Practices
Aviation
Chandler MHM has a dedicated Thai aviation practice which advises clients across all aspects of the sector, including international financiers and lessors, MROs, engine and parts manufacturers and airlines. Our practice includes specialists in the aviation sector along with lawyers from our firm’s other Practice Groups, particularly Banking and Finance, Dispute Resolution and Corporate and M&A. We advise on a broad range of matters including regulatory issues, operating leases and finance leases, Thai aircraft security documents, Japanese operating leases (JOLs) and French tax leases. Our cross practice team also advises on disputes, aircraft repossessions and restructurings.
Some Representative Transactions:
Airport operators
- Bangkok Airways Public Company Limited in setting up a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), namely “BAREIT” and a REIT Manager to manage the REIT in Thailand. BAREIT is the first REIT which invested in airport properties in Thailand and in 2022 was one of the five largest REIT IPOs in Thailand.
- A private equity firm in relation to their proposed acquisition of a cabin equipment manufacturer, and another group company in the USA and the Netherlands on legal due diligence and reviewing the Share Purchase Agreement from a Thai law perspective.
Repair contracts for airline companies and support contracts
- An investment manager in relation to a structured financing transaction for a SEA-based aviation maintenance repair and overhaul (“MRO”) company and a subsidiary of a multinational low-cost airline. This is a newly established Southeast Asian aviation MRO player, whose operations were recently carved out from the largest and fastest growing low-cost airline in the region.
Aircraft leasing / registration
- SFS Aviation Co., Ltd. on the lease of two AW139 helicopters from two different lessors to operate chartered flights for PTTEP Plc.
- The lessor and the financiers as a joint Thai counsel dealing with operative documents and Thai security documents with Thai VietJet Joint Stock Co., Ltd., with respect to one A321 aircraft, from a Thai law perspective including registration of aircraft under Thai law.
- The lessor as Thai counsel dealing with operative documents with Thai Lion Mentari Co., Ltd., with respect to an A330 aircraft, from a Thai law perspective.
- The finance lessors as Thai counsel dealing with operative documents with Thai Airways International Plc., with respect to two B777 aircraft, from a Thai law perspective.
- Lessors as Thai counsel dealing with operative documents with Thai Airways International Plc, with respect to A350-900 aircraft, totaling five aircraft, from a Thai law perspective.
- A significant number of lessors as Thai counsel dealing with lease restructurings and lease novations with Thai AirAsia, Nok Air, Thai Airways, Thai Lion, and Thai VietJet.
Airline business rehabilitation
- A number of global aircraft leasing firms (listed under the New York Stock Exchange) in relation to debt restructuring, including lease restructuring and the business rehabilitation process of Thai Airways International Plc.
- An Irish aviation lessor, a subsidiary of a global financial services group in relation to the debt restructuring, including lease restructuring, and business rehabilitation process of Thai Airways International Plc and Nok Airlines Plc.
- An airport operator in relation to the debt restructuring and business rehabilitation process of Thai Airways International Plc.
- Global leaders in manufacturing and overhauling aerospace structures, systems, and components in relation to the debt restructuring and business rehabilitation process of Thai Airways International Plc and Nok Airlines Plc., and the insolvency process of NokScoot Airlines Company Limited.
- An aircraft engine manufacturer in relation to the insolvency process of NokScoot Airlines Company Limited.
Aircraft repossession
- A major leasing company in relation to the successful repossession of A320-214 aircraft from a Thai chartered-flight airline with the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand.