Canada
United States Aviation Underwriters
Airwest Leasing II
Gowling WLG
The aviation expertise of the group at Gowling WLG encompasses customer and supply agreements, advertising and marketing affairs, joint bids and bid protests, procurement and lease agreements, financing and multi-jurisdictional litigation. Project development and finance specialist Thomas Timmins steers the practice. Key partners include Ottawa-based Cynthia Elderkin, whose focus is on transactions involving the regulation, leasing, sale and purchase of commercial, business and personal aircraft; and Montreal-based David Kierans, who handles secured lending and aviation finance.
Responsables de la pratique:
Thomas Timmins
Autres avocats clés:
Cynthia Elderkin; David Kierans
Principaux clients
Pipestone Energy
Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB)
Detail K2
Bank of Montreal (BMO)
Bank of Ireland
Principaux dossiers
- Defended United Airlines in a competition law class action.