Sebastian Smith is a partner in the firm’s Tokyo office. He has wide-ranging aviation experience and regularly advises leasing companies, financial institutions, export credit agencies, institutional lenders, and airlines in respect of cross-border aircraft finance and leasing transactions. He has significant experience with the JOL/JOLCO market in Japan and has niche expertise in advising on aircraft freighter conversions and Unit Leasing Device (ULD) agreements. He has also been a key figure on M&A transactions/joint ventures for aircraft leasing and banking clients.
Sebastian has extensive disputes and restructuring experience in the aviation arena and has advised clients on distressed transactions during the COVID crisis and issues arising from Russian sanctions.
One client praises him saying “He is a knowledgeable aviation lawyer who is super-efficient; he really just digs in and gets things done.” (Chambers & Partners, 2022).
