Maria McElhinney is a partner in A&L Goodbody's Finance department. Maria's practice focuses on a broad range of banking law aspects including corporate and acquisition financing, asset financing (property and aircraft), loan acquisitions and disposals and general banking for both international and domestic clients. Maria has advised many of the world's leading financial institutions, aircraft leasing organisations and private investors on transactions involving the financing, acquisition and securitisation of assets.
Areas of Expertise
Finance/Aviation & Transport Finance/General Finance/Financial Solutions/Investing in Ireland
Experience Advising:
- Ulster Bank/RBS on the sale of a number of loan portfolios.
- Dalata Hotel Group in connection with its €300m financing of its acquisition of the Moran Bewley Hotels.
- AerGen on its establishment in Ireland and in its recent warehouse credit facilities and asset backed securitisation.
- Deutsche Bank in its capacity as arranger for the Elix Aviation Capital asset backed securitisation.
- An innovative and complex debt restructure facilitated by Highbridge tendering to Pernix Ireland Pain.
- Leading financial institutions on all aspects of corporate lending and structured financing for aircraft, real estate and other asset types.
- The financing of the acquisition by KKR of Q Park.
- Dalata in the negotiation of a new €525m Irish law facility, completing the refinance of its existing facilities.
- GECAS and Start Ltd on the latest START 2018-1 asset backed securitisation.
- MAPS 2018-1 on their asset back securitisation.
Market Recommendations
"Maria McElhinney - particularly good on cross-border issues." (Legal 500 2025)
"Maria McElhinney is very helpful and knowledgeable in the aviation space and her team provide efficient, reliable, quality output." (Legal 500 2024)
"Highly Regarded." (IFLR1000 2024)
"An Irish expert based in New York." (Chambers Global 2023)
Professional activities
Maria has lectured on the Law Society of Ireland's Diploma in Aviation Leasing & Finance and Diploma in Finance Law, as well as on the Diploma in International Financial Services Law at University College Dublin.
Education
- Solicitor, Law Society of Ireland
- New York State Bar, Attorney
- BBLS, University College Dublin
Maria McElhinney
Partner,
Aviation & Transport Finance
Dublin