Willkie has developed broad-based experience in the aerospace, aviation, security and defense industries. We represent airlines, aircraft manufacturers, satellite companies, technology and defense consulting companies, and developers of national security information and communications systems both in the United States and abroad, as well as the companies that invest in this sector.
Experience
Air France-KLM Group: Represented Air France-KLM Group in its €2.256 billion rights issue.
Air France KLM/Air France: Represented Air France KLM and Air France on its €4 billion French State measures to recapitalize Air France and its holding company.
Air France KLM/Air France: Advised on securing funding of €7 billion to help overcome the COVID-19 crisis.
Latécoère: Represented Apollo Funds and Monarch Alternative Capital in the $107 million sale of shares in French-listed Latécoère, the world’s leading independent manufacturer of aircraft doors, to Searchlight Capital Partners.
The Alert Centre, Inc.: Provided lead counsel services for the chapter 11 case of security systems provider The Alert Centre and ten related entities.
Implant Sciences/L-3 Communications: Represent Implant Sciences in the $117.5 million sale of its explosives trace detection assets to L-3 Communications, a Section 363 bankruptcy sale, and in connection with its chapter 11 cases.
Latécoère: Advised Apollo and Monarch, who led a lender working group in the completion of Latécoère’s restructuring, which comprised a partial debt-for-equity swap and new money injection.
Space Systems/Loral, Inc/DBSD North America, Inc., ProtoStar Ltd. Matters: Represented Space Systems/Loral, as one of the largest creditors, in the DBSD North America, Inc. and ProtoStar Ltd. chapter 11 cases.
Sobel Airline: Represented pan-European airline Sobel Airline in debt restructuring.
Breed Technologies, Inc.: Participated in an investigation into potential accounting issues involving Breed, a worldwide designer and producer of automotive products and accessories, including crash sensors, airbags, safety systems and seat belts.
Space Systems/Loral v. Mabuhay: Recovered an award for the satellite manufacturer Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) in an UNCITRAL arbitration in Paris against SS/L's Philippine joint venture partner, the Mabuhay Philippine Satellite Corporation (MPSC), that had failed to pay in full for its interest in the joint venture Mabuhay 1, a telecommunications satellite that provides the most powerful coverage in the Asia-Pacific region.
Space Systems/Loral v. Yuzhnoye Machine Building Plant: Recovered an award for satellite manufacturer Space Systems/Loral in an AAA arbitration against the Ukrainian maker of a faulty rocket.
CNP/CLS: Represented Compagnie Nationale à Portefeuille (CNP) on the contemplated acquisition of Collecte Localisation Satellites (CLS), an international technology company specializing in providing high value-added solutions based on satellite data.
dormakaba Group/Stanley Black & Decker: Represented dormakaba Group, as U.S. counsel, in its $725 million acquisition of Stanley Black & Decker’s Mechanical Security businesses.
Encompass/Surf Air: Represented Encompass Aviation in its sublease of all 12 of Surf Air’s PC-12NG aircraft and assumption of the company’s aircraft operations and management in California.
Extant Components/TransDigm Group: Represented Extant Components Group Holdings, a portfolio company of private equity firm Warburg Pincus, on the sale of Extant to TransDigm Group for $525 million.
GEM/Surf Global Air: Represented Global Emerging Markets Group (GEM), a European alternative investment sponsor in connection with its $200 million share subscription facility with Surf Global Air Ltd., a California-based private aviation business.
Genesis Park Acquisition Corp./Redwire: Represented Genesis Park Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), in its $615 million business combination with Redwire, an innovative space infrastructure company.
Implant Sciences/L-3 Communications: Represented Implant Sciences in the $117.5 million sale of its explosives trace detection assets to L-3 Communications, a Section 363 bankruptcy sale, and in connection with its chapter 11 cases.
PAI Partners/ADB/Safegate: Represented PAI Partners and ADB Airfield Solutions in the acquisition of Safegate.
PAI Partners/ADB Safegate: Advised PAI Partners in the sale of ADB Safegate, a global airport performance solutions provider, to The Carlyle Group.
PAI Partners/WFCI: Advised PAI Partners in its acquisition alongside Baring Private Equity Asia of World Freight Company International from Greenbriar Equity Group.
Pattonair: Represented Pattonair, a Platinum Equity portfolio company, in the financing associated with its agreement to be combined with Wesco Aircraft.
The Sterling Group/Destin Jet: Represented The Sterling Group in its acquisition of Destin Jet, a fixed-based operator (FBO, an airport-located business that provides support services to private aircraft), as the first FBO in its newly formed FBO network, Triumph FBO.
Air France KLM: Represented Air France KLM in a wide range of antitrust matters in Europe.
Esterline: Represented the lead arrangers and agents in “one-stop shopping” bank/bond acquisition and recapitalization financing for Esterline, the Bellevue, Washington-based aerospace and defense contractor.
Naval Group: Represented Naval Group before both the FCA and the Conseil d’Etat in connection with the clearing of the creation of a joint venture between Naval Group and Piriou.