Profile
Graeme McLellan is an asset finance professional with particular focus on the aircraft and rail rolling stock sectors, regularly advising major sophisticated international clients on business-critical matters.
His experience includes secured loans, bond financings, tax leasings, Islamic financings, and portfolio acquisitions / disposals. He enjoys cutting through complex and difficult issues, applying experience of structured, cross-border transactions to develop innovative strategies.
Graeme frequently advises new market entrants on their initial market studies, product development and structuring, bids for opportunities, and implementation of winning bids.
In the rail sector, Graeme advises on transactions internationally and has been involved in the UK rail sector since privatisation. He has advised on many major rolling stock transactions, often applying his broader knowledge to the development of innovative strategies.
Graeme is renowned for his aircraft finance experience in the commercial aircraft and corporate / private jet sectors. He advises on a broad range of transaction structures, including lessor financings and Islamic financings.
Concentrations
- Rail
- Aviation
Capabilities
Experience
- Advising an international bank on their entry into the European rolling stock leasing sector, including pan-European jurisdictional due diligence and the acquisition of fleets of passenger and freight rolling stock operating throughout Europe.°
- Advising the lessors on the procurement, financing, leasing and operation of a £1.2 billion order of new rolling stock.°
- Advising new entrants into the rolling stock leasing market, including on the development of an innovative financing structure which enabled a previously uneconomic project to proceed.°
- Advising on the development and implementation of a rail infrastructure enhancement financing structure which was the first project of its kind.°
- Advising various rolling stock lessors on operator insolvencies and default terminations of franchises, including the termination and migration of leases to government nominees as the “operators of last resort”.°
- Advising on the structuring and implementation of the procurement, financing and leasing of a new lifeline vehicle ferry providing enhanced services for remote island communities.°
- Advising new entrants on their entry into the commercial aircraft leasing sector, including on the secured debt financing of aircraft being acquired which are subject to continuing lease agreements.°
- Advising major aircraft lessors on their portfolio trading, including the acquisition and disposal of aircraft subject to continuing lease agreements.°
- Advising aircraft lessors on new leases and subleases with both existing and new customers.°
- Advising major international banks on the financing of large and ultra-large business jets for both corporates and high-net-worth individuals using a wide range of structures.°
°The above representations were handled by Mr. McLellan prior to his joining Greenberg Traurig, LLP.
Recognition & Leadership
- Listed, Best Lawyers in the United Kingdom, Asset Finance Law, 2023-2024
- Ranked, Chambers & Partners UK, 2019, 2022-2025
- Asset Finance: Rail Finance
- Transport: Rail
- Ranked, Legal 500, 2019, 2022
- Asset finance and leasing
- Rail
- Leading Individual, Legal 500 UK, "Rail," 2023-2024
- Leading Individual, Legal 500 UK, "Transport Finance and Leasing," 2023-2024
Credentials
- LPC, College of Law, 1995
- LL.B. (Hons), University of Edinburgh, 1993
- England and Wales
- Hong Kong