Marie O'Brien is a partner in A&L Goodbody and Head of the Finance department. She is also Head of Aviation and Transport Finance. Marie is highly experienced in advising in relation to the acquisition, leasing, financing and trading of a variety of asset classes including aircraft, engines, helicopters, ship, rail, machinery and equipment. Marie is consistently recognised as a Tier 1 expert in key legal directories and has been recognised as one of the Top 100 Elite Lawyers in Foreign Firms by China Business Law Journal and named in the list of IFLR1000 Women Leaders 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Areas of Expertise
Aviation & Transport Finance/Finance/Investing in Ireland
Experience Advising:
- International lessors, banks, private equity and investors on establishing and growing aircraft leasing platforms in Ireland including through joint venture structures.
- Lenders and borrowers in relation to variety of structures for the financing of aircraft, engines, helicopters, ships and other equipment including sale and leaseback, commercial debt, warehouse facilities, capital markets including ABS, PDP financing and export credit agency financings.
- On M&A transactions relating to aircraft companies such as Interglobe's acquistion of Airbourne Capital, ASL Aviation on acquisition of Farnair, CarVal on acquisition of Aergo Capital Limited.
- The launch by Vx Capital Partners of the first all-cargo aircraft asset backed securitisation.
- Zephyrus Aviation Capital on its first structured ABS financing for the acquisition of a portfolio of 21 aircraft.
- Advising many Asian bankings and leasing companies on establishing and growing their aircraft leasing business in Ireland including advising CALC on its first aircraft investment sidecar.
- Acquisition by Macquarie of Waypoint Leasing.
- On various matters relating to the Cape Town Convention and Aircraft Protocol.
- Leasing companies on trading of aircraft, engine and other assets.
- A number of first Irish AFIC supported financings for lessors and airlines.
Market Recommendations
"Marie O'Brien has seen every facet of the industry and is willing and able to work hard to get deals across the line." (Chambers Global 2025)
"Best in class in the industry. She is incredibly knowledgeable, commercial, creative and responsive." (Chambers Global 2025)
"Marie O'Brien is the leader of the asset finance team. She is the go-to lawyer for new entrants setting up their aircraft leasing platforms in Ireland." (Legal 500 2025)
"Not only a fantastic technical lawyer, she is also exceptionally knowledgeable about the aviation industry…she is one of my go-to lawyers in Ireland." (IFLR1000 2024)
Professional activities
Marie regularly speaks in Ireland and internationally on asset finance and Cape Town Convention related topics. She currently lectures on the Irish Law Society's Diploma in Aviation Leasing & Finance and on the Banking and Finance Module of the Professional Training Course in the Law Society of Ireland. She is a member of the Board of Directors of the Ireland China Institute.
Education
- Solicitor, Law Society of Ireland
- BCL (International), University College Dublin & University of Melbourne, Australia
Marie O’Brien
Partner,
Aviation & Transport Finance
Dublin