International law firm Bird & Bird appoints aviation finance expert Laurence Hanley as a partner in its Aviation & Aerospace team in Paris. He joins together with his full team.
With over 19 years of experience in the aviation finance space, Laurence joins Bird & Bird from Stephenson Harwood where he was Head of Aviation Finance in the Paris office. He advises on structured finance matters, assists as a specialist aircraft lease negotiator and advises on related contentious matters for airlines, lessors, and banks, ranging from commercial disputes to asset recovery advice, both in France and internationally. Laurence speaks English, French and German fluently and is admitted to practice in England, Wales and Ireland and is also admitted to the Paris bar as a solicitor.
His appointment is part of Bird & Bird’s strategy to grow its aviation capabilities in Europe and continue to strengthen the firm’s presence as a key player in the international aviation market. At Bird & Bird, Laurence will work across the firm’s European network to service clients on a range of aviation projects and transactions. Laurence’s arrival will also invigorate the team’s client relationships and bolster Bird & Bird’s reach into North Africa, where the airline industry is ripe for development and expansion.
Joining with Laurence are associates, Maria Miller, Diane de Bustamante and Boubeker Moussaoui, and paralegal Gaelle Sow.
Leo Fattorini and Elizabeth Reid, co-heads of Bird & Bird’s international Aviation & Aerospace sector group, comment: “We’re thrilled to welcome Laurence to Bird & Bird. His expertise in all aspects of aviation leasing and finance will help us to drive and deliver the firm’s strategic goal: to expand our dedicated Aviation team in Europe. As the aviation industry quickly recovers after the challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, we have the right team in place to make the most of the opportunities for growth in this dynamic market.”
Emmanuelle Porte and Alexandre Vuchot, co-heads of Bird & Bird in France, say: “We’re delighted to have Laurence and his team on board in our Paris office at Bird & Bird as we accelerate the growth of the firm’s capabilities in the aviation sector. Laurence’s deep knowledge of the sector and fluency in three languages brings a valuable set of skills that perfectly positions the team to service clients both in France and across wider Europe on cross-border aviation projects and transactions.”
Laurence Hanley adds, “My team and I are thrilled to be working alongside this group of cross-practice, talented lawyers at Bird & Bird, a firm with an outstanding international reputation in the aviation sector. I cannot thank our clients enough for their encouragement and support, and the team is grateful for the notably warm welcome we have received from everybody at Bird & Bird. I’m looking forward to collaborating with colleagues, both in France and across the globe, as we widen the range of capabilities we can offer to clients on both a regional and international level to keep up with client demand.”
