Chris Mitchell
Partner London
Chris is a Partner in the Assets and Structured Finance group based in London.
Chris specialises in large-scale and cross-border structured and asset finance and leasing transactions.
He has advised major international financial institutions, borrowers, operating lessors and flag carrier airlines on a wide array of commercial aviation and corporate jet transactions.
Chris’ extensive experience includes capital market transactions (including EETC and ABS), commercial debt financings, operating leasing, structured tax based leasing (including Japanese operating leases), pre-delivery payment financing, export-credit supported transactions, secondary aircraft trading (including portfolio sales and purchases), aircraft fleet procurement contracts with airframe and engine OEMs, defaults and restructurings.
Chris is recognised by clients, legal directories and industry journals as being a key market participant, having been consistently identified as a “rising star” (AirFinance Journal and LMG Expert Guides) and most recently being recognised by Airline Economics as one of the “40 under 40 most talented individuals in the commercial aviation industry” in 2019.
- Acting for Falko in connection with Regional 2021-1, its inaugural $255m asset-backed security (ABS) financing transaction involving 39 regional aircraft arranged by Citi (2021).
- Acting for CityJet in relation to the acquisition of 22 new CRJ900 aircraft financed by EDC as senior lender and Investec as junior lender.
- Acting for Falko in connection with its acquisition of a portfolio of 49 aircraft leased to various airlines from Avolon, and the associated financing arranged by Deutsche Bank, Citi and Morgan Stanley.
- Acting for Malaysian Airlines System Berhad (MAS) in relation to the restructuring of its entire fleet from MAS to Malaysia Airlines Berhad (MAB).
- Acting for Cathay Pacific in relation to a $350m revolving credit facility secured against a portfolio of Airbus and Boeing aircraft (Airfinance Journal Editor’s Deal of the Year 2018).
Education
1999 – 2004 University of Wollongong, Bachelor of Laws (LLB) (Hons)
1999 – 2004 University of Wollongong, Bachelor of Commerce, Economics (BCom)
memberships & Associations
The Law Society of England and Wales
The Law Society of New South Wales (Non-Practising)
- ArticleUS Risk Retention – Container Box White Paper
- PressWFW advises clients on NAC Chapter 11 restructuring
- PressWFW advises Global Container Assets on US$230m container box portfolio ABS
- PressWFW advises Buss on US$275m container box portfolio ABS involving equity sale
- PressWFW expands London Aviation team with new Partner hire