OVERVIEW
Donna is head of Maples and Calder's European Aviation team and is based in the Maples Group's London office. Donna advises on tax-efficient leasing and financing structures, in addition to platform establishments and transportation business acquisitions and disposals, all from an Irish law perspective. Having worked on the acquisition, finance, leasing and disposal of transportation assets for more than 15 years, Donna has extensive industry and structuring knowledge, notably in the aviation sector where she specialises. Regarded by her clients as practical and commercial, Donna's expertise extends across all transportation assets and her London city training provides for a unique and refreshing approach to the role of Irish counsel.
BACKGROUND
Donna joined the Maples Group in 2015. Prior to this, she was a partner in the asset finance team of Simmons & Simmons and before that spent nine years at Clifford Chance. She started her career with Freshfields before moving to Airbus S.A.S. in Toulouse in France where she gained valuable technical, commercial and sought after MRO knowledge. Donna has been described by The Legal 500 as being part of a "new generation of partners" who focus on finding innovative solutions to ensure the spirit of the deal remains paramount. She has been ranked by Chambers Global and in the 2020 guide, a client attested that "she has the knowledge and knows the industry and the people in it". Donna is also listed as a leading lawyer in her field by IFLR1000. In 2021, Donna was awarded Women In Business Law Awards - Aviation Lawyer of the Year as well as Legal Advisor of the Year at the Women In Finance Awards.
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
Member of the Law Society of Ireland
Member of the The Aviation Club UK
Member of 100 Women in Finance
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
BAR ADMISSIONS
2001 - Admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales (not practising)2011 - Admitted as a solicitor-advocate in England and Wales (non-practising)
2015 - Admitted as a solicitor in Ireland
EDUCATION
Sheffield Hallam University, LLB (Hons), 1997City University London, Post Graduate Diploma in Law, 1998
Inns of Court School of Law, London, Bar Vocation Course, 1998
Qualifying Lawyers Transfer Scheme, 2011
GET IN TOUCH
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KNOWLEDGE
- ICLG Aviation Finance and Leasing 2023 - Ireland 12 June 2023
- Directors Personally Liable for the Fraud of a Company 29 November 2022
- Irish Aviation Authority Implements New 'Notification of Charge' System in Ireland 14 June 2022
- ICLG Aviation Finance and Leasing 2022 Ireland 13 June 2022
- Investing in Aviation: Fund Structures 28 September 2021
- Aviation Finance - Pandemic Highlights Enforcement Rights in Aviation Contracts 01 June 2021
- ICLG Aviation Law Review 2021 - Ireland 08 February 2021
- AML Frameworks of Schedule 2 Firms under CBI Scrutiny 05 January 2021
- ICLG Aviation Finance and Leasing Guide 2020 29 April 2020
- Covid 19 Ireland Update New E-Sig Requirements for Corporates 07 April 2020
NEWS & DEALS
- Nine Maples Group Partners Recognised in 12th Edition of Women in Business Law Expert Guide 25 October 2022
- Maples Group Wins Nine Finance Dublin Deals of the Year Awards 2022 01 June 2022
- Maples Group Recognised on Five Award-Winning Aviation Finance Deals 10 May 2022
- Maples Group Assists Stonepeak on the Aviation Sector's First Broadly Syndicated Aircraft Loan Securitisation 24 November 2021
- Maples Group's Global Asset Finance Team Recognised on 10 Aviation Finance Deals of the Year 06 July 2021
- Maples Group Wins Two European Women in Business Law Awards 2021 25 June 2021
- Maples Group Assists SKY Leasing on Aircraft ABS Transaction 09 June 2021
- Maples Group Launches Irish Asset Finance Offering in Singapore 04 May 2021
- Maples Group Supports Falko on Inaugural ABS Transaction 28 April 2021
- Maples Group Recognised in 2020 Finance Dublin Awards 13 August 2020