Expertise
Yvonne is a partner in the Finance and Capital Markets Department and advises on all aspects of aviation, shipping, rail and other asset financing, trading and leasing matters on a daily basis. Yvonne has gained considerable experience in advising on all aspects of the structuring of asset purchase, sale, financing and leasing transactions and acts for a number of aircraft lessors, financiers and airlines in leveraged, syndicated and export credit agency backed financing facilities. Yvonne also has considerable experience in advising on structured finance, ABS (asset-backed securities) and repackaging transactions relating to all such asset classes including the establishment of special purpose companies funded by public and private issuances.
Yvonne has significant experience in advising on all aspects of the Cape Town Convention and in addition regularly provides advice on registration issues with the Irish Aviation Authority.
Yvonne is also a lecturer and tutor on the Law Society of Ireland’s Certificate and Diploma courses in Aviation Leasing and Finance.
- Advised and acted as Irish counsel in connection with the US$ 585 million ABS of a portfolio of 21 aircraft to be leased to 15 commercial airlines located in 12 countries.
- Acted as Irish counsel to the lender parties in respect of a US$250 million revolving credit facility secured by the portfolio of loans made to various aircraft lessors.
- Advised on the issuance of $1.21 billion secured notes and acted as Irish counsel in connection with the acquisition of a portfolio of 48 aircraft with leases attached.
- Advised on the issuance of more than $916 million secured notes in respect of the acquisition of 52 aircraft and 1 aircraft engine.
- Advised on the issuance of more than $713 million secured notes in respect of the acquisition of 54 aircraft and 6 aircraft engines.
- Acted as Irish counsel to the sole structuring agent and joint bookrunner on a US$250.8 million ABS of a portfolio of 18 narrow bodied aircraft.
- Advised on the issuance of $640 million secured notes in connection with the securitisation of a portfolio of over 30 aircraft.
- Acted for an aircraft leasing company on the European export credit agency backed financing of a portfolio of 30 SuperJet 100 aircraft.
- Advised an aircraft leasing company on the export credit agency supported financing of a number of Airbus A320-200 aircraft.
- Acts for leading international financial institutions in the provision of facilities to Irish companies for the acquisition of Airbus and Boeing aircraft.
- Advises on the establishment of numerous orphan and SPV structures to finance a variety of assets including aircraft and helicopters.
- Regularly assists with the establishment of aircraft leasing platforms in Ireland
- Regularly acts as Cape Town counsel.
"It is very apparent to the client that Stuart Kennedy, Yvonne McWeeney, Stephen Gardiner and Rory McPhillips actively work together to support each other to ensure that all deals are properly serviced and executed. I always feel when working with the team that there is a partner available to advise or support on any issue which we may have."
Transport: The European Legal 500 2024
"I have always been impressed by the depth of knowledge and experience, in addition to the responsiveness, collaborative and solutions-driven approach of the Matheson team, and in particular Stephen Gardiner, Rory McPhillips and Yvonne McWeeney."
Transport:The European Legal 500 2024
"Yvonne McWeeney has been very helpful on several transactions this year. One thing that impresses me in particular is the lack of fee creep – if we agree a fixed or cap fee, they stick to it."
Asset Finance:The European Legal 500 2023
Banking & Finance: Asset Finance: Chambers Global 2023
"Great professional, very technical. Strong interpersonally and an excellent problem-solver."
IFLR 1000 2022
Yvonne McWeeney is named Women Leaders
IFLR1000 2022
Yvonne McWeeney is Highkly Regarded
IFLR1000 2022
"Yvonne McWeeney is an outstanding lawyer, with an acute sense of business, tight management of schedules and availability, and a strong ability to provide ideas to solve issues."
Transport: The European Legal 500 2022
"Yvonne McWeeney leads an exceptional team of associates and paralegals. All transactions expertly partner led but with an army of competent professionals backing her up."
The Legal 500 2022
"Stuart Kennedy in particular and Yvonne McWeeney also are standouts in their legal practices."
The Legal 500 2022
Yvonne McWeeney is named a Next Generation Partner.
Transport: European Legal 500 2021
Yvonne McWeeney is "very affable, very organised and knowledgeable in her space.”
IFLR 1000 2021
"Yvonne McWeeney has exceptional availability, a great capacity to adapt to various situations, jurisdictions and interlocutors, and a very practical approach. She is a dealmaker".
The Legal 500 2021
Yvonne McWeeney is recognised.
Airline Economics ‘40 under 40’ guide 2020
Yvonne McWeeney is named a Next Generation Partner.
Asset Finance: European Legal 500 2020
Yvonne McWeeney is "incredibly smart and attentive to details. She manages to explain things without losing sight of the big picture."
Banking and Finance: Chambers Global 2020
Yvonne McWeeney is named a ‘Rising Star’.
IFLR1000 2020
Best in Aviation
Euromoney Europe Women in Law Awards 2019
Yvonne McWeeney is "super responsive".
Chambers Europe 2019
Yvonne McWeeney has been named an Aviation Expert.
Euromoney Expert Guides 2019
Yvonne McWeeney is recommended.
European Legal 500 2019
Rising Star
Airfinance Journal 2018
"Stuart Kennedy and Yvonne McWeeney each consistently show dedication and commitment. Their knowledge of the financial sector is evident in each transaction they work on, and their responsiveness and focus has ensured that deals are always closed in a timely manner."
Chambers Europe 2018
"If Yvonne is on the case, you can consider it done."
Chambers Europe 2018
University College Dublin (Bachelor of Business and Legal Studies)
Admitted as a solicitor in Ireland
Admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales (non-practising)