Israel I. Sanchez

Partner / Miami | New York

Israel I. Sanchez is a Partner in the Global Transport Practice of Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP.

  • Full Bio

    Mr. Sanchez’s primary areas of practice are aviation and aircraft finance, leasing, structured finance, and corporate law. Israel has experience in the structuring, drafting and negotiation of financing and leasing transactions (including tax-based leveraged and cross border leasing, synthetic and operating leases), workouts, restructuring and bankruptcy matters on behalf of banks, financial institutions, lessors, lessees, owner trustees, guarantors, manufacturers and purchasers and sellers of equipment (including commercial, regional, corporate and cargo aircraft, aircraft engines and spare parts). He also has particular experience in all aspects of financing and leasing of business jet aircraft and fractional interest ownership programs.

  • Representative Experience

    • Representation of Volaris in connection with the negotiation of operating lease transactions with various aircraft and engine lessors including AWAS, BOC Aviation, ILFC, SMBC Aviation Capital, Jackson Square Aviation, CIT, Avolon, Amentum, Macquarie, GE Capital Aviation, and ELFC.
    • Representation of Volaris in connection with the negotiation of Airbus A320 aircraft family purchase agreements with Airbus S.A.S.
    • Representation of Copa Airlines in connection with the negotiation of transactions for the acquisition and financing of Boeing 737 family aircraft with various aircraft financing parties including Aviation Capital Group, AWAS, SMBC Aviation Capital and GE Capital Aviation Services, PEFCO and Ex-Im Bank.
    • Representation of the Avianca group airlines in connection with negotiation of finance transactions for Airbus A320 family aircraft with various aircraft financing parties including CIT, Avolon, AerCap, GE Capital Aviation and RBS.
    • Representation of the Avianca group airlines in connection with European export credit agency supported financings of various ATR 72 family aircraft with HSBC and BNPP.
    • Representation of TACA International Airlines, S.A. in connection with European export credit agency supported financings of various Airbus A320 family aircraft.
    • Representation of TACA International Airlines, S.A. in connection with Banco Nacional de Desenvovimiento Economico E Social – BNDES supported financings of various Embraer aircraft.
    • Representation of the Avianca group airlines in connection with intra-group subleasing of aircraft, and negotiations regarding same with aircraft lessors and financing parties including Air Lease, AirCastle, AerCap, Avolon, Aviation Capital Group, GE Capital Aviation Services and CIT.
    • Representation of Aeroflot in connection with Eximbank supported financings of various Boeing 777 family aircraft.
    • Representation of Spirit Airlines in connection with the negotiation of operating lease transactions of various Airbus A320 family aircraft with SMBC Aviation Capital.
    • Representation of Philippine Airlines and affiliated companies in connection with the structuring, negotiation and consummation of both commercial and European export credit agency supported financings with capital market options of various Airbus A320 family aircraft as part of the largest aircraft order in Filipino history.
    • Representation of Natixis as guaranteed lender in connection with an Ex-Im Bank supported financings of Boeing 777 aircraft.
    • Representation of domestic and foreign airlines and leasing companies in negotiations with aircraft manufacturers, engine manufacturers, financial institutions, governments, other airlines and leasing companies.
    • Representation of multinational leasing companies in sales, lease and lease restructuring negotiations with airlines.
    • Representation of purchasers and operators in connection with the purchase, financing and leasing of corporate aircraft.
    • Representation of corporate management in the acquisition and leasing of fractional interests in corporate aircraft.
    • Representation of Grupo Taca Holdings in its joint venture with Synergy Aerospace Group (whose holdings include Avianca, SAM and Tampa airlines) to create one of the largest airline groups in Latin America.
    • Representation of Grupo Taca Holdings in its sale of an 80% interest in its maintenance subsidiary to ACTS LP, a subsidiary of ACE Aviation Holdings.
    • Representation of Taca International Airlines, S.A. and certain affiliates in connection with the establishment of a financing facility secured by credit-card receivables.
    • Representation of airline clients in connection with pre-delivery payment financings with multiple financing parties including Norddeutsche Landesbank Girozentrale, Deutsche Bank, RBS, General Electric Capital Corporation, Citibank and International Finance Corporation.
    • Representation of multinational leasing corporations in repossession proceedings involving bankrupt lessees and beneficiaries.
    • Representation of various Latin American financial institutions in connection with asset back loans.

  • Bar Admissions

    Florida
    New York
    Connecticut

  • Education

    Undergraduate
    • Dartmouth College

    Law School
    • University of Pennsylvania

  • Languages

    Spanish

  • Memberships

    American Bar Association
    Cuban American Bar Association
    International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading

  • Recognitions


    Team Member, Airfinance Journal, "Latin America Deal of the Year" Award, 2019
    Listed, Expert Guides for Aviation, Legal Media Group, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019
    Listed Who's Who Legal - Aviation, 2019
    Listed, Who’s Who Legal, Transport – Aviation Finance, 2015, 2016, 2020
    Listed, The Legal 500 United States, Asset Finance & Leasing, 2013
    Team Member, Airfinance Journal, "Latin America Deal of the Year" Award, 2016
    Team Member, Airfinance Journal, "Regional Jet/Turboprop Deal of the Year" Award, 2013
    Team Member, "Corporate & Finance – International Counsel in Latin America (Florida-Based)" Award, Chambers Latin America Awards, Chambers and Partners, 2010, 2015 and 2016
    Team Member, "Corporate/M&A – Law Firm of the Year," Chambers Latin America Awards, 2014
    Team Member, "Corporate & Finance - Law Firm of the Year (Florida-Based)" Award, Chambers Latin America Awards, Chambers and Partners, 2010
    Team Member, "Focus on Latin America - Law Firm of the Year (Florida-Based)" Award, Chambers Latin America Inaugural Awards for Excellence, Chambers and Partners, 2009
    Team Member, Corporate Board Member magazine and FTI Consulting Inc. (10th year), "Legal Industry Research Study," Top Corporate Law Firm in Miami, 2002-2009 and 2011-2012

  • SGR Publications

  • Press