Mark Leverkus is a partner in the London office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, and is a member of the firm’s Transportation and Space and Finance Practice Groups.
Mark acts for financiers, arrangers, equity investors, leasing companies, export credit agencies and operators on a range of international financing, leasing and sale and purchase transactions, involving aircraft, satellites, other moveable equipment and related ground infrastructure.
As well as structuring new projects and transactions, Mark also has extensive experience in the trading and repackaging of such transactions, as well as in restructurings, disputes, work-outs and repossessions.
Mark is recognised by The Legal 500 rankings and Chambers UK, with sources describing Mark as “outstanding” and “one of the most well-rounded lawyers” they have worked with. Mark has also been named a “Rising Star” by Airfinance Journal.
Mark has lectured and spoken at a number of industry conferences on space and aviation matters. Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Mark was a member of the Transportation and Space group at Milbank LLP. Mark has previously spent six months seconded to the legal department of a major UK bank, and nine months seconded to an aircraft lessor in Dublin.
Selected experience by asset class:
Aviation
- Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs and a syndicate of lenders in relation to a US$1 billion+ loan facility for Castlelake, secured by a portfolio of over 60 widebody and narrowbody aircraft.
- BNP Paribas and an ad hoc group of secured creditors in respect of the US$6.3 billion reorganization of Nordic Aviation Capital, through a Chapter 11 bankruptcy process, and subsequent debt and equity refinancing.
- AIP Capital on the formation of its joint venture with Monroe Capital, for the acquisition of up to US$1 billion of mid-life aircraft.
- SMBC Aviation Capital on its US$6.7 billion acquisition of Goshawk Management Ltd.
- BNP Paribas as mandated lead arranger and original lender on the US$168 million financing for the acquisition of a portfolio of eight aircraft by Global Aviation Equipment Leasing (GAEL), an aviation fund arranged by SMBC Aviation Capital.
- NCB Capital on the acquisition of a portfolio of 19 narrowbody and widebody aircraft from AerCap and financing under a U$500 million Murabaha facility jointly arranged by Citibank and BNP Paribas.
- The Brazilian Government (as export credit guarantor) and the lenders on the repossession and remarketing of six aircraft on lease to Flybe, and matters related to Flybe’s administration proceedings.
- AWAS and its owners Terra Firma and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board on an agreement to sell a portfolio of 90 aircraft to Macquarie Group Limited for a total consideration of US$4 billion.
- A leading aircraft lessor on the acquisition of a portfolio of 20 aircraft, leased to a range of airlines, for c. US$1 billion.
- A leading Japanese equity arranger on various JOLCO transactions.
- A leading private credit lender on various aircraft financings.
- A leading Irish aircraft leasing company on the acquisition and financing of a portfolio of 45 aircraft, leased to airlines worldwide.
- An aircraft lessor on the acquisition of two Airbus A380 aircraft, on lease and with Shariah-compliant debt attached.
- An investment firm on its secured debt financing for an airline group, secured by spares, shares and intellectual property.
- A group of creditors with respect to AirAsia X’s Malaysian scheme of arrangement.
- Elix Aviation Capital in connection with its US$411 million debut ABS deal (the first ABS to be 100% secured against turboprops).
Space and satellite
- EQT as co-lead investor on the €1 billion Series F financing round of ICEYE Oy, the world’s leading provider of sovereign intelligence from space, at a valuation exceeding €10 billion.
- Pasifik Satelit Nusantara, on its export credit financing, commercial financing and procurement process for the SATRIA-1 high-throughput satellite project, valued at $545 million.
- OneWeb (now Eutelsat OneWeb) on a senior secured credit facility for its global satellite constellation.
- A leading satellite operator on the restructuring of its secured debt facilities.
- The ECA lenders on a proposed multi-billion-dollar low- Earth orbit satellite constellation project.
- A leading satellite operator on the procurement of earth observation satellites.
- An Asian satellite operator on the restructuring of its satellite project financing.
*Includes representations made by Mark prior to his association with Gibson Dunn
Capabilities
- Transportation and Space
- Aerospace and Defense
- Capital Markets
- Finance
- Financial Institutions
- Investment Funds
- Mergers and Acquisitions
- Private Equity
- Projects
Credentials
Education:
- University of Law, London Moorgate - 2011 Postgrad Diploma LPC
- Durham University - 2010 Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.)
Admissions:
- England & Wales - Solicitor