John Pearson

John Pearson is an asset finance solicitor who helps manufacturers, leasing companies and financial institutions negotiate and manage aircraft and aviation leasing and financing transactions.

He also helps his clients navigate the transition to net zero, working on sustainability- and transition-linked transactions, sustainable aviation fuel contracts and the integration of carbon offset strategies into their businesses.

Based in London, John has more than 15 years experience working with international leasing companies and lenders in Europe, the United States and the Arabian Gulf. Dealing with assets that move frequently between jurisdictions, John is known for an innate ability to solve both commercial and legal problems and avoid disputes.

John has a deep understanding of the pathways to net zero and provides a bridge between the aircraft leasing industry and the world of sustainable aviation fuel and carbon offsets. He frequently teaches and writes on this topic.

He represents Vedder on the Aviation Working Group’s United Kingdom National Contact Group and is one of two United Kingdom representatives to the European Air Law Association. He is the editor of Vedder’s Global Transportation Finance Newsletter.

Experience

• Represented Macquarie AirFinance in the acquisition of 75 aircraft from Kuwait-based ALAFCO Aviation Lease and Finance Company. The transaction added new-technology commercial passenger aircraft that lowered the average carbon emissions of Macquarie’s fleet.
• Represented Aero Capital Solutions in a $130.2 million deal to finance 15 mid-life narrowbody Boeing and Airbus aircraft that are on lease to high-quality global airlines.
• Advised the initial purchasers on an offering of $553.6 million of British Airways pass-through certificates. The proceeds of the EETC and related JOLCO financing will be used to purchase three new Airbus A320neo aircraft, one new Airbus A350-1000 aircraft and three new Boeing 787-10 aircraft, in the first sustainability linked EETC.