Matt Hedigan
Partner
Ireland
The awards recognise significant transactions from across the aviation finance and leasing market, with our team advising on winning deals across a range of categories, including leasing, structured and supported finance, capital markets, M&A and restructuring.
Airline Economics Aviation 100 Americas Awards
Our team advised on transactions recognised in the following categories:
- Americas Lease Deal of the Year: DAE–United ten 737 MAX 9 sale-leasebacks
- Americas Supported Finance Deal of the Year: LATAM insurance-backed PDP facility
- Americas Equity Deal of the Year: Blackstone/WLFC inaugural engine fund
- Americas Structured Finance Deal of the Year: Blackbird Term Loan
- Americas Capital Markets Deal of the Year: Azul Chapter 11 exit bond
- Americas M&A Deal of the Year: Apollo and Brookfield agreement to acquire Air Lease Corporation
- Americas Overall Deal of the Year: SPRITE2026-1 World Star freighter ABS
Ishka Awards
We also advised on transactions recognised across the following categories:
- Best Asian M&A: FPG Amentum | Company acquisition | 100% of Crianza Aviation
- Cargo: Titan Aircraft Investments | Commercial loan | US$127m | 7 aircraft
- Engine: Marathon Asset Management | Commercial loan | US$510m | 30 engines
- European M&A: SMBC Aviation Capital | 100% in Air Lease Corporation acquisition | US$28.2bn
- Most Innovative: AASET MT-1 2025 | Aircraft ABS with master trust structure | US$1.64bn | 69 aircraft
- North America: Azorra Aviation | Aircraft purchase | 50 aircraft
- PDP Financing: Philippine Airlines | PDP financing | US$178m | 5 A350-1000 aircraft
- Restructuring: GOL | DIP loan | US$1.9bn
- Supported Financing: IndiGo | Insurance-guaranteed loan | US$132m (est.) | 2 A321neo aircraft
Partner Sarah Humpleby shared: ‘It is fantastic to see so many of our transactions recognised across this year’s awards. The breadth of these deals reflects the evolving aviation finance market, and we are grateful to our clients for continuing to trust us on their most significant transactions.’
Partner Matt Hedigan added: 'These awards reflect the strength and depth of our global Asset Finance team. The range of transactions recognised demonstrates the collaborative approach we bring to complex, cross-border aviation matters.’
