K&L Gates is a US-based international law firm with 45 further offices across Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, and South America. The firm’s Tokyo office was established in 2010. 

Focusses / specialisms

The firm offers cross-border transactional advice and is focused on asset finance, with specific expertise in real estate, aircraft, ship, rail, container and telecom equipment finance.

Key clients

Key clients of the firm include Citigroup Global Markets, JP Lease Products & Services, Deutsche Bank, Tokyo Century Corporation, MUFG Bank and Showa Leasing. 

Research period review: 30th edition (2019/2020)

The firm has kept busy in the research period with acquisition financing, Japanese operating lease aviation work and advising clients in relation to the Boeing 737 Max aircraft, and on rent holidays requests under lease agreements due to Covid-19 alongside prospective work on green aircraft transactions and on the potential entry of US Pension funds into the aviation finance market. 

In 2019 the firm welcomed corporate partner Tsuguhito Omagari from Sonderhoff & Einsel, but lost partner Kamil Ahmed in February 2020. 

Deal highlights: 30th edition (2019/2020)

-JOL AIR 2019-1 $683 million ABS transaction

-JP Lease/All Nippon Airways dual currency JOL for one 777-300ER

-PK AirFinance acquisition financing 

Client feedback: 30th edition (2019/2020)

Asset finance 

“They are experts in aviation finance and one of the few international firms in Tokyo that have full Japanese law capability. They are also very commercial, have reasonable pricing, are hardworking and friendly.”