Aubrey Tao has joined Bird & Bird’s award-winning Aviation team as a managing associate based in the firm’s Shanghai office.

Aubrey brings with her a wealth of experience having worked for a top Chinese aircraft leasing business and a leading Chinese airline. She joins from CMB Financial Leasing where she was the lawyer responsible for numerous aircraft financing and leasing transactions (both domestic and cross-border) as well as advising the business on compliance matters and commercial projects. Prior to CMB, Aubrey was a senior lawyer at China Eastern Airlines, and focused primarily on the airline’s international transactions and projects. Fluent in Mandarin and English, Aubrey has a deep understanding of the Aviation business in China and its key players.

Leo Fattorini, head of Bird & Bird’s Aviation Sector Group in APAC comments: “We’re incredibly excited to welcome Aubrey to our fast-growing APAC Aviation team. Her knowledge of the Chinese aviation industry is second to none. She’s an excellent lawyer and I have no doubt that we and our clients will immediately benefit from her insights and commercial approach.

At this very challenging time for businesses across the Aviation industry, the expertise and experience of lawyers like Aubrey will enhance our ability to successfully guide clients through these unprecedented times. All of us at Bird & Bird are 100% committed to seeing everyone in this industry, that we’re all so passionate about, survive the current challenges and get back to delivering everything they do for the benefit of so many people across the globe. As soon as this crisis is over, airlines and other aviation businesses will be needed more than ever before to reunite families and friends and help economies across the world to recover as quickly as possible.”

Paul Briggs, co-head of the International Aviation & Aerospace Group adds: "We are thrilled to welcome Aubrey to the team. Aubrey is a key part of our international growth strategy and we are confident that our Aviation team in Asia Pacific will continue to thrive, particularly in China despite the difficult time the industry is currently facing. Welcome to the team Aubrey!"