Torys has a leading practice in serving clients in the aviation industry, including aircraft, aerospace and airline companies. Our lawyers have a solid understanding of international treaties such as the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation, the Geneva Convention on the International Recognition of Rights in Aircraft and the Cape Town Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment (to which Canada is a party). We are also very familiar with the nature of airlines’ rights in ancillary property, including rights related to routes, landing slots and gates.
Transactions
We have acted on transactions ranging from the purchase, sale, financing and chartering of private corporate aircraft to the financing of new fleets of commercial aircraft. Our lawyers have been retained by major aircraft lessors on a number of transactions with Canadian lessees. We have also represented major domestic and international banks on a number of complex financings, including export credit-backed new aircraft financing. We also represent equity investors on Canadian leveraged lease transactions.
Government Relations
Where public issues and government entities play a part, we make direct representations to obtain political and government approvals and assistance.