Catherine Duffy is a Partner in the Finance Department and Head of Aviation & Transport Finance. Catherine's practice focuses on all aspects of banking including corporate and acquisition financing, asset financing (aircraft, property, and shipping), securitisation, tax-based financing and leasing, and general banking. Catherine has been recognised as one of Ireland's most influential and successful business women at the Women's Executive Network (WXN) 2017 Awards. Catherine served as Chairman of A&L Goodbody from 2016 until 2019.
Areas of Expertise
Aviation & Transport Finance/Finance/Domestic & International Finance
Experience Advising:
- NTMA/Ireland Strategic Investment Fund as senior lender to Activate Capital
- GECAS as seller and Start Ltd as issuer on the latest START 2018-1 asset backed securitisation
- Elix Aviation Capital and Morgan Stanley Bank in connection a US$200m aircraft portfolio financing warehouse facility
- Zephyrus Aviation Capital on its first structured ABS financing for the acquisition of a portfolio of 21 aircraft
- The launch by Vx Capital Partners of the first all-cargo aircraft asset backed securitisation
- Smartwings Aircraft Finance Insurance Consortium supported multi-aircraft deal
- Cairn in relation to a debt refinancing of its Irish law €200m senior debt facility
Market Recommendations
"Fantastic… a superb banking lawyer. She has vast experience across the full range of asset finance mandates." (Chambers Global 2019)
"Highly experienced, motivated and practical, Catherine brings a wealth of sector knowledge". (Legal 500 2019)
"Global transaction specialist." (IFLR1000 Women Leaders 2019)
"She is the dean of Irish aircraft finance. Provides excellent advice and is always conscious of the need to protect the client." (Chambers Global 2017)
Professional activities
Catherine is a member and former Chair of the legal advisory panel to the Aviation Working Group to the Unidroit Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment. She was a member of the first Advisory Group to the Irish Maritime Development Office set up to promote and assist the development of Irish shipping and shipping services. Catherine is the author of the Irish chapter of Hames and MacBain’s book on Aircraft Finance and the Irish chapter of Graeme MacBains book on Aircraft Liens and Detention Rights. She is also a non-executive director of Irish Continental Group and a former director of Beaumont Hospital, where she chaired the Services and Governance Committee of the Beaumont Board for 6 years.
Education
- Solicitor, Law Society of Ireland
- BA, Trinity College Dublin
Catherine Duffy
Partner, Finance
Dublin