Watson Farley & Williams (“WFW”) is delighted to have supported the development of foundational materials for the Aviation Working Group (“AWG”) and Trinity College Dublin’s (“TCD”) Transnational Commercial and Leasing Law Project (the “Project”).
The Project launched on 16 January 2025 with its first symposium based on the foundational materials titled ‘Past, Present and Future of International Leasing of Personal Property’. It is sub-divided into four sections addressing ‘the nature, history and economic impact of leasing’, ‘the liability of lessors and lessee for damage to third parties caused by leased property’, ‘conflict of laws in international leasing transactions’ and ‘the impact of insolvency laws on international leasing transactions’.
The Project was advised by a Participatory Advisory Board, including TCD, the AWG, leading aviation leasing companies AerCap, Avolon and SMBC Aviation Capital, other companies including Aviareto, BNP Paribas and DCC, and Irish law firms A&L Goodbody LLP, Arthur Cox LLP, Mason Hayes & Curran LLP, Matheson LLP and McCann FitzGerald LLP.
The foundational materials were prepared by WFW Global Aviation and Aerospace Sector Head Jim Bell, TCD Adjunct Professor and Project Lead Jeffrey Wool (who is also AWG Secretary General and a WFW Senior Global Advisor) and David Walton, former COO of BOC Aviation. They were supported by members of the WFW Aviation and Aerospace team including Partners Charles Buss, Simon Collins, Tim Murray, Stephen Parker and Richard Stephens, Counsel Jane Keith, Aviation Knowledge Counsel Alison Weal, Senior Associates Natasha Collins, Jemma Dhillon, Anton Jarbol and Julia Sim, Associates James Burgess, Jack Forber, Millie Gray, Sam Jones and James Wickham, Trainees Fawwaz Ahmed, Alexander Carter, Ruairi Clayton and Mike Gorry and Law Clerk Joanna Grillo.
Jim Bell commented: “We are delighted to have played a key role in contributing to this important project. With leasing too often treated simply as a form of secured transaction, the foundation paper, the symposium and the project are an ideal opportunity to undertake a deeper exploration into the importance of leasing to better prepare the aviation industry for the future”.
Jeffrey Wool commented: “The foundational materials will provide a sound basis for the Project to build upon over the coming years. We hope and expect to see research and articles based on and developing this vanguard work – all for the benefit and synthesising elements of academics, commerce and public policy”.
