Clyde & Co expands aviation practice with finance partner hire

Global law firm Clyde & Co has announced the appointment of Jahnavi Ramachandran as a partner in its Aviation Finance and Leasing team, to further broaden its offering to the global aviation market.

Jahnavi joins Clyde & Co from Herbert Smith Freehills, where she most recently headed their London aviation finance team. With 15 years’ experience in the field, she is a leading aviation finance partner and acts for a wide range of banks, lessors and airlines as well as export credit agencies. Jahnavi’s experience also includes the acquisition, financing and leasing of all types of aviation assets, including airport slots.  

Norman Fraser, partner in Clyde & Co’s aviation practice comments: “Over the past few years Clyde & Co’s non-contentious aviation offering has grown from strength-to-strength and Jahnavi broadens our offering to clients still further. She has an excellent reputation throughout the market and I am delighted to welcome her to the firm.”  

Jahnavi Ramachandran adds: “There are now very clear signs that activity in the aviation industry is returning to pre-pandemic levels. I worked at Clyde & Co at the beginning of my career and I look forward to joining the firm again. It is great to be able to come back to this top global aviation firm, with all the added expertise I have acquired through the years.”  

Commenting on the hire, the global chair of Clyde & Co’s aviation practice, Kevin Sutherland, says: “This appointment further strengthens our position as the leading global aviation law firm and one that offers the full suite of services the industry needs. Our aviation practice has significantly grown in the last few years, expanding its non-insurance aviation offering through the hire of the 12 strong REN Legal’s specialist legal team led by Norman Fraser. It has also grown through the hires of Ken Quinn and Orla Brady in the U.S. and of Stuart Miller in Hong Kong.” 

Clyde & Co’s aviation team covers the full range of aviation issues including finance and leasing, slot finance and trading, OEM contracts and disputes, hostile repossessions, debt enforcement, regulation, cyber, environment defence, major loss, emergency response and liability. Beyond traditional aviation, Clyde & Co is at the forefront of practice in the space and satellite market and has established itself as the leading authority on the regulation of drones.  

Testament to Clyde & Co’s commitment and growth in the area, Tim Fox and Zoe Tite have recently joined Clyde & Co as legal directors with a focus on the aviation sector. Tim joined the firm’s London office from K & L Gates and Zoe joined the Dubai office from DAE Capital.