Vedder Price

Vedder Price (Vedder) is a Chicago-based mid-market law firm. Its small 50-person London office has been traditionally focused on global transportation finance (i.e. the leasing of ships and aircraft) but is also (more recently) pushing for growth in transportation related disputes. To understand Vedder and its London presence, it is imperative that you understand the nature of global transportation finance. This specialised sector involves the provision of capital for the acquisition and operation of high-value mobile assets, primarily aircraft, ships, railways, and oil drilling platform. Because these things are extremely expensive, they are almost always purchased through some sort of financing arrangement. Moreover, because these assets are inherently cross-border, the financing structures are remarkably complex, often involving multi-jurisdictional tax considerations, export credit agency support, and intricate leasing arrangements. Commercial lawyers working for in this area for borrowers (ie the purchasers of aircraft) must be tapped into funding networks - essentially there job is to help their clients find the least restrictive, least expensive funding possible. Commercial lawyers working for the lenders, on the other hand, are tasked with navigating international regulations to ensure that a lender's security interest in an asset remains enforceable, regardless of where in the world that asset happens to be located. In essence, they have to try to reduce risk through legal protections. Returning the focus back to Vedder, the firm’s London transportation finance team is especially renowned for its sub-specialisms in commercial aviation, business jets, maritime assets, and rail rolling stock. The practice is anchored by several key partners including Gavin Hill (expert in aircraft sales and aircraft engine leasing), Neil Poland (a specialist in commercial aviation and rail across Europe and Middle East), and Dylan Potter (a shipping finance guru). The firm’s London client base includes a sophisticated mix of global financial institutions, operators, and airlines, with key names such as Absa Bank, Bank of America, Macquarie AirFinance, Air Canada, and Windstar Cruises. Let’s take a look at two recent examples in this vein. First, the firm’s recent support for Absa and Afrexim Bank in financing the acquisition of three Boeing 787 Dreamliners for the Angolan airline TAAG. This deal was particularly complex, as the financing was being provided during the construction of the aircraft themselves. Moreover, this deal highlighted the London team’s ability to manage complex, cross-border African jurisdictional risks while coordinating with major global financial institutions. Second, the firm’s advice in respect of Windstar Cruises 2025 fleet expansion. A particular high point of this work was securing financing despite no immediately comparable revenue, as this expansion was the first of its kind for the company, involving brand new, suite-only vessels. But this isn’t the entire story when it comes to Vedder in London. Specifically, global President and CEO Michael Nemeroff has undertaken a strategic growth drive across the entire firm. Key to this approach is the cultivation of a truly elite global disputes practice, with a particular focus on the transportation sector (where the firm already maintains an elite reputation). The idea is to to become one of the leading players in transport sector-specific disputes, wherever they should arise. London and Miami in particular (two aerospace hubs) have therefore become immensely strategically important for the firm over the course of the past year. And this is evident on the ground level. In particular, through the strategic hire of Helen Biggin. Formerly a counsel at A&O Shearman, Biggin joins as Vedder's ninth London-based partner and the inaugural lead for its UK litigation practice. Bringing nearly two decades of experience from the Magic Circle, she specialises in high-stakes commercial litigation and fraud, offering niche expertise that aligns with the firm’s core strengths in the aviation and maritime sectors. On the whole, Vedder Price is a mid-size international firm with a distinct sectoral focus. Its London office is a key part of that global strategy, and is a great place to be if you have an interest in transport (and particularly transport-related disputes, given recent acquisitions in this area).