Asset Finance

Holland & Knight's Asset Finance Group stands out for its extensive international experience and deep technical knowledge of the global transportation and heavy equipment industries it serves. We have advised on thousands of these transactions in recent years – more than 250 in each of the past five years. This recent experience means we are current on everything that affects our clients in this complex market. Our clients have included every type of business entity involved in asset finance transactions, including nine of the world's 10 largest aircraft leasing companies, major U.S. and international airlines, as well as key secured financiers in the industry. We also represent global shipping companies, the major ship finance banks and equity investors.

With lawyers dedicated to this practice on both the East Coast and West Coast of the United States, as well as in our London and Latin America offices, we provide true global coverage – and we work as a team, placing client relationships first.

Chambers and Partners ranks five of our attorneys in aviation finance and shipping/maritime finance, along with more than 140 attorneys who are recognized in related financial, regulatory and litigation practices that can support our Asset Finance Group. Twelve of our transportation practices are ranked by Chambers, along with 22 attorneys in those practices.

Internationally Recognized Leaders in Transportation Finance

If you attend conferences or participate in organizations that serve transportation finance, you likely have seen our attorneys. Three of our asset finance partners sit on the legal advisory panel executive committee of the Aviation Working Group, where they guide analysis of recent Cape Town Convention legal activity and provide annotation to the organization's official commentary. One of our partners is heavily involved in the development of the MAC Protocol, a fourth protocol to the Cape Town Treaty covering mining, agricultural and construction equipment.

Our roster includes the former chair of the American Bar Association's Aircraft Financing Subcommittee, and our attorneys spoke last year at transportation conferences in cities across the globe, including New York, London, Dublin, Copenhagen, Johannesburg, Nairobi, Mexico City, Toronto and Oslo. In short, we have a cutting-edge understanding of the buying, selling, financing and leasing of transportation equipment, accessing capital markets in large transactions involving that equipment, and handling the insolvency and workout issues that are a risk for which our clients must be ready. We use this knowledge to guide our clients in this complex and constantly evolving area of finance.

Experience Plus Big-Firm Resources Define Our Practice

Our clients have included every type of entity involved in the buying or selling of transportation equipment. We have represented leading players in private equity, banks and investors at every level. We routinely handle cross-border transactions with North American, Latin American, Middle East, Asian and European components. Our offices in Bogotá and Mexico City, complemented by more than 170 lawyers who are fluent in Spanish or Portuguese, have made us a go-to firm for both borrowers and lenders in Latin America. Several years ago, we expanded our London office when attorneys from one of the world's leading transportation practices joined us.

If there is a new wrinkle or development in asset financing, our attorneys likely are at the forefront of helping our clients understand and use it. We handle secured loans, operating and leveraged leases, pre-delivery payment financings, sale/leasebacks, cross-border financing, export credit agency (ECA) supported financings, purchase and sale of new and used aircraft and lease portfolios, manufacturer-supported financings, asset-backed security transactions and enhanced equipment trust certificate offerings. We are familiar with the laws and customs of every region of the world, including Sharia law. We find a way to get deals done.

When our clients need additional perspective on a complex matter, whether it's an understanding of Libor alternatives, the parking of 737s, the impact of geopolitics or a new development with a financial instrument, help is just a quick call away. Our asset finance lawyers collaborate with cross-discipline colleagues in practices that cover international banking regulations, public policy and regulation, sanctions, securitization, bankruptcy and workouts, taxation and litigation. No matter what the challenge or where it occurs, we have it covered with more than 2,200 attorneys in 34 offices and over 250 practice areas.

We Cover Every Sector of Asset Finance

In order to better serve our clients in major transportation and heavy equipment industries, we divide our asset finance practice into teams that focus on aviation (from large commercial aircraft to corporate jets and helicopters), maritime vessels (from offshore platforms to the world's largest vessels) and other heavy equipment. More information on these focused asset finance practices is available at these links.