Jeffrey's primary areas of practice are aircraft finance and leasing, cross-border structured lending and asset-based financing transactions, aviation, and international business and commercial transactions. He represents domestic and foreign air carriers, leasing companies and lenders on such matters as aircraft acquisitions, sales, leasing and financings (including export credit, mismatch/SOAR facilities and manufacturer supported financings, mortgage financings and cross-border leveraged lease financing transactions), spares and engine financings and leases, aircraft operating lease transactions, progress payment financings, international development bank facilities, receivables and aircraft securitizations, fuel and currency hedging, comprehensive code share and marketing alliances, cargo handling agreements, computer reservation systems and similar agreements, commodity and service procurement agreements, airline mergers and acquisitions, regulatory matters before the Federal Aviation Administration and related corporate and commercial matters affecting airlines and leasing companies.
Areas of Concentration
· Aircraft finance
· Equipment leasing
· Credit facilities and workouts
· Equipment acquisitions and dispositions
· International finance and banking
· Mergers and acquisitions
· International business transactions
· Securitizations
· Cross-border joint ventures
Significant Representations
· Counsel clients regarding the acquisition of several billion dollars of commercial transport category aircraft (including: A300, A320, B737, B767, B747, EMB 190).
· Advised TACA International Airlines, S.A. in connection with first European Export Credit Agency supported financing of Airbus products to Latin America (an AirFinance Journal Deal of the Year for Latin America).
· Representation of carriers and leasing companies in Exim, BNDES and ECA transactions.
· Advised COPA with respect to largest Eximbank supported facility to Panama for the acquisition of Boeing 737 New Generation equipment.
· Advised TACA International Airlines, S.A. in connection with Amex/Visa receivables securitization.
· Representation of various leasing companies in connection with numerous cross-border operating leases to carriers in Latin America, Europe and Asia.
· Representation of carriers with respect to the acquisition and financing of hushkits and ground handling equipment.
· Representation of airlines in Japanese, German and Swedish Leveraged Lease financings and unwinds.
· Representation of airlines in connection with data services and systems procurement and support contracts.
· Representation of COPA and AeroRepublica in connection with their respective fleet expansion involving Embraer 190 aircraft.
· Representation of VOLARIS in connection with its fleet expansion program in respect of Airbus A319 and A320 Aircraft.
· Representation of Frontier Airlines in connection with aircraft leasing and financing matters.
· Representation of Wachovia Bank, National Association in connection with several aircraft and inventory secured loans to aircraft lessors and other aviation-related businesses.
· Representation of Natixis in SOAR loan financing to a Brazilian carrier.
· Represented local venturer in securing and negotiating development bank credit facility for turn-key manufacturing plant in Argentina.
· Representation of local venturer in financing participation in Central American hydroelectric project.
Professional & Community Involvement
· Member, American Bar Association
Awards & Recognition
· Member, Winning Team, Latin Lawyer's "Deal of the Year - Restructuring" Award, 2012
· Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, 2007-2012
- Derivatives and Futures Law
- Securitization and Structured Finance Law
- Transportation Law
· Member, team selected by Chambers and Partners for "Corporate & Finance - Law Firm of the Year (Florida-Based)" Award, Chambers Latin America Awards, 2010 and 2011
· Member, team selected by Chambers and Partners for "Focus on Latin America - Law Firm of the Year (Florida-Based)" Award, Chambers Latin America Inaugural Awards for Excellence, 2009
· Named, Best Lawyers' 2012 Miami Derivatives and Futures Law Lawyer of the Year
· Listed, The Best of the Best USA, Aviation, Expert Guides, 2009
· Listed, Chambers Global, a directory of the most highly recommended lawyers worldwide, Chambers and Partners, 2009 and 2011
· Listed, Aviation, Euromoney Expert Guides
· Listed, Legal, International Who's Who
· Member, team ranked as a top corporate law firm in Miami as selected by corporate directors, in the annual "Legal Industry Research Study" by Corporate Board Member magazine and FTI Consulting Inc. (10th year), 2002-2009, 2011-2012
(Also at New York, NY Office)