Maples Group Advises on Seven Award-Winning Aviation Deals
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The Maples Group is pleased to announce that seven aviation transactions advised on by its global Asset Finance practice have received Deal of the Year honours at the 2025 Ishka Airfinance Deal of the Year Awards and Airline Economics Americas Deal of the Year Awards.
Among the award-winning transactions, Griffin Global Asset Management’s landmark US$1.245 billion aircraft securitisation1 was named Overall ABS Deal of the Year by Ishka Airfinance Deal of the Year Awards 2025.
The global Asset Finance practice provided, as applicable, Cayman Islands and Irish legal counsel, as well as fiduciary, administration, corporate, share trustee, AML/regulatory and stock exchange listing services across the winning deals in the following categories:
Ishka Airfinance Deal of the Year Awards 2025
- ABS Deal of the Year
- GGAM Master Trust US$1.245 billion Aircraft ABS
- Capital Markets Deal of the Year
- AviLease – Inaugural US$850 million 5Y Senior Unsecured Notes
- Regional Aircraft Deal of the Year
- DAE US$2 billion acquisition of Nordic Aviation Capital
- European M&A Deal of the Year
- SMBC Aviation Capital’s acquisition of Air Lease Corporation
- Engine Deal of the Year
- Marathon Asset Management’s Engine Commercial Loan2
Airline Economics Americas Deals of the Year Awards
- Americas M&A Deal of the Year
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- Apollo and Brookfield Agreement to Acquire Air Lease Corporation3
- Americas Editor’s Deal of the Year for Innovation
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- Altavair / KKR K-Series term loan upsize
These accolades follow the recent recognition for the global Asset Finance practice at the Airline Economics Aviation 100 Deals of the Year Awards4, further demonstrating the practice’s experience across aviation finance, capital markets and strategic transactions.
Commenting on the recognition, Jonathon Meloy, Head of Cayman Islands Finance, said, “These awards reflect the breadth and strength of our global Asset Finance practice and the diverse ways in which we support clients across the aviation sector. We are proud to have worked alongside our clients on these significant transactions and congratulate everyone involved on this well-deserved recognition.”
Stephen O’Donnell, Global Head of Fiduciary Services, added, “Transactions of this scale and complexity require close coordination across multiple disciplines and jurisdictions. These deals demonstrate the value of bringing together our legal, fiduciary, administration and listing expertise to support increasingly sophisticated aviation finance structures.”
Lawyers involved in the award-winning deals include Partners Jonathon Meloy, Sherice Arman, Anthony Philp, Mary O’Neill, Shari Howell, Stephen Gardiner and Manuela Belmontes, Andrew Quinn, Callaghan Kennedy, Colm Rafferty and Associates Evan Lewis, Grace Grant, Gerard Grogan, Jonathan Brown, Sorcha O’Keefe and Liam Needham. Professionals from the Maples Group’s fiduciary services team included Senior Vice President Phillip Hinds, Vice President Brent Whittaker, Assistant Vice President Travis McLean and Head of Listing Ciaran Cotter.
The Maples Group’s global Asset Finance team comprises lawyers and fiduciary services professionals across key international aviation finance centres. Its integrated offering combines legal advice with managing agent, Delaware co-issuer, share trustee, independent directorship and management, entity formation and administration, and stock exchange listing services. A leader in the aircraft ABS market, the Maples Group has acted for over 50% of lessors in the industry.
2https://maples.com/news/maples-group-advises-marathon-asset-management-on-us615-million-aircraft-securitisation
3https://maples.com/news/maples-group-advises-apollo-and-brookfield-on-acquisition-of-air-lease-corporation
4https://maples.com/news/maples-group-advises-on-five-deals-including-overall-deal-of-the-year-at-aviation-100-awards
