Stuart Miller

Full Profile

Stuart is the head of the Aviation Finance & Leasing team at Clyde & Co in the Asia Pacific region.  He is based in Hong Kong, from where his international aviation practice covers both commercial aircraft and corporate jet transactions.

Stuart has acted for banks and other financiers, export credit agencies, aircraft lessors, airlines and other operators, corporates and HNWIs / UHNWIs on numerous aviation transactions over many years. He has a wide perspective of the industry sector, and acts for a wide range of aviation market participants. He has advised lenders and borrowers, lessors and lessees, sellers and purchasers, and other industry participants on their respective interests across many different types of transactions and structures.

Stuart's international approach comes from his personal background and his extensive experience gained in international law firms. He has been based in Hong Kong for over 12 years and prior to that he practiced law in London (England) with another international law firm for the previous 10 years.  Stuart’s early years of legal practice were in a law firm in Auckland (New Zealand).  He has been involved in a wide variety of aviation, commercial, banking and finance, and corporate matters involving many jurisdictions across his career.

Stuart is consistently ranked or referenced in various legal directories, including Chambers Asia Pacific, Chambers Greater China, The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, IFLR 1000, Who’s Who Legal: Thought Leaders - Mainland China & Hong Kong (Transport – Aviation & Shipping 2023), Global Leader (Transport – Aviation Finance 2023), National Leader - Mainland China and Hong Kong (Transport – Aviation & Shipping 2022) and Lexology 2022 Client Choice Award Winner (Aviation Finance, Hong Kong).

Stuart’s practice is immersed in aviation and financing; he holds various memberships, roles or positions in industry groups (including ISTAT, ALAANZ, AsBaa, APLMA and as a committee member of BritCham in Hong Kong (Transport Logistics Committee)). Stuart has presented training and information seminars for IATA, presented at and moderated panels at various industry conferences and written articles for various industry periodicals.

Experience

• Acted for an Asian airline in relation to purchase order documentation for 100 new Boeing aircraft valued in excess of USD 12 billion at list prices
• Acted for an international aviation financier in relation to a USD 550 million credit facility for a portfolio of leased aircraft
• Acted for a leading international lessor in relation to its ownership and lease restructurings of 2x A330-200 aircraft
• Acted for a leading international lessor in relation to its sale of 2x A320 aircraft
• Acted for an airline in relation to the lease of two CFM56 aircraft engines
• Acted for an airline in relation to the lease of one A318 aircraft
• Advised an equity participant in respect of the ownership and financings of one A380 aircraft
• Acted for an international leasing company in relation to a USD 120 million revolving credit facility for a portfolio of leased aircraft
• Acted for a national flag carrier in relation to the lease novation of one B737 aircraft
• Acted for a leading international lessor in relation to its sale of 2x B737 aircraft
• Acted for a national flag carrier in relation to lease disputes involving B787, B737 and B737-8 MAX aircraft
• Acted for an airline in relation to the lease of one A319 aircraft
• Acted for a leading Chinese leasing company - in relation to its lease financing of one (1) A320 aircraft.
• Acted for a leading Chinese lessor - in relation to its financing of one (1) A320 aircraft on lease to a South American airline.
• Acted for a leading Lessor (Asia / Ireland) – in relation to the purchase and finance leaseback of three (3) A320 aircraft.
• Acted for a leading International Lessor (Asia) – in relation to multiple aircraft finance restructurings.
• Acted for a leading Lessor (Asia / Ireland) – in relation to the financing of three (3) B737-800 aircraft.
• Acted for an Asia Pacific Bank – in relation to the lease financing of two B737 aircraft for a Chinese lessor.
• Acted for an Asia Pacific Bank – in relation to the lease financing of one B777 for a Chinese lessor.
• Acted for a National Airline (Asia Pacific) – in relation to its ECA financing of 3x A330 aircraft.
• Acted for a leading Asia Pacific Airline – in relation to the lease restructuring of eight (8) A320 aircraft and payment arrangements for eleven (11) A320 and A321 aircraft.
• Acted for a leading Asia Pacific Airline – in relation to various commercial aircraft lease finance, trading and leasing matters.
• Acted for a leading Asia Pacific Airline – in relation to various lease extensions, novations and lessor finance arrangements for multiple aircraft.
• Acted for a leading Asia Pacific Airline – in relation to the lease novations and finance unwind of six (6) aircraft.
• Acted for various European,US and APAC Banks and Financial Institutions – in relation to multiple corporate aircraft finance and leasing matters involving various Domestic Jurisdictions and States of Registration (including multiple PRC / USA / Off-shore matters).
• Acted for a leading International Financier – in relation to (i) the PDP financing and (ii) the Delivery financing of one Bombardier Global 6500.
• Acted for a US Bank – in relation to the PDP and Delivery financing of one Bombardier Global 7500.
• Acted for a leading International Financier – in relation to its finance leasing of one Gulfstream G650ER.
• Acted for a leading International Financier – in relation to its purchase and leaseback of one Dassault Falcon 7X.
• Acted for a US Bank – in documenting the financing of one Airbus Corporate Jet.
• Acted for an Asian Corporate – in relation to various matters involving its acquisition, financing, aircraft management, engine service plans and sale of one Gulfstream G450.
• Acted for a Chinese Bank – in relation to the financing of one new ACJ.
• Acted for a Corporate Jet Operator – in relation to its financing unwind and sale of eight (8) aircraft in two (2) transactions.
• Acted for an Asian Investment Fund – in relation to various matters involving its financing, aircraft management, engine service plans and sale of one Bombardier Challenger 605.