Morgan Lewis boosts aviation finance team across offices
Morgan Lewis is bolstering its global aviation practice with the addition of an eight-lawyer EMEA and Asia-Pacific team, including three partners—Sidanth Rajagopal, James Bradley, and Manuela Krach — across the firm’s London, Dubai, and Singapore offices. Joining from K&L Gates, the team represents a variety of key aviation industry players, including but not limited to financial institutions, lessors, restructuring specialists and airlines. The team focuses on complex cross border financing, leasing, and restructuring issues in the aviation industry.
“This highly ranked, multifaceted, multijurisdictional team brings a depth of experience to our aviation capabilities that already spans the full spectrum of issues—from finance and restructuring to litigation and enforcement, project development, and insurance and reinsurance recovery, to name a few,” said firm chair Jami McKeon. “The aviation industry is one that depends on sophisticated skill sets to navigate disruptions and identify opportunities in today’s market. Our global aviation team will be of significant value to clients within and associated with the industry engaged in complex cross-border transactions and disputes.”
In addition to the partners, two of counsel, Sourabh Bhattacharya and Terry Chang, and three associates, Atif Ayub, Kevin Pearson, and Jie Hao (Ivan) Qiu, are joining the firm. They focus on transactional, leasing, and restructuring, with their experience extending into project development work, especially in the airports sector. In addition, the team works on innovative financing solutions, including Sharia-compliant aircraft leasing, Japanese Operating Lease (JOL) and JOLCO structures and other structured leasing arrangements.
“We co-counsel today with this team on several transactional and litigation matters, and there are exciting opportunities for our market-leading US aviation finance and UK aviation litigation practices to collaborate with our new colleagues who are well-known throughout the EMEA and Asia-Pacific region and beyond,” said Bruce Silvers, partner and a leader of the firm’s global aviation finance practice. “We advise over 100 financial institutions in connection with aircraft investments, so having a coordinated, transactional aircraft leasing and restructuring practice within the United States, London, the United Arab Emirates, and Singapore further establishes our resources for clients in the aviation industry.”
Rajagopal, who will be resident in London, was practice group coordinator of the global banking and asset finance group at K&L Gates. He provides key commercial and technical advice throughout the deal cycle and counsels clients in the areas of financing, leasing, purchasing, restructuring, and repossessions for both commercial and business aircraft. He also works alongside clients on equity capital markets and debt capital market transactions.
Bradley, who will be resident in Singapore, advises on various aspects of financing, leasing, and restructuring across a variety of jurisdictions in relation to aircraft, engines, and corporate jets. He has extensive transaction experience in the transportation and finance sectors in Asia, where he has been primarily based for over two decades.
Krach, who will be resident in London, advises clients on complex cross-border and multi-jurisdictional aviation transactions involving airlines, lessors, financiers, and manufacturers. She has experience advising on operating as well as finance lease agreements from the lessee and lessor side, negotiating all aspects of a transaction.
