We advise leasing companies, equipment manufacturers, and asset users on the full spectrum of legal matters related to both traditional and innovative leasing structures. Our team understands how asset types, industry characteristics, and regulatory policies shape financing transactions. We help clients design and implement leasing arrangements that are legally sound, tax-efficient, and commercially viable, supporting them through the entire lifecycle from entity setup to dispute resolution.

Setting up leasing platforms

We assist in establishing domestic and foreign-invested leasing companies, financial leasing firms, project companies, and special purpose vehicles, and advise on equity structure, licensing, business models, and compliance preparation.

Designing specialized leasing structures

We assist clients in structuring a wide range of leasing models—including direct leasing, sale-and-leaseback, leveraged leasing, joint leasing, and entrusted leasing—along with jurisdiction-specific and tax-driven structures such as Japanese operating leases, tax lease models in Japan, the U.S., and France, bonded-zone lease structures in China, and aircraft pre-delivery payment (PDP) financing. We ensure that these arrangements comply with regulatory requirements while achieving tax efficiency.

Drafting and reviewing transaction documents

We prepare and review lease agreements, purchase contracts, asset transfer agreements, ownership certificates, insurance and tax clauses, andasset package transfer agreements to ensure legal consistency and risk clarity.

Managing leased assets and security

We assist with asset registration, creation and release of security interests, guarantee structuring, repurchase mechanisms, factoring of lease receivables, and account receivables financing to enhance transaction security and liquidity.

Supporting cross-border and specialized asset leasing

We advise on leasing transactions involving ships, aircraft, medical devices, flight simulators, and construction equipment, and assist with civil aviation registrations, IDERA filings, and other cross-border procedures.

Legal due diligence and transaction negotiation

We conduct legal due diligence on leased assets and transaction structures, assess ownership risks, regulatory exposure, and assist in negotiations to support deal closure.

Tax compliance and regulatory risk control

We identify hidden financing risks, advise on tax treatment, accounting implications (such as asset impairment or revaluation), and provide legal strategies for managing tax, AML, and regulatory concerns.

Designing exit and securitization strategies

We support lease asset securitization, asset package transfers, receivables financing, and development of exit plans to improve capital efficiency and asset portfolio optimization.

Handling lease disputes and end-of-term risks

We represent clients in resolving financing lease disputes involving asset repossession, residual rent claims, and recovery from guarantors. We act in both arbitration and litigation proceedings to safeguard client interests at the end of the lease term or in default scenarios.