Aviation Finance - Hong Kong

Practice Group / Department:

Head of Banking & Finance

Job Description

We're Norton Rose Fulbright - a global law firm with over 50 offices and 7,000 employees worldwide. We provide the world’s preeminent corporations and financial institutions with a full business law service. At Norton Rose Fulbright, our strategy and our culture are closely entwined. We know that our expansion will mean little unless it is underpinned by truly global collaboration and we understand that pioneering work only takes place when our people have room to move and think beyond boundaries. As well as the relevant skills and experience, we're looking for people who are innovative, commercial and value the work that they do. 

The Team

Norton Rose Fulbright is a global law firm with a leading aviation and asset finance platform. Our Hong Kong office forms a key part of our Asia‑Pacific Aviation: Finance practice, ranked by Chambers and Legal 500 as a top‑tier team for aviation and asset finance in Hong Kong and across the region in 2025.

We advise airlines, aircraft and engine lessors, export credit agencies, banks, financiers and manufacturers on major aircraft financing and leasing transactions, restructurings, delivery and repossession issues, and cross‑border funding matters.

The Role

We’re seeking a mid‑level to senior associate or counsel with aviation finance experience to join our Hong Kong team. You will work closely with our regional Asia aviation practice, collaborating with counterparts across Singapore, Tokyo, London, and North America.

Key Responsibilities

• Act on aircraft and engine financing, leasing, pre‑ and post‑delivery financings, JOLCO/UK financing transactions, and ECA-backed deals.
• Advise clients on lease agreements, sale‑and‑leaseback transactions, operating leases, restructurings, and market-first aircraft financing structures.
• Leading or supporting cross‑border deals involving airlines, lessors, manufacturers, banks, export agencies, and institutional financiers.
• Draft and negotiate facility agreements, security documents, leases, intercreditor arrangements, and restructuring documentation.
• Participate in client pitches, due diligence, commercial risk structuring, and client relationship management
• Liaise with regulators, export credit agencies, and multilateral finance institutions as needed.

Key Skills and Experience

• Qualified solicitor or barrister in Hong Kong, England & Wales, Singapore, or Commonwealth jurisdiction (or working toward Hong Kong qualification)
• Aviation finance / asset finance experience, ideally gained at an international law firm or in-house financing team.
• Strong understanding of leasing and financing structures, particularly involving aircraft and engines, tax and ECA frameworks.
• Experience coordinating cross‑border, multi-jurisdictional deals.
• Excellent drafting, negotiating, analytical and client‑facing skills.
• Commercially minded, responsive with strong attention to detail.
• Fluency in English; business‑level Mandarin (and Cantonese) is a strong advantage given Mainland Chinese client base in Hong Kong.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

To attract the best people, we strive to create a diverse and inclusive environment where everyone can bring their whole selves to work, have a sense of belonging, and realize their full career potential. 
Our new enabled work model allows our people to have more flexibility in the way they choose to work from both the office and a remote location, while continuing to deliver the highest standards of service. We offer a range of family friendly and inclusive employment policies and provide access to programmes and services aimed at nurturing our people’s health and overall wellbeing. Find more about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion here.

We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams. We strive to create an inclusive and accessible recruitment process for all candidates. If you require any tailored adjustments or accommodations, please let us know here.