AIRCRAFT FINANCE TEAM
Backed by approximately 2,200 lawyers and other professionals in 34 offices throughout the world, Holland & Knight’s Aircraft Finance team advises and represents all types of aviation clients across all aspects of their businesses and operations. We advise clients on a daily basis on transactional, regulatory (including sanctions, general aviation policy and environmental), investigations (including antitrust and NTSB/FAA investigations), litigation, employment, insurance, product liability, restructuring (including bankruptcy and workout) and repossession matters.
Understanding the Aviation Business
We are active on legal committees of key industry associations and working groups, and we regularly lead educational seminars on topical issues and thought leadership industry matters.
SUPPORTING THE AVIATION INDUSTRY
Global Leader in Aviation Finance Law
We have been involved in numerous high-profile, cutting-edge transactions that have earned us a leading reputation in the industry.
Our industry knowledge has been accumulated over decades of work with leading industry participants, which enables us to support a wide range of clients on complex matters with a comprehensive and genuine “value-added” service that goes beyond legal excellence.
WE HANDLE ALL TYPES OF TRANSACTIONS
Broad Range of Perspectives
Our diversity provides clients with the benefits of an experienced pool of professionals reflective of the international marketplace and communities in which they do business.
Holland & Knight's mission is to provide seamless, efficient and valuable client-centric services over a wide range of industries. Collaboration across practices and offices, along with highly focused management of matters and cases, enables us to deliver dynamic legal support, regardless of location.
PUT OUR EXPERIENCE TO WORK FOR YOU
Holland & Knight has a long-standing reputation as a global leader in aviation finance law. This reputation has been earned through years of experience and involvement in cutting-edge and traditional, complex transactions in domestic and cross-border acquisition, financing, securitization, restructuring and leasing of aviation assets. Our clients include the world’s 10 largest aircraft leasing companies (and 17 of the top 20), leading names among airlines, leasing companies, corporate jet owners, investment and commercial banks, manufacturers and export credit agencies. Combined, our clients own or manage more than 7,500 commercial aircraft. We typically complete more than 250 aviation transactions annually, and during the past five years, we have worked with clients in more than 70 countries on the acquisition, financing, leasing and structuring of aircraft and helicopter transactions.
WHAT OTHERS SAY ABOUT OUR FIRM
We are consistently recognized as leaders in the legal profession, earning accolades for service, responsiveness and results.
2025 Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms”
Received national first-tier rankings in 37 practices, including in Transportation Law
2025 Chambers UK
Holland & Knight ranked among top aviation law firms; recognitions for Partners Debra Erni, Victoria Koob, Robert Rickets and Richard Sharman in Asset Finance: Aviation Finance
2024 Chambers High Net Worth
Holland & Knight recognized in Band 1 of the Global-wide Private Aircraft category, including individual rankings for Giles Cornwall, Juan Carlos Ferrer, John Hoover and Robert Ricketts
2024 The Legal 500 United States
Holland & Knight ranked Tier 1 in Transport: Aviation and Air Travel - Finance; Aviation Attorney John Pritchard listed as Hall of Fame, Phillip Durham and Richard Furey as Leading Lawyers, Nathan Leavitt as Next Generation, Cynthia Liu as Rising Stars, William Coleman, Brian Daigle and Audrey Sung as Recommended
2024 Chambers USA
America’s Leading Lawyers for Business Guide
Holland & Knight ranked Band 2 nationally in Transportation: Aviation: Finance; John Pritchard named Senior Statesperson; Phillip Durham and Nathan Leavitt recognized Nationwide
2024 Chambers Global
The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business Guide
Holland & Knight named among the world’s leading law firms in the area of Global Asset Finance, including individual rankings for Phillip Durham, Nathan Leavitt and John Pritchard
2024 Legal 500 United Kingdom
Recognized Holland & Knight among the leading firms for Transport: Aviation, including recognition for Victoria Koob as “Next Generation Partner”as well as Robert Ricketts as a “Leading Individual”; additionally, Holland & Knight was recognized for Finance: Transport Finance and Leasing, including recognition for Debra Erni as “Leading Individual” as well as mentions for Robert Ricketts, Victoria Koob, Richard Sharman, Noelle Boyce and Michael Holt
DIRECT QUOTES
Holland & Knight’s practice “combines specialized knowledge, global reach and a comprehensive set of skills to navigate the intricacies of the aviation industry and provide clients with effective legal solutions in a timely manner.”
– 2024 Legal 500 United States Transport: Aviation and Air Travel - Finance
2022 Law360
Holland & Knight’s Transportation Practice named “Practice Group of the Year”; Partner Victoria Koob named among Rising Stars in Transportation
Holland & Knight has “a great team that is very responsive” ... and “one of only a small number of firms that have genuine expertise across the full range of aviation-related disputes.”
– 2024 Legal 500 United Kingdom Transport Finance and Leasing; and Aviation
“Holland & Knight has a well-resourced team and provides a very good level of service ... it is one of the top firms.”
AIRCRAFT FINANCE CONTACTS
William Coleman Partner | Miami
+1.305.789.7427 william.coleman@hklaw.com
Richard “Rick” Crowley Consulting Counsel | New York +1.212.513.3244 richard.crowley@hklaw.com
Phillip Durham Partner
Chicago | +1.312.715.5736
New York | +1.212.513.3381 phillip.durham@hklaw.com
Debra Erni Partner | London +44.20.7071.9938 debra.erni@hklaw.com
Victoria Koob Partner | London
+44.20.7071.9912 victoria.koob@hklaw.com
Nathan Leavitt Partner | San Francisco +1.415.743.6944 nathan.leavitt@hklaw.com
Robert Ricketts Partner | London
+44.20.7071.9910 robert.ricketts@hklaw.com
Richard Sharman Partner | London +44.20.7071.9913 richard.sharman@hklaw.com
Jovi Tenev Partner | New York
+1.212.513.3218 jovi.tenev@hklaw.com
www.hklaw.com
Brian Daigle Partner | San Francisco
+1.415.743.6953
brian.daigle@hklaw.com
Richard “Rich” Furey Partner | New York
+1.212.513.3439
richard.furey@hklaw.com
John Pritchard Partner | New York
+1.212.513.3233
john.pritchard@hklaw.com
Audrey Sung Partner | San Francisco
+1.415.743.6940
audrey.sung@hklaw.com