Baker McKenzie regularly advises lessors and lenders on aviation finance mandates, and is commended for ‘its expensive experience acting for a broad range of clients across multiple jurisdictions in the aviation market’. Andrew Lockhart leads the team and counts major airlines among his key roster of clients, frequently assisting clients in the aviation sector with structuring their assets. Allen Ng is also noted for his expertise in aviation leasing and financing matters, in addition to advising on aircraft transactions. Jane Wang is another key contact in the group.

Showcasing stellar expertise in aviation finance, the cross-practice at Clifford Chance acts for major PRC lessors and financial institutions active in the aircraft finance market, in addition to leasing companies, capital providers and other investors, and maintains a strong track record in big-ticket, cross-border transactions. ‘Knowledgeable, trustworthy and reliable’ team leader Paul Greenwell is a key point of contact for clients in the Japanese and Chinese aviation sectors, while Hetty Lam has experience in handling cross-border leasing and financing deals. Jeffrey Ip is another key contact in the group.

Sitting within the firm’s wider banking and finance group, the aviation practice at Clyde & Co LLP handles a range of aircraft finance matters, refinancings and leasing issues, in addition to sale and purchase transactions. ‘Attentive to detail and commercially oriented’, Stuart Miller is noted for his expertise in mandates concerning private jets, and jointly leads the team alongside Fei Kwok, who acts for China-based clients looking to invest in the aviation industry in the PRC.

Counting banks, lessors, shipowners, operators, port and terminal operators among its key roster of clients, CMS Hong Kong LLP advises on traditional and offshore shipping finance mandates, with additional expertise in aircraft and aircraft engine financing and leasing issues. Tim Elliott has ‘extensive experience’ in debt and leasing transactions, with a particular focus on offshore oil and gas shipping, and jointly leads the team alongside Conor Warde, who acts for lenders, lessors, investors, and corporate clients in maritime transactions.

Counting airlines and lessors operating in Greater China among its key roster of clients, HFW’s workload includes aircraft trading, leasing, financing and large-scale aircraft projects. Aviation finance expert Justin Sun jointly leads the team alongside Patrick Cheung, who has considerable experience advising banks, leasing companies, owners and charterers on shipping finance matters and related advisory issues. Whitney Chan handles mandates concerning aircraft financing, leasing and trading for commercial aircraft and private jets.

Bolstered by the arrivals of practice leaders Gary Wong and Janice Lee from Ince & Co in November 2023, Hill Dickinson Hong Kong houses a robust shipping finance practice, and counts owners, banks, operators, leasing companies, ship managers and government bodies among its key roster of clients. Lee handles ship and aviation finance matters, with demonstrable experience in structured financing, particularly in sale and lease back transactions, while Wong focuses on ship sale and purchase and ship finance mandates.

Well placed to ‘handle complex projects involving English law, New York law and Chinese law’, King & Wood Mallesons acts for manufacturers, arrangers, lessors, financiers and airlines, including flag carriers, on the full range of aviation financial product offerings. Katherine Ke spearheads the offering in Hong Kong and represents lessors and financiers in the leasing and financing of commercial aircraft and business jets, in addition to handling portfolio purchases and sales, purchase orders and commercial agreements with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

Praised for its ‘exceptional knowledge of the aviation sector’, Mayer Brown acts for major airlines and financiers in Asia on a range of mandates, from commercial aircraft and corporate jet financing to aircraft trading, with additional experience advising ship finance banks, lessors and insurance companies, shipowners, shipbuilders, charterers, pool operators and ship managers on the gamut of shipping finance matters. Richard Stock oversees the aviation finance group and advises on secured debt financings, as well as lease, finance lease and tax-driven lease issues. Evelyn Lok, who stands out for her expertise in aviation finance transactions, is another key contact in the group.

Counting domestic and and international leasing companies, banks, shipowners and sponsors among its key roster of clients, Norton Rose Fulbright advises on cross-border ship financing mandates, from finance and operating leases, pre-delivery and post delivery financing to refinancing. Becky Tai leads the team and advises on maritime and offshore structured financing transactions across a variety of asset types, including LNG carriers, cruise ships and high-specification drilling rigs.

Reed Smith Richards Butler LLP regularly works closely with the firm's other office, and handles a steady flow of offshore and LNG matters. The team excels in managing secured and unsecured syndicated and bilateral ship finance, export credit-supported financing, and lease financing. A key area of work for the team is working on the financing of LNG carriers, and its wider client base also includes numerous regional shipowners. As well as shipbuilding projects, practice head Peter Lee specialises in the financings of ships and offshore oil and gas projects, and counting banks, financial institutions, leasing companies, shipowneres, project companies and investors as his main clients. Tat Pan departed in April 2024.

Counting Chinese and international banks and financial institutions, aircraft managers, leasing companies and airlines in Asia and the Middle East among its key roster of clients, Stephenson Harwood advises on the financing, leasing and trading of commercial aircraft and business jets. The firm also maintains a stellar track record in shipping finance, acting for international banks and major finance leasing companies on cross-border mandates. Simon Wong, who is praised for his ‘rich industry experience and superb negotiation skills’, jointly leads the practice alongside Hongkai Zhou, and Elton Chan. Zhou focuses on the financing and leasing of ships and offshore installations, while Chan handles structural finance matters. Simone Liu has experience in work concerning shipbuilding assistance, transactions and ship finance, while Louis Ng is a go-to lawyer for commercial aircraft and business jets seeking aviation finance advice.

Tiang & Partners‘ asset and aviation finance group is called upon by regional and international financiers looking to undertake inbound China transactions, in addition to assisting Chinese lessors and financiers on outbound China deals, and showcases demonstrable expertise in lease financing and restructuring mandates. Tejaswi Nimmagadda, who advises on a broad range of aircraft financing and leasing matters, jointly leads the team alongside Michelle Taylor, who also spearheads the firm’s wider banking and finance group. Nai Kwok is another key contact in the group.

Watson Farley & Williams handles a range of asset finance and leasing matters, including asset and project finance, structured lending, leasing, and commercial aviation transactions, in addition to advising creditors in major airline restructurings, while maintaining a standout maritime practice. Jim Bell, Charles Viggers, George Macheras, and Christoforos Bisbikos collectively lead the group, and Jackson Chow is lauded for his negotiation skills, often working on cross-border financing and leasing mandates, while Madeline Leong maintains a market-leading reputation in shipping finance. Guan Jian, who regularly deals with international shipping and offshore financing transactions, is another key contact in the group.

Withers stands out for its expertise in private aviation, acting as a go-to for ultra-high-net-worth individuals and private aircraft owners. Luca Denora handles matters concerning commercial airlines and business jets, as well as acting for aircraft operators and leasing companies on contractual mandates. Paul Jebely departed in September 2024.