Global law firm K&L Gates has again been ranked among the very top law firms in Airfinance Global’s 2024 Legal Survey, with the firm being recognized as the second most active for sale and purchase and structured lease transactions, both based on deal volume in 2023.

The 2024 Survey also lists K&L Gates as the second most active law firm in Latin America and among the top four most active in Europe and the Asia-Pacific. The firm is listed as the third most active law firm globally.

Robert Melson, a partner in the Tokyo office and a leader of K&L Gates’ global Aviation Finance practice said: “This was another busy year for our global aviation finance team, given that air travel has made it back to, and in many regions is exceeding, pre-pandemic levels.  We are proud of the work we have done on complex matters for our clients, including JOLCOs, AFIC/Balthazar financings, ABS transactions and restructurings, as well as a variety of other interesting deals. We appreciate the continued recognition from Airfinance Global and from market leaders as a top law firm and trusted adviser in the annual legal survey. We plan to continue expanding the size of our global team and service offerings to meet growing client demands and needs.

Airfinance Global’s annual Legal Survey ranks law firms that advise on aviation sector transactions. The survey records the overall number of deals for each law firm and law firms secure points based on their placement in each region, product, and category.

K&L Gates’ Aviation Finance practice represents financial institutions and leasing companies around the globe in connection with aircraft finance and leasing transactions, including the structuring, documenting, and negotiating of aircraft finance transactions and cross-border transactions involving multiple jurisdictions. The team works closely with their colleagues in the tax, regulatory, and litigation support practice groups in order to advise and assist financial institutions, leasing companies, and airlines on a variety of aviation matters.