Aoife is an internationally recognised aviation lawyer with expertise across private, corporate, and commercial aviation. She advises a global client base—including ultra-high-net-worth individuals, corporations, aircraft operators, financiers, lessors, manufacturers, and private owners – on all aspects of aircraft acquisition and sale, financing, and regulatory compliance.
Aoife is also Chair of the British Business and General Aviation Association (BBGA), where she leads strategic advocacy efforts to promote and protect the interests of business and general aviation in the UK and internationally.
Expertise
- Finance and operating leases
- Private aircraft acquisition and sale
- Regulatory compliance
- Operational structuring for airlines, lessors, financiers, and private owners
Experience
Finance and Operating Leases
- Incorporating a new aircraft finance business operating out of ADGM and specialising in financing corporate aircraft. The fund raising round will begin early 2026 when the first three deals have been completed.
- Advising lessees on finance and operating leases granting underlying security and guarantees, and perfection of the security on the International Registry (Cape Town Convention).
- PDP finance on the acquisition of a new aircraft from the manufacturer, with stage payments over the build of the aircraft. Negotiation of associated engine warranties and programs.
Aircraft Acquisition and Sale
- Advised on transactions worth over USD1.5bn in asset value in the past year alone.
- Project-manages the acquisition or sale of private and corporate pre-owned aircraft often involving 6–8 jurisdictions, aircraft registries, operators, brokers and financiers as tax-efficiently as possible.
- Acts for UHNW clients and corporates in the acquisition of new aircraft, from green aircraft delivery through to interior completion contracts and build.
Industry Specific Experience
- Board member responsible to help raise USD1.3bn for a manufacturer planning to build supersonic aircraft.
- Chair of the British Business and General Aviation Association (BBGA).
- Advisory member of The Hague CAA, a non-profit and modern specialised court of arbitration and centre for mediation for the global aviation industry seated in The Hague, Netherlands.
Aviation
- Advised on transactions worth over USD1.5bn in asset value in the past year alone
- Project-manages the acquisition or sale of private and corporate pre-owned aircraft often involving 6–8 jurisdictions, aircraft registries, operators, brokers and financiers as tax efficiently as possible.
- Acts for UHNW clients and corporates in the acquisition of new aircraft, from green aircraft delivery through to interior completion contracts and build.
- Incorporating a new aircraft finance business operating out of ADGM and specialising in financing corporate aircraft. The fund raising round will begin early 2026 when the first three deals have been completed.
- Advising lessees on finance and operating leases granting underlying security and guarantees, and perfection of the security on the International Registry (Cape Town Convention).
- PDP finance on the acquisition of a new aircraft from the manufacturer, with stage payments over the build of the aircraft. Negotiation of associated engine warranties and programs.
Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.
Recognition
Recognised by Chambers High Net Worth Guide for Band 1: Private Aircraft 2026
Recommended Lawyer in The Spear’s 500 Aviation & Yachts Law Index 2025
Recommended in Lexology Index: Transport 2025
Thought Leaders – Transport 2025
Named in Euromoney’s “Women in Business Law – Aviation” 2022
EBACE Top Ten Leaders – listed by Aviation Week as one of the Top 10 Leaders of European Business Aviation
“Aoife is well known in the industry and very respected.” Chambers UK 2026
Chair and Board Member of BBGA
Previous Chair of Finance and Leasing Group EBAA
Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society (FRAeS)
Member of The Royal Air Force Club
Career
Aoife qualified as a solicitor in 1997. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2025, she worked at the following firms:
- The Air Law Firm
- Kennedys Law (merged from Gates and Partners)
- Clifford Chance