McCann FitzGerald partner named Best in Aviation at business awards

Catherine Deane of McCann FitzGerald has been named Best in Aviation at the European Women in Business Law Awards.

Ms Deane, a partner in the Dublin-based firm’s finance group, has developed a specialisation in aircraft transactions, acting for leading aircraft lessors, lenders and arrangers on all aspects of aircraft financing and leasing.

Her work includes the sale and purchase of aircraft portfolios, sale and leaseback arrangements with airlines, joint venture arrangements, cross-border leasing transactions and the establishment of complex acquisitions and financing structures and operations in Ireland.

She acted as transaction counsel to Pembroke/Standard Chartered Bank (as lessor/financier) on an award-winning deal earlier this year.

McCann FitzGerald won European Sale and Leaseback Deal of the Year at the Aviation 100 Awards, awarded by Airline Economics. The transaction involved the sale and leaseback of a number of aircraft for Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) as well as a debt financing transaction.

Darry Devereux, managing partner, said: “Catherine is one of the foremost experts in aviation finance and aircraft transactions globally and we are extremely proud of her achievement in receiving this well-deserved award. Thanks to Catherine and the expertise of the McCann FitzGerald Aircraft Finance Group, we are renowned for our strength in the aviation financing industry in terms of providing legal insight, great contacts and unparalleled industry knowledge.”

The Europe Women in Business Law Awards is sponsored by Euromoney LMG and recognises individual law firms and professional services firms for their work in helping women advance in the legal profession, as well as individual lawyers in their particular fields.