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Aviation and marine lawyers
We help highly successful people soar and sail with ease. Our award-winning team has a commanding knowledge of the legal, commercial, technical and tax intricacies involved in buying, selling, charting, financing, operating and ultimately enjoying the complex machines that take to the skies or seas.
The deep expertise of our team combines with your clear vision to accomplish remarkable journeys.
Our clients' jets and helicopters soar around the world, discreetly. Our top-flight and award-winning team represents dozens of ultra-high net worth individuals and family offices as well as private and public business enterprises around the world. Our team has served as lead counsel on well over $20 billion worth of aviation deals and is comfortably at the pinnacle of its trade. We will work hand-in-hand with you to gain a clear understanding of your desired outcomes in order to best advise you through every facet of private aviation – be it purchase or sale, and anything in between.
As aviation industry experts, we are also proud to work with innovators who are developing new solutions to the sector's carbon footprint, with alternative fuel sources and other methods of transforming flights.
In parallel, our clients' yachts grace the world's oceans and stand as testament to their accomplished vision. At the helm of yacht transactions, our team has discretely serve as skillful navigator to the owners of some of the world's largest and most unique yachts - meticulously plotting the legal course of purchase, construction, sale, finance, charter and operation. Our aim on such transactions is to help ensure that all you have to do is enjoy your time abroad.
How we can help
Acquiring luxury assets such as private aircraft, yachts, antique cars and collectibles should be a pleasure. With unmatched experience in these rarefied fields, we are perfectly placed to help.
TaxWith a team of more than 150 specialist tax lawyers, who are qualified in jurisdictions around the world, we are perfectly placed to handle even the most complex, cross-border tax issues.
Successful people frequently call on our comprehensive knowledge of investment classes from art to complex financial products. Our teams around the world can handle tax, regulatory and cross-border issues.
Families and family officesFamilies call on us when they want a firm that understands their needs – whether they are looking to pass down wealth, set up and run a family office, or make their mark through philanthropy.
Track record
Structuring international assets
Advised on UK tax aspects and co-ordinated the structuring of the purchase and use of a plane and a New York apartment for a UK resident non-domiciled individual. Our team of lawyers worked with trust professionals in many time zones and with different specialisms bringing its own challenges.
€130 million yacht refinancing
Advised on the financing agreements for the refinancing of a €130 million yacht with cross-collateralisation over two Boeing Business Jets.
Acquisition and financing of a US$32 million Dassault Falcon
Advised on the acquisition and financing of a US$32 million Dassault Falcon aircraft for a Bermudan single purpose company and its leasing to a Delaware LLC, as well as the latter’s operating agreement with a Brazilian company.
Acquisition of a corporate jet for a high-net-worth Saudi Arabian
Advised on the purchase of a large corporate jet from a member of a leading family of a Gulf state, including advice on UK VAT, for a high-net-worth Saudi Arabian.
Aircraft contracts for high-net-worth individuals
Advised on aircraft contracts for high-net-worth individuals with major fractional ownership providers, including NetJets, CitationAir, Flight Options and PlaneSense.
Aircraft lease financings in North and South America
Advised on the development of multiple leveraged, tax-advantaged aircraft lease financings in North and South America for one of Israel’s largest aircraft companies.
Change of corporate structure for a Dassault Falcon aircraft
Advised on a restructuring involving changing a Dassault Falcon aircraft’s current corporate structure to a new limited partnership arrangement with variation of flight crew arrangements.
Purchase of a Gulfstream G550
Advised on the purchase of a Gulfstream G550 for an Isle of Man company with advice on UK tax structuring and registration of ownership structure for VAT purposes.
Purchase of a Norseman motor yacht
Advised on the purchase of a Norseman motor yacht for an Australian entrepreneur and its registration under the Italian flag and subsequent transfer to the Australian flag.
Purchase of a US$17 million Embraer aircraft
Advised on the purchase of a US$17 million Embraer aircraft for a Russian client, including negotiating letter of intent and purchase contract, co-ordination of valuation and inspection experts, mitigation of European VAT, International Registry issues, and financing.
Purchase of a Norseman motor yacht
Advised on the purchase of a Norseman motor yacht for an Australian entrepreneur and its registration under the Italian flag and subsequent transfer to the Australian flag.
Structuring international assets
Advised on UK tax aspects and co-ordinated the structuring of the purchase and use of a plane and a New York apartment for a UK resident non-domiciled individual. Our team of lawyers worked with trust professionals in many time zones and with different specialisms bringing its own challenges.
