Gareth Hawes

Gareth Hawes is an aviation transaction lawyer advising aircraft leasing companies, airlines and financial institutions on complex commercial and corporate aviation matters. He works across the full lifecycle of aircraft ownership and operation, supporting clients on the financing, leasing, sale and delivery of fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft worldwide.

Gareth regularly advises on new aircraft deliveries, operating leases, sale and leaseback transactions, novations and restructurings, and has particular experience acting for leading industry participants on cross-border transactions.

He is recognised for his experience managing seasonal and short-term sub-leasing programmes involving multiple aircraft across several jurisdictions, where coordination, regulatory sensitivity and commercial flexibility are critical.

Gareth’s practice is deliberately broad and highly practical, combining technical aviation expertise with a strong understanding of market norms and operational realities. He advises a wide range of international aviation participants and is frequently involved in transactions spanning multiple jurisdictions, registries and counterparties.

Clients value Gareth’s hands-on approach, clear communication style and ability to anticipate risk early and deliver solutions that are both legally robust and commercially workable. He works closely with in-house legal, commercial and technical teams to ensure transactions are executed efficiently and effectively.

Gareth's Practice

Representative Matters

• Represented a leading European holiday company on its seasonal winter leasing program for Boeing 737 aircraft, supporting aircraft placement and cross-border leasing execution.
• Represented aviation asset managers in connection with the sale and lease novation of multiple Boeing 737- 800 aircraft, including coordination of multi-jurisdictional execution and ongoing lessee interface with European and Asian operators.
• Represented an Irish operating lessor on the acquisition of three (3) ATR 72-500 aircraft from ATR and the subsequent lease placement to a cargo operator.
• Represented an Irish operating lessor on the portfolio sale of eight (8) regional aircraft subject to existing leases with European and North American operators, including management of consents, assignment/novation deliverables, and transaction closing mechanics.
• Represented an Irish operating lessor in negotiating and documenting the lease of two (2) Q400 aircraft to European airline operators.
• Acted for an Irish operating lessor on the repossession and deregistration of regional aircraft from European operators, coordinating redelivery and deregistration.
• Acted for Irish operating lessors on the sale and lease novation of multiple narrowbody and widebody aircraft, including end-to-end management of transfer documentation, counterparties, and jurisdiction-specific closing requirements.