Dentons has a leading transportation finance practice, including asset-based finance and project finance, with a strong international reputation in the fields of cross-border and tax-based structured transactions. We act for many leading banks and financial institutions in the transport finance market, as well as owners, operators, equity investors, suppliers, contractors, bidding consortia, developers, authorities and government agencies.

Expertise, experience and familiarity enable us to assist our clients with the business of buying, selling, financing and leasing of transportation equipment and assets. In the area of asset finance, we represent many of the leading aircraft manufacturers and many other participants in the aircraft finance industry, including: insurers, tour operators, arrangers, lessors and governmental and regulatory bodies.

We have a well-established shipping finance practice based in London, Abu Dhabi and Dubai, with extensive experience in large-value, complex, cross-border transactions as well as highly structured, high-value tax financings. We have advised on tax-advantaged financings of fleets of railcars, both new and used, and have handled rolling stock leasing and finance with:

• Non-US bank holding companies
• Joint ventures
• Syndicated bank debt
• Equipment trust certificates
• Leveraged leases
• Conditional sales agreements
• Commercial paper conduits
• Pools of equipment emerging from bankruptcy reorganization.

Project finance continues to be the principal financing tool for procurement and development of assets across a wide range of sectors, including transport infrastructure. Dentons’ global project finance practice combines deep, current legal expertise with sophisticated knowledge of the marketplace and the transport industry. We work in all transport-related project finance sectors across the globe, including airlines, vessel companies, shipping, toll roads, public private partnerships and private finance initiatives (PPP/P3/PFI), and we regularly act for banks, project sponsors, developers, project companies, multilateral agencies, export credit agencies, contractors, governments and other public sector bodies.

Insights

JOLCOs – Japanese government considers limiting tax benefits to Japanese equity where lessor pays interest to non-Japanese lenders

April 4, 2019

Will tax changes the Japanese government is considering narrow the pool of lenders into future JOLCOs or cause existing deals to be restructured or unwound?

News and Events

Recent Press Releases

Dentons wins two major awards at IJGlobal MENA Awards 2025

May 5, 2025

Dentons has received two awards at the IJGlobal MENA Awards 2025, held in Dubai on 30 April. The Firm was recognised for its role in two landmark deals.

Project Finance International (PFI) has named Hafeet Rail as a Deal of the Year at its 2024 Project Finance International Awards

March 10, 2025

Dentons advised on the Hafeet Rail project, that was named Middle East & Africa Transport Deal of the Year at the Project Finance International Awards, which took place in London on 20 February.

Dentons advises on landmark Hafeet Rail project – the GCC's first cross-border rail project

October 11, 2024

Dentons has advised on the project financing and development of the Hafeet Rail project. This initiative marks the GCC's first cross-border rail project, including the future connection between Abu Dhabi and Sohar Port in Oman.

View all press releases for Transportation Finance