The practice group at Bennett Jones LLP is well-placed to handle aircraft purchases, sales, leasings, financings and debt restructuring matters, as well as compliance issues, litigation and regulatory mandates. Airlines, aircraft operators, aircraft manufacturers and financial institutions regularly feature on the group’s client roster. In addition, aircraft leasing companies look to the team for support with lease structures, aircraft purchases, aircraft financings and aircraft security issues. Calgary-based Patrick Brennan, K.C. heads up the department and specializes in asset-based financing and leasing, aircraft acquisition and disposition, and debt restructuring. Also in Calgary, Noriko Shimura and Taylor Davis focus on corporate-commercial transactions, including aircraft asset financings.

The practice group at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP is equipped to provide aviation finance and regulatory advice to aviation groups, manufacturers, financiers and lessors. Core areas of expertise include aircraft and engine financings, aerospace M&A, airport and infrastructure financings and satellite financings. Toronto-based Jason MacIntyre directs the department and specializes in regulatory matters, including aircraft repossessions, and aircraft maintenance, licensing and certification. MacIntyre also co-leads the firm's drones and defence industry groups. Additional key contacts include Auriol Marasco, who majors on aircraft finance transactions, aircraft regulatory matters and manufacturing matters; and associate Eric Goneau, who handles aviation financing.

The practice group at Stikeman Elliott LLP handles aircraft and equipment finance, as well as leasing, transactional, regulatory compliance, and cross-border aviation and aerospace commercial disputes mandates. Equipment and part suppliers, airlines, aircraft manufacturers, airport operators, lessors, financiers and insurers routinely feature on the group’s client roster. Montreal-based Pierre-Paul Daunais and Serge Levy share leadership of the department. Daunais specializes in representing industry players in contractual disputes and product liability claims; Levy, for his part, majors on debt financing and cross-border leveraged finance transactions.

The practice group at Gowling WLG handles a range of aviation mandates, among them customer and supply agreements, M&A, procurement agreements, lease agreements, financing, regulatory matters and litigation. The department is directed by Toronto-based Thomas Timmins, who specializes in energy project development and finance. Other names to note include Ottawa-based Cynthia Elderkin, who regularly advises on the licensing, regulation, leasing, sale, purchase and financing of commercial, business and personal aircraft; and Montreal-based David Kierans, who majors on secured lending, project finance and aviation finance.