Chen & Partners | Aviation Finance & Leasing Legal Counsel

Global Aviation Reach

Serving clients across major aviation hubs worldwide

About The Firm

Premier Legal Counsel for the Aviation Industry

Chen & Partners stands at the forefront of aviation finance and leasing law, providing sophisticated legal guidance to airlines, aircraft lessors, financial institutions, and investors across the global aviation ecosystem.

Our practice combines deep technical expertise with pragmatic commercial insight, enabling clients to navigate complex regulatory frameworks, structure innovative financing solutions, and execute transactions with confidence in an increasingly dynamic global market.

Global Presence

Strategic locations in Hong Kong, Singapore, Dublin, and New York

Industry Leaders

Recognized by Chambers and Legal 500 for aviation excellence

Full-Cycle Support

From acquisition to repossession, we cover every transaction stage

Multijurisdictional

Seamless coordination across 40+ jurisdictions worldwide

Our Services

Comprehensive Aviation Legal Solutions

End-to-end legal support structured to meet the diverse needs of aviation industry participants.

01

Aircraft Financing

Structuring and documenting secured financing transactions, operating leases, finance leases, and sale-leaseback arrangements across jurisdictions.

Export Credit Agency financings
Debt financings and syndications
Capital markets and securitizations
Pre-delivery payment financings
refinancing and restructuring

02

Leasing Transactions

Drafting and negotiating lease agreements for commercial aircraft, engines, and spare parts, with particular expertise in cross-border leasing structures.

Operating and finance leases
Wet and dry lease arrangements
Engine and component leasing
Fleet transition and remarketing
Lease assumption and novations

03

Regulatory Compliance

Navigating complex regulatory requirements across multiple jurisdictions, including airworthiness directives, nationality registrations, and compliance frameworks.

Cape Town Treaty registration
FAA and EASA compliance
Registration and deregistration
Sanctions and export control
Environmental regulatory matters

04

Transaction Advisory

Strategic counsel on aircraft acquisitions, dispositions, and portfolio management, with comprehensive due diligence and risk assessment.

Asset purchase and sale
Portfolio acquisitions
Due diligence investigations
Transaction structuring
Closing and delivery coordination

05

Dispute Resolution

Representing clients in aviation-related disputes, including lease defaults, repossession proceedings, and international arbitration matters.

Lease defaults and enforcement
Aircraft repossession
International arbitration
Litigation and mediation
Insurance claim advocacy

06

Bankruptcy & Restructuring

Guiding lessors and financiers through airline insolvency proceedings, asset recovery, and restructuring negotiations across jurisdictions.

Chapter 11 proceedings
Cross-border insolvency
Aircraft recovery and repossession
Restructuring and work-outs
Debtor-in-possession financings

Why Choose Us

Unmatched Expertise in Aviation Finance

Our team brings decades of combined experience in aviation law, with particular strength in complex cross-border transactions and distressed asset situations. We understand both the legal frameworks and commercial realities that shape successful aviation transactions.

Cape Town Treaty Authority

International Registry experts with deep experience in Irregular, Regular, and Advanced Lodgments

Global Jurisdictional Reach

Seamless execution across 40+ jurisdictions with established local counsel networks

Commercial Acumen

Practical advice grounded in understanding of aviation market dynamics and economics

Responsive Service

24/7 availability for time-sensitive transactions and urgent operational matters

Track Record

Recent Representative Matters

A selection of significant transactions demonstrating our capabilities across aircraft types and transaction structures.

$4.2B

Largest Single Transaction

47

Narrowbody Aircraft Portfolio

12

Widebody Transaction

8

Jurisdictions Coordinated

Portfolio Sale $2.1B

Major Asian Lessor Portfolio Disposition

Represented a leading Asian aircraft lessor in the sale of a diversified portfolio of 32 modern narrowbody and widebody aircraft to a European institutional investor, coordinating due diligence and closing across nine registration jurisdictions.

Financing $1.8B

Airwide Financing Facility

Acted for a syndicate of international banks in connection with a secured financing facility for 15 new aircraft deliveries to a Southeast Asian carrier, including Export Credit Agency supported tranche and complex security package.

Restructuring $900M

Cross-Border Lease Restructuring

Represented aircraft lessors in the restructuring of lease obligations for 23 aircraft following airline insolvency proceedings, successfully negotiating revised terms and recovering aircraft from multiple jurisdictions.

Joint Venture $650M

Aircraft Leasing Platform Formation

Advised a major financial institution on the formation of an aircraft leasing joint venture, including structuring, capitalization, regulatory approvals, and initial portfolio acquisition of eight aircraft.

Our Team

Dedicated Aviation Legal Professionals

Experienced counsel with deep technical knowledge and commercial understanding of the aviation industry.

Jonathan Chen

Founding Partner

Harvard Law, 25 years aviation finance specialization. Recognized expert in Cape Town Treaty matters and cross-border leasing.

Alexandra Wong

Partner, Hong Kong

Oxford, former in-house counsel at major Asian lessor. Expertise in aircraft trading and portfolio management transactions.

Michael Brennan

Partner, Dublin

Trinity College Dublin, 20 years aviation finance experience. Leader in Irish leasing platform structuring and taxation.

Sarah Mitchell

Partner, New York

Yale Law School, former DOJ aviation prosecutor. Specializes in enforcement, repossession, and bankruptcy matters.

Get In Touch

Schedule a Consultation

Contact our aviation finance team to discuss your legal needs. We respond promptly to all inquiries and offer initial consultations to understand your requirements.

Head Office

Levels 28-30, Two International Finance Centre
8 Finance Street, Central, Hong Kong

Email

aviation@chenpartners.com

Phone

+852 2845 1234

Excellence in Aviation Legal Advisory