With over 70 professionals across three continents, our Global Transportation Finance (GTF) team is renowned for its financing acumen across all types of transportation and heavy equipment assets. We represent participants of all sizes in the transportation and heavy equipment industries, including owners, leasing companies, lessees, lenders and equity investors. Clients rely on our deep knowledge and understanding of the structural similarities across these industries and the nuances that separate of each individual sector.
Our GTF practices— Commercial Aviation, Maritime, Rail and General Equipment—are all prominent in their respective fields. In addition, the cross-disciplinary interaction among them gives the group its unique perspective on emerging trends and market conditions.
While our four GTF practices are different in many ways, they have in common the financial tools we use to carry out our clients’ transactions. While each industry has its own complexities, they share common financial tools. Our team has long been a pioneer in the securitization of large assets, including the payment streams of leased transportation and heave equipment assets, which remain a hallmark of our practice.
Our reach is global. We represent clients in multiple jurisdictions, under multiple legal systems. Our clients trust us, not just to structure, negotiate and execute their most important transactions, but also to advise them in insolvency proceedings and when necessary, litigation.
Our services to our clients are comprehensive, and include the following:
- Asset Acquisitions and Dispositions
- Aviation and Aerospace Regulatory
- Bankruptcy
- Business Aircraft Finance
- Business Aviation Services
- Commercial Aircraft Finance
- Commercial Aircraft Servicing
- FAA Regulatory Advice
- Finance Leases and Lease-to-Own Transactions Government-Supported Financings
- Joint Venture Investments and Fund Formation
- Litigation (including Insurance matters)
- Operating Leases
- Part-Out and End-of-Life Transactions
- Portfolio and Company Acquisitions Sanctions and Import/Export Compliance
- Securitizations and Capital Markets Transactions
- Structured Financings and Warehouse Loan Facilities Tax Structuring and Advice
- Asset securitization
- Bilateral lending
- Charters
- Coastwise regulation, including the Jones Act and the Passenger Vessel Services Act
- Export-credit structures
- Finance leases
- Insolvencies, workouts and corporate reorganization
- Joint ventures
- Litigation and arbitration
- Maritime liens
- Port and terminal regulation
- Private placements, including 144A and Reg S offerings
- Public offerings and listings
- Regulation under the American Fisheries Act
- Sale-leaseback transactions
- Securitization
- Ship management agreements
- Syndicated and club lending
- U.S. government maritime programs
- Vessel sales and purchases
- Vessel mortgages
- Vessel registration and documentation
- Bankruptcy-Remote Syndicated Railcar
- Company Trust Agreements
- Debt Financings for locomotives and Railcars
- Export Credit Agencies
- Insurance Wraps
- Leveraged Leases
- Liquidity Facilities Marks
- On- and Off-Balance-Sheet Structures
- Operating Leases (both full-service and net leases) Private Placement Syndicates
- Railroad-Owned Rolling Stock Facilities
- Securitizations and Capital Markets
- Servicing Agreements
- Single-Investor Railcar Warehouse Loan
- Synthetic Leases
- Warehouse Loan Facilities
- Bundled Financings
- Domestic and Cross-Border Financings
- Secured Financings and Refinancings
- Structured Financings and Warehouse Loan Facilities
- Syndications, Securitizations and other Capital Markets Transactions True/Tax-Motivated Leases and TRAC Leases Vendor Programs and other Vendor-Originated Financings
Accolades
Band 1: Aviation Finance, 2009-2025
Tier 1: Industry Focus: Transport: Aviation and Air Travel—Finance, 2018-2025
Band 2: Asset Finance, 2020-2025
Band 2: Asset Finance: Aviation (UK-wide), 2017-2025
Band 3: Aviation: Finance, 2025, Band 4, 2021-2023
Tier 3: Singapore Asset Finance: Foreign Firms, 2022-2025
Band 4: Aviation: Finance, 2023-2025
Tier 2: Industry Focus: Transport: Shipping — Finance, 2018-2025
Band 3: Transportation: Shipping/Maritime: Finance, 2021-2025
Tier 1: National Equipment Finance Law; Tier 2: National Admiralty and Maritime Law, 2013–2024
Tier 1: Industry Focus: Transport: Rail and Road—Finance, 2018-2025
2025 Chi-Stat Reception
Chi-Stat is a celebration of Chicago’s deep roots in aviation and a reminder of the strength of our community. We are honored and proud to support this incredible group and celebrate the strength and spirit of the aviation industry in Chicago.
Global Transportation Finance Newsletter
December 2025 Issue
Covering the latest in legal updates for global transportation finance.
Insights & Events
News
Vedder Price Counsels RESIDCO in $100 Million Financing Facility
January 9, 2026
Deals & Transactions
Vedder Price Advises Macquarie AirFinance on Sale and Leaseback with IndiGo
January 5, 2026
Publications
Global Transportation Finance Newsletter December 2025
December 22, 2025
Publications
IMO Net-Zero Factsheet and Update
December 22, 2025
Publications
Insurance Contracts Meet Their Date with Destiny
December 22, 2025
Publications
Marine Insurance in Ship Finance Transactions: How Insurance Structure Affects Risk
December 22, 2025
Publications
UK Court Won’t Entertain Unspecific Defences
December 22, 2025
Publications
Port-Entry Fees on Pause: The USTR Suspends Section 301 Fees on China-Linked Vessels
December 22, 2025
Primary Contacts

Michael E. Draz
Shareholder
Chair, Global Transportation Finance Practice Area
Member, Board of Directors
Chicago
Related Areas
- Finance & Transactions
- Tax
- Government Contracts
- Securities & Capital Markets
- DC Regulatory and Government Services
- Asset Securitization
- Business Aviation and Helicopter Finance
- Commercial Aviation Finance
- Maritime
- Railcar Finance
- General Equipment Leasing & Finance
- Derivatives and Structured Products
- Private Fund Formation
- Finance & Secured Lending