Aviation expert Rebecca Garner joins Stephenson Harwood

Law firm Stephenson Harwood LLP has strengthened its international aviation finance practice with the addition of Rebecca Garner as partner. She will be based in the firm’s London office.

Garner regularly acts for airlines, investment funds and financial institutions. Her broad-ranging aviation experience covers the full spectrum of financing and leasing transactions, aviation commercial contracts (such as new aircraft purchase agreements, total care agreements and maintenance and repair agreements), restructuring matters and regulatory issues affecting airlines. Unusually for an aircraft finance lawyer, Garner also advises clients on structured finance and derivative transactions within the aviation, general banking and real estate finance sectors.

“With the global aviation industry battling against the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, it’s more important than ever that we have the right people in place to support our clients – both now and as market conditions improve,” said Richard Parsons, head of aviation, Stephenson Harwood. “The recruitment of Rebecca, closely following that of James Collins in May, further demonstrates our long-term commitment to the sector, and to being among the global frontrunners of legal advisers in this space. It’s an area in which we have truly global expertise, with partners focusing on aviation transactional and contentious work based in our London, Hong Kong, Paris and Singapore offices – Rebecca’s appointment further adds to our international capabilities.”

“I’m really excited to be welcoming Rebecca to the firm,” said Tammy Samuel, head of finance, Stephenson Harwood. “Transportation, asset finance, and aviation finance within that, are core areas of focus for the practice. Being joined by a lawyer of Rebecca’s pedigree reflects our ambitions in these areas. Notably, her experience in relation to structured finance and derivative transactions – which is an unusual skillset for an aviation specialist – adds another string to the bow of the team, and will allow us to grow our existing offering in these areas.”

The award-winning Stephenson Harwood aviation team has expertise across all areas of the aviation industry. The team advises on financing and leasing transactions, portfolio management activities, aircraft acquisitions and disposals and dispute resolution. The finance group, within which the aviation finance practice sits, comprises specialists within a host of areas, including shipping, rail, real estate finance, leasing and receivables finance, debt capital markets and derivatives and structured finance.