Watson Farley & Williams LLP

The Paris Aviation team, led by partner Charles Viggers, advised on two deals awarded coveted Deal of the Year 2014 recognition by leading industry review Airfinance Journal.

The first, winner of “South America Deal of the Year”, involved advising the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) on the French law (including French tax law) aspects of its support for TD Bank’s and BNP Paribas’ French tax lease financing of two B787-8 aircraft for Colombian airline Avianca.

Second, the team advised a leading French bank on the impact of Abu Dhabi-based airline Etihad’s acquisition of a stake in Italian airline Alitalia (awarded “M&A Deal of the Year”), on the financing of a portfolio of aircraft operated by Alitalia, including on the novation of the portfolio to the new Alitalia.

The Paris Aviation team advises a full range of clients (including lessors, ECAs, banks and manufacturers) as to both English and French law. The teams advising on the above Deals of the Year 2014 included Romain Girtanner (Tax partner), Laurence Martinez-Bellet (Finance partner) and James Turner (Finance associate)