Suraya has been advising on international asset finance and leasing for over 13 years, particularly within the aviation sector where she has additional insight and expertise gained from having been the in-house counsel for Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi. During this time she advised on a wide range of matters and guided the Treasury and Fleet Planning teams on structured transactions, asset, cross-border, Islamic, unsecured and sustainable financings, and a number of corporate projects.
Suraya’s experience also includes working with civil aviation authorities across key jurisdictions and advising companies in the aviation sector on a wide range of commercial aviation matters, such as pilot/crew training, catering, airport and technical service agreements.
Suraya advises airlines, banks, lessors and other financial institutions on a broad spectrum of matters including the financing, purchase and sale of aircraft, engines, helicopters, corporate jets, military aircraft and simulators.
An extremely accomplished and gifted lawyer. Her prior experience gives her an insight and a level of vision into the airline sector from which many of her peers do not benefit.
The Legal 500 Client testimonial
Expertise
- Aviation
- Islamic finance
- Finance leases
- Operating leases
- Wet leases, damp leases and charters
- Sustainable finance
- Japanese operating leases
- Tax-driven structured financings
- ECA financings
- Debt financing
- Corporate jet and helicopter financings
- Agency roles in aviation and engine financings
- Security arrangements and IR/Aviation Authority registrations
- Refinancings, prepayments, reborrowings and unwinds
- Novations and end-of-lease returns
- Pre-delivery financing
- Purchase, maintenance and repair agreements
- Spare parts and pooling agreements
- Manufacturer support
- Airline procurement contracts
- Airline corporate finance and restructurings
Experience
- Advised each of Flyr and Flybe airlines on the delivery and leasing of aircraft and engines, including the application of the Cape Town Convention and aviation authority requirements.
- Advised a leasing company on lease terminations, deregistration and repossession of aircraft in multiple jurisdictions.
- Advised Etihad Airways on over 25 aircraft sale and leaseback and secured financing transactions (including Islamic financing structures and Jolcos) for A380, B777 Freighter and B787 aircraft.
- Advised Etihad Airways on innovative aircraft finance structures incorporating Abu Dhabi Global Markets (ADGM) and cash advance sale and leaseback finance structure for aircraft acquisitions.
- Advised a UK bank in relation to the financing and delivery of a corporate jet.
- Advised a Middle Eastern bank in relation to the financing and delivery of a commercial aircraft for a Dubai-based airline.
- Advised a European bank on the unwinding and restructuring of the financing for 6 helicopters across multiple jurisdictions.
- Advised a German bank in relation to the financing and delivery of two commercial aircraft for a UK airline.
- Advised IndiGo airline on its financing and commercial contracts relating to the financing of 10 aircraft.
- Advised KLM airline on its Jolco financing and commercial contracts relating to the financing of 8 aircraft.
- Advised Etihad Airways on a transaction which was awarded Sale and Leaseback Deal of the Year by Airfinance Journal.
- Advised Etihad Airways on the first ADGM asset finance transaction which was awarded Middle East & Africa Debt Deal of the Year by Airline Economics.
- Advised on the first double exposure Murabaha facility for Etihad Airways.
- Advised on the first sustainable financing for Etihad Airways.
Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.
Recognition
UN Introduction to Sustainable Finance certification, 2024
Freeman of The City of London Solicitors’ Company, 2022
LSE MBA Essentials certification, 2020
Islamic Finance Qualification, 2017
Career
Suraya qualified as a solicitor in 2011. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2024, she worked at the following firms in London:
- Addleshaw Goddard
- DLA Piper
- Norton Rose Fulbright