Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has advised AerCap, one of the world’s leading aircraft leasing companies, in relation to its acquisition of ILFC from AIG. Freshfields acted as lead aviation counsel and lead anti-trust counsel to AerCap on the transaction.

Freshfields partner and head of the firm’s global aviation practice, Rob Murphy led the project, supported by Sam Tabak (counsel), Victoria Koob (senior associate), Alan Ryan (partner and head of transportation) and Foad Hoseinian (principal associate), together with a large team of Freshfields lawyers across the firm’s global network.

AerCap is a New York Stock Exchange-listed company headquartered in the Netherlands with a fleet close to 400 commercial aircraft, and offices in Ireland, the United States, China, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates. AerCap has one of the youngest fleets in the industry.

ILFC, headquartered in California, is one of the longest established lessors in the market, has a fleet size of some 1000 commercial aircraft and operates with a global network of around 200 airlines in over 80 countries.

Commenting on the deal, Rob Murphy said 'This is a truly landmark transaction for our industry, coming at a time when aircraft operating leasing is expanding and that trend will clearly continue. The transaction shows great vision and takes AerCap, already a global leader in aircraft leasing and aviation finance, to a new level and scale”.

This deal also underscores Freshfields’ deep expertise in the aviation sector, its international reach and longstanding relationship with AerCap.