Milbank Named “Americas Law Firm of the Year” by Airline Economics

Milbank LLP was named as the “Americas Law Firm of the Year” and honored with four “Deal of the Year” awards by Airline Economics at the 2019 Aviation 100 Awards. The awards ceremony took place on Thursday, October 17 at the InterContinental Barclay in New York City.

The Aviation 100 Awards recognize the most outstanding performers in the commercial aviation industry each year. In addition to being recognized as the top law firm in the Americas, Milbank was honored for advising on every winning “Deal of the Year” transaction, which recognized the most outstanding leasing and financing deals that closed last 12 months. These deals included:

• Americas Equity Deal of the Year – GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes' Exchangeable Bond and Concurrent Equity Offering
  Milbank advised GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes S.A., Brazil’s top airline, on the issuance of US$345 million in 3.75% Exchangeable Notes due 2024 and concurrent equity offering, exchangeable into GOL ADSs listed on the NYSE. The deal represents the first time a Brazilian company has offered notes exchangeable into newly issued equity in the international markets.
• Americas Debt Deal of the Year – American Airlines 2019-1 Engine EETC (US PP)
  Milbank represented the investors in connection with American Airlines’ 2019-1 Engine EETC.
• Americas Capital Markets Deal of the Year – Castlelake CLAS 2019-1 ABS & E-Note
  Milbank represented Goldman Sachs, BNP Paribas, Citigroup, Deutsche Bank and the other underwriters in connection with the $867 million CLAST 2019-1 ABS debt offering and subsequent 144A issuance of equity, which involved 28 aircraft and four loans serviced by Castlelake.
• Americas Overall Deal of the Year – Carlyle Aviation Partners AASET 2019-1 ABS & E-Note
  Milbank represented Carlyle Aviation Partners in connection with the $379 million AASET 2019-1 ABS debt offering and related 144A issuance of equity involving 25 aircraft on lease to a portfolio of lessees and serviced by Carlyle Aviation Partners.

Drew Fine, chair of Milbank’s Finance practice and practice group leader of the firm’s Transportation and Space group, said: “We are honored to have been recognized by Airline Economics for our aviation work in the Americas. These recognitions highlight the breadth and depth of our work in the aviation industry and speak to our deep involvement and success on behalf of clients in the year’s most complex and groundbreaking aviation deals.”

Milbank was also named “Aviation Finance Law Firm of the Year” by Global Transport Finance earlier this year.