€130 million yacht refinancing
Advised on the financing agreements for the refinancing of a €130 million yacht with cross-collateralisation over two Boeing Business Jets.
Acquisition and financing of a US$32 million Dassault Falcon
Advised on the acquisition and financing of a US$32 million Dassault Falcon aircraft for a Bermudan single purpose company and its leasing to a Delaware LLC, as well as the latter’s operating agreement with a Brazilian company.
Acquisition of a corporate jet for a high-net-worth Saudi Arabian
Advised on the purchase of a large corporate jet from a member of a leading family of a Gulf state, including advice on UK VAT, for a high-net-worth Saudi Arabian.
Aircraft contracts for high-net-worth individuals
Advised on aircraft contracts for high-net-worth individuals with major fractional ownership providers, including NetJets, CitationAir, Flight Options and PlaneSense.
Change of corporate structure for a Dassault Falcon aircraft
Advised on a restructuring involving changing a Dassault Falcon aircraft’s current corporate structure to a new limited partnership arrangement with variation of flight crew arrangements.
Purchase of a Gulfstream G550
Advised on the purchase of a Gulfstream G550 for an Isle of Man company with advice on UK tax structuring and registration of ownership structure for VAT purposes.
Purchase of a Norseman motor yacht
Advised on the purchase of a Norseman motor yacht for an Australian entrepreneur and its registration under the Italian flag and subsequent transfer to the Australian flag.
Purchase of a US$17 million Embraer aircraft
Advised on the purchase of a US$17 million Embraer aircraft for a Russian client, including negotiating letter of intent and purchase contract, co-ordination of valuation and inspection experts, mitigation of European VAT, International Registry issues, and financing.
Simultaneous acquisition and sale of business jets
Advised on a simultaneous purchase of a US$38 million business jet and sale of a US$8 million business jet for a German client, including advising on brokerage arrangements, valuation issues, service agreements, letters of intent, Federal Aviation Administration registration and trust issues, and International Registry issues.
Acquisition of a corporate jet for a high-net-worth Saudi Arabian
Advised on the purchase of a large corporate jet from a member of a leading family of a Gulf state, including advice on UK VAT, for a high-net-worth Saudi Arabian.
Aircraft lease financings in North and South America
Advised on the development of multiple leveraged, tax-advantaged aircraft lease financings in North and South America for one of Israel’s largest aircraft companies.
Structuring international assets
Advised on UK tax aspects and co-ordinated the structuring of the purchase and use of a plane and a New York apartment for a UK resident non-domiciled individual. Our team of lawyers worked with trust professionals in many time zones and with different specialisms bringing its own challenges.
Acquisition and financing of a US$32 million Dassault Falcon
Advised on the acquisition and financing of a US$32 million Dassault Falcon aircraft for a Bermudan single purpose company and its leasing to a Delaware LLC, as well as the latter’s operating agreement with a Brazilian company.
Aircraft lease financings in North and South America
Advised on the development of multiple leveraged, tax-advantaged aircraft lease financings in North and South America for one of Israel’s largest aircraft companies.
Purchase of a US$17 million Embraer aircraft
Advised on the purchase of a US$17 million Embraer aircraft for a Russian client, including negotiating letter of intent and purchase contract, co-ordination of valuation and inspection experts, mitigation of European VAT, International Registry issues, and financing.
Refinancing of a Boeing Business Jet
Advised on the financing agreements for the refinancing of a Boeing Business Jet for an ultra-high-net-worth Russian client.
Aircraft lease financings in North and South America
Advised on the development of multiple leveraged, tax-advantaged aircraft lease financings in North and South America for one of Israel’s largest aircraft companies.
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Key aviation and marine contacts
Luca Denora
Registered Foreign Lawyer (New York) | Hong Kong
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Typical clients and industries include
Art
We represent many of the world’s top art collectors, museums and institutions. Our long history enables us to offer advice on everything from structuring transactions to challenging fraud. Find Out More
Beneficiaries and heirs
Whatever you have inherited, and wherever it is in the world, our leading team of lawyers can help you to protect the value of the asset, manage the tax implications and resolving any disputes. Find Out More
Families and family offices
Families call on us when they want a firm that understands their needs – whether they are looking to pass down wealth, set up and run a family office, or make their mark through philanthropy. Find Out More
High net worth individuals
With complex interests that often span several jurisdictions, highly successful people need seamless advice. With a full-service offering across our offices around the world, we provide just that. Find Out MoreGet in touch
Our website will give you a flavour of the advice we provide - if you would like to talk to us for more information, please contact our client services team who will be happy to assist.