With more than 25 years of experience, Shawn works with domestic and international clients on all aspects of their equipment financing needs.
These include acquisitions and dispositions, restructuring, mortgage-financed transactions, pooled aircraft asset securitizations, sale and leaseback arrangements, and operating leases. From the beginning of Shawn’s practice, he has been deeply involved in aviation, representing airlines, investors, lenders, and other parties involved in commercial and general aviation.
In addition to his representation of aviation clients, Shawn regularly represents clients in many other industries, including transportation and logistics, banking and finance, energy, and telecommunications. His more than two decades of experience in these fields gives him a keen advantage in negotiating transactions on behalf of his clients, including major airlines, multinational corporations, financial institutions, investors, manufacturers and suppliers.
Shawn’s practice spans a broad range of general finance issues and operational matters involving the aviation, rail, shipping, energy, and logistics sectors, including corporate restructurings, project development, securities offerings, and mergers and acquisitions.
He also regularly assists clients in disputes arising out of aviation, transportation, and equipment finance transactions, including litigation and arbitration. Additionally, Shawn assists clients in restructuring work, advising clients both in and out of bankruptcy.
- Represented purchaser in acquisition of US regional air carrier ExpressJet Airlines from SkyWest, Inc., and subsequent representation of ExpressJet Airlines.
- Argued and won North American Airlines v. Wilmington Trust Co., et al., (2019) in the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division (1st Dept.), relating to disputes arising from commercial aircraft lease.
- Led Eversheds Sutherland (US) team acting as Section 327(e) bankruptcy counsel in representation of ExpressJet Airlines and ExpressJet Liquidating Trust in Section 363 sale of ExpressJet assets, which The M&A Advisor recognized as its Industrials Deal of the Year (Under $100MM) for 2023.
- Recognized by The Legal 500 United States in the area of commercial lending: advice to borrowers and lenders
- Recognized in the Guide to the World’s Leading Lawyers in aviation
- Recognized by Expert Guides in aviation
- Recognized by Expert Guides in the “Best of the Best USA” section
- Named to the Who’s Who Legal guide in aviation: finance
- Selected for inclusion in The International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers
- Member, American Bar Association
- Founding Member, Air, Rail and Marine Subcommittee, Equipment Leasing and Finance Association
- Member, International Society of Transport Aircraft Traders
- Georgia
- Michigan
- Washington
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
- A.B., with high honors, University of Michigan, Honors in Philosophy
- J.D., University of Michigan Law School
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