Elizabeth H Evans Reed Smith

Liz Evans concentrates her practice in aviation, project, and satellite finance as well as in equipment leasing and related transactional work, including private placements of debt and equity, structured finance arrangements, asset-based financings, and leveraged leasing.

Ms Evans also has represented financial institutions, credit capital corporations, equity investors, export credit agencies, and leasing companies in complex aircraft purchases, satellite financings, equipment leases, air traffic control system financings, NextGen air traffic undertakings, airport and terminal development projects, and other asset-based financings. She has represented a variety of domestic and foreign passenger and cargo airlines in a wide range of areas, including aircraft sales and leasing matters, FAA and DOT compliance, equipment financings, bankruptcy matters, and privatizations. Ms Evans has represented Fortune 500 corporations in the purchase of business aircraft for their fleets and in their participation in fractional interest aircraft ownership programs.

Ms Evans has written a number of articles relating to asset-based finance in the aviation sector including: Creative Collateral (considering use of slots, gates, and route authorities). She is a member of the New York State Bar Association, the American Bar Association (Aircraft Finance Subcommittee and the Forum of Air and Space Law), and the Association for Transportation Law, Logistics and Policy. She has been selected for inclusion in “Who’s Who Legal in Aviation” and “Women in Business Law.” She was selected to appear in Euromoney Expert Guides’ Bi-Annual Survey of “The Best of the Best” in aviation finance in every edition from 2001 to 2014.

Areas of Focus: Banking & Finance; Satellite Industry; Airlines & Aviation

Honors & Distinctions

• Winner: Best in Aviation 2017, Americas Women in Business Law Awards; 2018 Shortlist Chambers USA (2012–2018) describes Liz as having a "particularly deep knowledge of issues relating to Asia" and as being "very dedicated to her clients"
• Who's Who Legal in Aviation (2011–2018); Transport Finance (2018)
• Euromoney's Expert Guides, "Best of the Best" for aviation lawyers (2001–2014), "Aviation Lawyers" and "Women in Business Law" (2010, 2012 and 2016)

Education: Columbia University (J.D. 1990; Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar; Columbia Journal of Transnational Law); Wellesley College (BA magna cum laude 1987; Phi Beta Kappa) Bar Admissions: New York and Connecticut