ATLANTA (May 31, 2022) – Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (SGR) is pleased to announce that the firm acted as legal counsel in connection with three transactions that were recently awarded in four categories of the 2022 Aviation 100 “Deals of the Year” by Airline Economics, the leading and largest finance and leasing global publication for the aviation sector. The Aviation 100 were announced in January during the publication’s Growth Frontiers Dublin 2022 conference and published in the February/March issue. The awards celebrate the best companies, individuals and transactions in the aviation finance and leasing sector that have excelled during the past year.
The winning deals on which SGR advised included:
- Global Aviation 100 Lease Deal of the Year & European Aviation 100 European Lease Deal of the Year – ACG-Guaranteed Financing for Italian Tax Lease to Turkish Airlines (THY) for three A321neo aircraft: SGR represented Aviation Capital Group (ACG) and was lead drafting counsel in the transaction.
- Americas Aviation 100 Americas Capital Markets Deal of the Year – SALT 2021-1 ABS: SGR represented UMB Bank, N.A., as Indenture Trustee, Operating Bank and Security Trustee for SALT 2021-1, an $893 million asset-backed securities (ABS) loan transaction for 156 aircraft.
- Americas Aviation 100 Americas Supported Finance Deal of the Year – AFIC-Supported Financing of Six Embraer E175 Aircraft for Republic Airways, funded by Apple Bank and CA-CIB: SGR represented Apple Bank in connection with the AFIC insured financing of six Embraer E170 200LR aircraft for Republic Airways.
Additionally, SGR congratulates firm client, Southwest Airlines, on its award as the Americas Aviation 100 Americas Airline of the Year for 2021.
Chicago Partner Joshua Gentner of SGR’s Global Transport Practice served as legal counsel in these award-winning transactions with assistance from New York Associate Alexandra Davidson.
For more on the 2022 Aviation 100 Deals of the Year, visit https://www.aviationnews-online.com/aviation-100/.
About Aviation News Ltd
Aviation News Ltd is a publishing and events company dedicated to reporting on the aviation finance and leasing industry. Two flagship publications cover the whole spectrum of the commercial aviation industry. Its leading title for the aviation finance and leasing community, Airline Economics, is published bi-monthly and digitally. For more information, please visit https://www.aviationnews-online.com/.
About Smith Gambrell Russell
SGR is a full service, international law firm that advises regional, national and global businesses on a wide range of legal matters. The firm’s 270 attorneys provide legal counsel in more than 45 specialized practice areas, including corporate transactions, litigation, intellectual property, aviation, banking, real estate, construction, employment law, and employee benefits and executive compensation. Founded in 1893, SGR has offices in Atlanta, Austin, Charlotte, Chicago, Jacksonville, London, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Southampton, and Washington, D.C.