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Clifford Chance

Clifford Chance
Patrick O'Reilly

Patrick O'Reilly

Partner

Partner
Patrick O'Reilly

Patrick O'Reilly has experience advising investment banks, financial investors, alternative lenders, leasing companies, OEMs and export credit agencies in a wide variety of aircraft finance matters, including secured and unsecured lending, joint ventures, operating leases, portfolio sales and acquisitions, securitizations, restructurings, M&A, PDP financings and ECA financings.

  • the lead arranger and lenders in connection with Castlelake's US$750 million secured revolving credit facility and restructuring of its Air Asia facility, part of AirFinance Journal's 2022 New Fund/Alternative Financing Platform of the Year transaction
  • DAE on a 12-aircraft Boeing 737MAX aircraft sale-leaseback transaction for AeroMexico
  • various aircraft lessors in the Chapter 11 cases of Avianca, LATAM, PAL and AeroMexico
  • various aircraft lessors in connection with the sanctions and other consequences of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine
  • the mandated lead arranger and underwriting banks on the US$575 million and US$695 million acquisition financings for Fly Leasing Limited and Incline B Aviation Limited Partnership of two portfolios of aircraft from Aviation Capital Limited and Air Asia Berhad; AirFinance Journal’s 2018 Editor’s Deal of the Year
  • the mandated lead arranger and underwriting banks on Macquarie AirFinance's 2018 US$3 billion secured term loan and US$1 billion unsecured revolver; AirFinance Journal’s 2018 Asia-Pacific Deal of the Year
  • GE Capital Aviation Services on a joint venture with PIMCO to create an aviation leasing platform to support up to US$3 billion in aircraft asset financings. The joint venture closed on a warehouse credit facility in the amount of US$1 billion to finance the acquisition of aircraft to begin the initial phase of full implementation of the joint venture
  • GE Capital Aviation Services on its co-investment vehicle with Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) to create an aviation leasing platform to support up to US$2 billion in aircraft asset financings.
  • Avolon Aerospace Leasing Limited on the closing of an issuance of US$620 million of fixed rate secured notes by Sapphire Aviation Finance II Limited and Sapphire Finance II LLC. The proceeds from the issuance of the Notes were used by the issuers to acquire a portfolio of 21 aircraft on lease to a diversified pool of 19 lessees in 18 countries
  • Seraph Aviation Group and the acquiring shareholders on the structuring and implementation of the 2020 buyout of Stellwagen Holdings' majority shareholder and founder by a consortium of new and existing shareholders comprised of ECN Capital Corp, SPF Investment Management, Almada Inc and Medalist Partners
  • Citibank as lead arranger in connection with Total Engine Asset Management’s first ABS transaction valued at US$305 million backed against a portfolio of 30 engines leased to 15 lessees based in 13 countries
  • GE Capital Aviation Services in connection with its servicing and sale of a portfolio of aircraft to Start II Ltd through an asset-backed securitization involving a rule 144A/Reg S equity certificate issuance, the second such transaction in the STARR series of deals

News and client work

View all news and client work featuring Patrick O'Reilly

Contact details

Career and qualifications

  • Trinity College, University of Dublin (LLB) 2001
  • University of Cambridge (LLM) 2002
  • Joined Clifford Chance London 2004
  • Admitted as a solicitor in England & Wales 2006
  • Transferred to the New York Office 2009
  • Legal Consultant in New York 2009
  • Admitted as an Attorney-at-Law in New York 2014
  • Partner since 2016

Professional bodies

  • Member of the Law Society of England & Wales
  • Member of the American Bar Association

Awards and citations

  • "He is commercially driven and provides great insight and advice."
    Chambers USA 2024: Transportation: Aviation: Finance (Nationwide) – Band 1
  • "Patrick is a very strong, responsive and commercial lawyer in the space."
    "He is a great partner who is very helpful and knowledgeable."
    Chambers USA 2023: Transportation: Aviation: Finance (Nationwide) – Band 1
  • "Patrick provides a high level of service with a friendly and commercial approach."
    Chambers USA 2022: Transportation: Aviation: Finance (Nationwide) – Band 1
  • Named as a Rising Star by AirFinance Journal in 2014