Clifford Chance LLP

‘Abreast of the latest financing innovations and market positioning’, Clifford Chance LLP provides ’a high-quality and business-oriented work product’ to lenders, funds, lessors and manufacturers involved in the financing and leasing of a broad swathe of asset classes throughout the transportation sector. Aviation remains its sweet spot, however, and aided by a myriad of strong practitioners throughout its international network and enhanced by lawyers in complementary practice groups, including finance, restructuring and corporate, the team excels in handling complex and often highly structured mandates. Here, despite the recent retirement of the legendary William Glaister, the firm’s well-established succession planning has borne fruit, with the likes of the ‘outstanding’ Richard Evans, who has a  ’vast knowledge of all finance structures’, and Ranbir Hunjan, who ‘knows the industry like no other’, being two of the principal figures now engaged in the highest-profile work handled by the group. The ’hugely hardworking and unflappable’ Oliver Hipperson heads up the overarching asset finance team and, as well as being key to much of the aviation work, is also extremely well-versed in advising on big-ticket maritime and offshore matters. Rail group head Paul Carrington additionally covers the aviation market, handling financing, leasing and restructurings. At a non-partner level, Chris Hardisty excels in advising on bank-funded and export-credit-backed financings in the aviation sector, while Lara Attarzadeh is garnering plaudits from clients for her ‘incredibly diligent and responsive’ approach.