Clifford Chance announced the appointment of partner Zarrar Sehgal as Head of the firm's Global Asset Finance Group. Sehgal will lead the 125-strong international team of asset finance lawyers who work alongside the firm's global corporate, tax, insolvency, litigation and regulatory practices to provide full-service advice to clients.
Assuming the role from William Glaister, Sehgal is also co-head of the Global Financial Markets group in the Americas, and head of Clifford Chance's Global Transport & Logistics sector group. Chambers USA 2022 ranked Sehgal Band 1 in Transportation: Aviation: Finance (Nationwide), and he has also been inducted into Legal500's Hall of Fame in the United States for Transport: Aviation and Air Travel – Finance. Considered one of the foremost experts on a wide variety of international asset finance transactions, Sehgal's experience includes acquisition financing, leveraged leasing, secured lending, structured financing and export credit agency-supported financings.
Global Head of Financial Markets Emma Matebalavu offers, "Zarrar is renowned industry-wide for his knowledge and expertise, having worked extensively on some of the most complex asset finance transactions in the market globally. I am delighted to announce his appointment to lead the Asset Finance group which is a core element of our world-leading, award-winning international finance practice. I am confident that Zarrar will build on the stellar legacy of our brilliant global assets team by leading with absolute focus and dedication to our clients globally and I really look forward to working with him in his new role."
Sehgal shares, "With thanks to William Glaister for his many years of contributions, I step into this role to lead an incredibly ambitious and successful group. I am excited for us to continue to leverage what makes us so unique – an unrivalled level of experience and insight, supported by access to a truly integrated global network. We remain the law firm of choice for complex asset finance transactions."
Clifford Chance's Global Asset Finance group advises on market-leading transactions across multiple jurisdictions, including:
- Nordic Aviation Capital on its c.US$6.3bn debt restructuring
- GE on AerCap's acquisition of GECAS
- Goshawk Aviation, NWS and CTFE on the US$6.7 billion sale of Goshawk Aviation's commercial aircraft leasing platform to SMBC AC
- CK Asset Holdings on the US$4bn sale of AMCK Aviation to Carlyle Aviation Partners
- Avolon on the world's largest eVTOL aircraft order
- The arrangers in connection with Air Lease Corporation's inaugural North American sukuk offering.