Aviation
The aviation sector continues to face a number of challenges.
Increased competition, overcapacity, security concerns, climate-related pressures and rising fuel costs coupled with the increasing consolidation of airlines have had a profound impact on the industry.
Allen & Overy’s Aviation practice has built a world-class reputation advising on many of the industry’s most significant and pivotal transactions. The team comprises leading lawyers who have a thorough understanding of the latest developments in the sector and what this means for clients domestically and internationally.
We provide global coverage to the aviation industry advising across all legal disciplines including workouts and restructurings, mergers and acquisitions (public and private), funding (equity and debt), aircraft portfolio sales and purchases, engine financings, operating leases, privatisations, sales and leasebacks, major fleet purchases, EIB backed financings, export credit backed financings, mergers and acquisitions, U.S. EXIM backed financings, cross-border tax and leveraged leases, receivables, funds and maintenance contracts. We also have aviation specialists in ancillary areas such as real estate, employment and tax who offer commercial advice tailored to the sector.
Our clients include banks, financiers, lessors, lessees, export credit agencies, airlines and manufacturers on the full range of aviation matters.
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News & insights
Publications: 16 MARCH 2020
Airline insolvencies in Germany: Questions and challenges for aircraft lessors
Airlines under pressure The market for airlines is under extreme competitive pressure. We have seen some recent examples of European airlines that have gone into insolvency proceedings (Air Berlin, Condor, Germania, Monarch, Small Planet, Flybe). Airlines are struggling with volatile commodity markets and political instabilities (trade wars, protectionism). In addition, the Covid-19-Crisis (‘Coronavirus’) is leading to further distress.
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Publications: 25 FEBRUARY 2020
Time limits for damages claims based on public law breaches during rail franchise procurement
This case highlights the very different, and often very strict, time limits that apply in different private law and public law claims. Rejecting the Secretary of State’s attempt to strike out part of the claims against it, the Court of Appeal confirmed that the six-year time limit for damages claims applies to a procurement conducted outside the Public Contracts (and similar) Regulations. However, the three- month judicial review time limit may apply to other private law claims in this context. The decision highlights the importance of considering time limits when challenging, or defending, public body decision-making. Where the public law act engages private law rights, damages and other remedies may still be available where the time limits for judicial review have passed – provided that judicial review is not being sought by the back door: Secretary of State for Transport v Arriva Rail East Ltd & ors [2019] EWCA Civ 2259.
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News: 25 FEBRUARY 2020
Allen & Overy assists City of Hamburg in buy-back of waste incineration plant
Allen & Overy has advised Stadtreinigung Hamburg (SRH) on the takeover of all shares in the Rugenberger Damm waste incineration plant (MVR).
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News: 07 JANUARY 2020
A&O rounds off 2019 with stellar performance in global M&A league tables
A&O has marked the end of Q4 2019 with a stellar performance in the M&A league tables; the result of advising on a number of complex, high-value transactions in a wide range of sectors and markets, around our global network in 2019.
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