AIRCRAFT FINANCE TEAM
Backed by approximately 2,200 lawyers and other professionals in 35 offices throughout the world, Holland & Knight’s Aircraft Finance team provides strategic counsel to our aviation clients at every stage of their business. Our team advises on a wide range of matters, including transactions, litigation, employment, insurance, product liability, repossession and restructuring efforts, such as bankruptcy and workout matters. We guide clients through complex regulatory sanctions, general aviation policy issues and environmental compliance and provide support during investigations involving antitrust, the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration.
Understand the Aviation Business
Our attorneys are active on legal committees of key industry associations and working groups, and we regularly lead educational seminars on topical issues and thought leadership industry matters.
Supporting the Aviation Industry
Our industry knowledge has been accumulated over decades of work with leading industry participants, which enables us to support a wide range of clients on complex matters with a comprehensive and genuine “value-added” service that goes beyond legal excellence.
We Handle All Types of Transactions
Leader in Aviation Finance Law
Our team is involved in numerous high-profile, cuttingedge transactions that have earned us a leading reputation in the industry.
Global Perspectives
Our diversity provides clients the benefits of an experienced pool of professionals who reflect the industry’s international marketplace and community.
Holland & Knight's mission is to provide seamless, efficient and valuable client-centric services over a wide range of industries. Collaboration across practices and offices, along with highly focused management of matters and cases, enables us to deliver dynamic legal support, regardless of location.
Put Our Experience to Work for You
Holland & Knight has a long-standing reputation as a global leader in aviation finance law. This reputation has been earned through years of experience and involvement in cutting-edge and traditional, complex transactions in domestic and cross-border acquisition, financing, securitization, restructuring and leasing of aviation assets. Our clients include the world’s 20 largest aircraft leasing companies, major U.S. and international airlines, investment funds, investment banks, corporate jet owners, government guarantors, high-net-worth individuals and other key players in the wider aviation industry ecosystem. We pride ourselves on our responsiveness in a fast-paced environment where deals typically involve parties in multiple and disparate time zones. With lawyers dedicated to this practice on both the East and West coasts of the U.S., as well as in London and Latin America, we work as a single, connected team, placing client relationships first.
Rankings and Recognition
We are consistently recognized as leaders in the legal profession, earning accolades for service, responsiveness and results.
2026 The Legal 500 United States
Holland & Knight ranked Tier 1 in Transport: Aviation and Air Travel – Finance; Phillip Durham and John Pritchard listed as Hall of Fame, Richard Furey and Nathan Leavitt as Leading Partners, and Cynthia Liu and Danielle Santucci as Leading Associates
2026 Chambers USA
Holland & Knight recognized nationally for Transportation: Aviation-Finance; John Pritchard named Senior Statesperson; Phillip Durham and Nathan Leavitt recognized Nationwide
2026 Chambers Global
Holland & Knight named among the world’s leading law firms in the area of Global Asset Finance, including individual rankings for Phillip Durham, Debra Erni, Nathan Leavitt and John Pritchard
2026 Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms”
Received national first-tier rankings in 42 practices, including in Transportation Law
Direct Quotes
“Constructive and positive business and personal attitude. Full awareness of industry developments and opportunities at a global scale.”
– 2026 Legal 500 United States Transport: Aviation and Air Travel Finance
2026 Chambers UK
Holland & Knight ranked among top aviation law firms; recognitions for Partners Debra Erni, Victoria Koob and Richard Sharman in Asset Finance: Aviation Finance
2026 The Legal 500 United Kingdom
Recognized among the leading firms for Finance: Transport Finance and Leasing, naming Debra Erni a “Leading Partner” and recommending Michael Holt, Victoria Koob, Richard Sharman and Joe Snell; Holland & Knight also recognized in the Transport: Aviation category, naming Victoria Koob a “Leading Partner” and recommending Debra Erni and Richard Sharman
2025 Chambers High Net Worth
Holland & Knight recognized in Band 1 of the Global-wide Private Aircraft category, including individual rankings for Giles Cornwall, Juan Carlos Ferrer and John Hoover
2022 Law360
Holland & Knight’s Transportation Practice named “Practice Group of the Year”; Partner Victoria Koob named among Rising Stars in Transportation
“Holland & Knight’s team stands out for its responsiveness and solutiondriven approach.”
– 2026 Legal 500 United Kingdom Transport: Aviation
“Holland & Knight has a well-regarded asset finance practice operating out of offices in the USA and the UK.”
– 2026 Chambers Global Asset Finance