Jaeyong So

Jaeyong So is a counsel and a member of the firm’s Corporate Department and Aviation Practice Group. His practice focuses on corporate matters, with a concentration on aviation transactions, including leases, mortgage financings, restructurings, aircraft purchase agreements, regional jet matters and other fleet transactions.

Mr. So is recommended by The Legal 500 US 2018 and ranked as a leading lawyer by Chambers USA 2018, where insiders say he is “extremely knowledgeable” and “is regarded by the market as a ‘very good and practical’ attorney.” ExpertGuides also lists Mr. So as a “Rising Star” in Aviation law.

Mr. So has co-authored a number of articles, including “Restructuring Aircraft Leases in Bankruptcy,” Jetrader(September 2014) and “How the EETC Structure Has Changed,” Airfinance Journal (May 2010).

Mr. So joined Debevoise in 1995 and was made counsel in 2005. He received his J.D. from Harvard Law School cum laude in 1995 and his B.A. in Economics magna cum laude in 1991 from Yale University.

Experience:

• CHC Group, one of the largest global commercial helicopter service companies in the world, as aircraft counsel in its Chapter 11 proceedings in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas, in which CHC successfully restructured more than $2 billion in indebtedness. Debevoise was named joint winners of “Restructuring Deal of the Year (Over $1B to $5B)” at the 12th Annual M&A Advisor Turnaround Awards for this representation.
• American Airlines in leases of a number of vintage Embraer regional jet aircraft to ExpressJet Airlines, Inc. in connection with regional aircraft flight services pursuant to a capacity purchase agreement.
• American Airlines in leases of a number of vintage Embraer regional jet aircraft to Trans States Airlines, LLC in connection with regional aircraft flight services pursuant to a capacity purchase agreement.
• American Airlines in leases of 20 new E175 aircraft to Compass Airlines and related arrangements with the manufacturers in connection with regional aircraft flight services pursuant to a capacity purchase agreement.
• American Airlines and US Airways in mortgage financings by DVB Bank SE of two Boeing 737-800 aircraft, purchased by American from the manufacturer, and one Airbus A330-200 aircraft, purchased by US Airways from the manufacturer.
• American Airlines and US Airways in mortgage financings by Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, New York Branch, of two Embraer ERJ 170-200 LR aircraft, purchased by American from the manufacturer, and two Airbus A321 aircraft, purchased by US Airways from the manufacturer, and the leasing of the two ERJ 170-200 aircraft to Compass Airlines.
• American Airlines in mortgage financings by Commonwealth Bank of Australia, New York Branch, of four Embraer ERJ 170-200 LR aircraft, purchased by American from the manufacturer, and the leasing of those aircraft to Compass Airlines.
• American Airlines in mortgage financings by Agência Especial de Financiamento Industrial – FINAME, a subsidiary of Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social, of more than 45 Embraer ERJ 170-200 LR aircraft and the leasing of those aircraft to American Eagle carriers.
• American Airlines in mortgage financings by Export Development Canada of up to 54 Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft and the leasing of those aircraft to American Eagle carriers.
• American Airlines and AMR, as special aircraft counsel, in their successful Chapter 11 proceedings involving the restructuring of complex financing arrangements relating to more than 400 aircraft generating savings in excess of $1.8 billion and to the raising of more than $9 billion of new financing through various capital markets, syndicated lending and other financing transactions. This restructuring was honored by Turnarounds & Workouts as one of a dozen “Successful Restructurings – 2013.”
• American Airlines and Delta Air Lines in more than 20 offerings of EETC pass through certificates financing and refinancing in the aggregate more than 440 new and vintage aircraft and raising more than $13 billion in proceeds.
• American Airlines in its agreements with Embraer to purchase 60 E175 regional jets with options to purchase up to 90 more.
• American Airlines in its agreements with Bombardier to purchase 30 CRJ900 regional jets with options to purchase up to 40 more.
• American Airlines in its $1.9 billion term loan and $1 billion revolving credit facility secured by certain route authorities, slots and rights to use or occupy space in airport terminals that American uses to operate international passenger service between the United States and South America, including Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela, for which American won Airline Economics Aviation 100 “2014 Restructuring Deal of the Year” award.
• American Airlines in its restructuring during its Chapter 11 proceeding of mortgage financings of 216 Embraer regional jet aircraft with the Brazilian export credit agency, Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social–BNDES, and Embraer.
• American Airlines in its $1 billion offering of 7.50% senior notes due 2016 and secured by route authorities, airport landing and take-off slots, and rights to use or occupy airport terminals.
• American Airlines in the aircraft financing aspects of the then largest aircraft order in aviation history, the acquisition of 460 narrowbody, single-aisle aircraft from Boeing and Airbus, with options for an additional 465 aircraft, which included approximately $13 billion of committed financing provided by the manufacturers.
• American Airlines in its innovative $450 million offering of notes secured by over 140 vintage aircraft, part of a series of financing transactions for which American won Airfinance Journal’s “2009 Editor’s Deal of the Year” award.
• American Airlines in its Rule 144A $276 million offering of notes secured initially by cash collateral and subsequently by 12 Boeing aircraft.
• American Airlines in arranging backstop financing for Boeing 737-800 aircraft to be delivered between 2010 and 2011.
• Delta Air Lines and Comair, as special aircraft counsel, in their successful Chapter 11 proceedings, involving the refinancing of more than 275 aircraft via new debt or lease arrangements, the return or other disposition of more than 140 aircraft, the elimination of four aircraft types from Delta’s fleet and the litigation of substantial aircraft financing claims.

Education:

• Harvard Law School, 1995, J.D.
• Yale University, 1991, B.A.

Bar Admissions:

• New York