Press Release
K&L Gates Receives Multiple Recognitions at Global Transport Finance Awards
18 February 2019
Tokyo and Singapore – K&L Gates’ aviation finance practice was recently recognized with several Global Transport Finance (GTF) awards for the following best-in-class deals having closed in 2018:
• Aircraft Lessor JOLCO Deal of the Year – advising a major Japanese leasing company on a JOLCO financing with ICBC Aviation Leasing Company Limited (ICBC Aviation) in respect of two new Airbus A321neo aircraft leased to Vietnam Airlines. This was ICBC Aviation’s first JOLCO financing involving a Vietnamese airline;
• JOLCO Deal of the Year, Europe – advising a major Japanese leasing company on a JOLCO financing with Scandinavian Airlines System Denmark - Norway - Sweden in respect of four Airbus A320neo aircraft; and
• JOLCO Deal of the Year, Australia – advising a major Japanese leasing company on a JOLCO financing with Virgin Australia Airlines Pty Limited (Virgin Australia) in respect of six vintage Boeing 737-800 aircraft. This was the first time Virgin Australia participated in a JOLCO financing transaction.
Robert E. Melson, Jr., partner (Tokyo) and global head of aviation finance, and Kamil Gerard Ahmed, counsel (Singapore and Tokyo), led on these important transactions, with Takahiro Kawaguchi, partner (Tokyo), having provided Japanese law advice.
“We are very happy that our global aviation finance practice and the leading clients that we represent on their prominent cross-border transactions have been recognized by GTF and our peers across jurisdictions,” stated Melson. “Our practice continues to grow from strength-to-strength and 2018 was a robust year for us. We are grateful for these GTF awards and look forward to continue working on high-level transactions and representing a diverse client base internationally.”
For over 17 years, GTF has been hosting an annual Awards and Gala Dinner to recognize the achievements of leading transport finance bankers, leasing companies, lawyers, private equity companies and consultants, giving awards each year for the best deals in the aviation, airports, shipping, rail, road and legal transport finance markets.
The awards were formally presented at the 2018 GTF Annual Gala Awards & Dinner in London on January 31, 2019.
• Aircraft Lessor JOLCO Deal of the Year – advising a major Japanese leasing company on a JOLCO financing with ICBC Aviation Leasing Company Limited (ICBC Aviation) in respect of two new Airbus A321neo aircraft leased to Vietnam Airlines. This was ICBC Aviation’s first JOLCO financing involving a Vietnamese airline;
• JOLCO Deal of the Year, Europe – advising a major Japanese leasing company on a JOLCO financing with Scandinavian Airlines System Denmark - Norway - Sweden in respect of four Airbus A320neo aircraft; and
• JOLCO Deal of the Year, Australia – advising a major Japanese leasing company on a JOLCO financing with Virgin Australia Airlines Pty Limited (Virgin Australia) in respect of six vintage Boeing 737-800 aircraft. This was the first time Virgin Australia participated in a JOLCO financing transaction.
Robert E. Melson, Jr., partner (Tokyo) and global head of aviation finance, and Kamil Gerard Ahmed, counsel (Singapore and Tokyo), led on these important transactions, with Takahiro Kawaguchi, partner (Tokyo), having provided Japanese law advice.
“We are very happy that our global aviation finance practice and the leading clients that we represent on their prominent cross-border transactions have been recognized by GTF and our peers across jurisdictions,” stated Melson. “Our practice continues to grow from strength-to-strength and 2018 was a robust year for us. We are grateful for these GTF awards and look forward to continue working on high-level transactions and representing a diverse client base internationally.”
For over 17 years, GTF has been hosting an annual Awards and Gala Dinner to recognize the achievements of leading transport finance bankers, leasing companies, lawyers, private equity companies and consultants, giving awards each year for the best deals in the aviation, airports, shipping, rail, road and legal transport finance markets.
The awards were formally presented at the 2018 GTF Annual Gala Awards & Dinner in London on January 31, 2019.
K&L Gates is a fully integrated global law firm with lawyers located across five continents. The firm represents leading multinational corporations, growth and middle-market companies, capital markets participants and entrepreneurs in every major industry group as well as public sector entities, educational institutions, philanthropic organizations and individuals.
