Vedder is an international business-focused law firm serving sophisticated clients of all sizes and industries from offices across the U.S. and in the UK and Asia.

A Business Focused Law Firm With a Global Reach | Vedder

General

James Kilner helps companies, financial institutions and investors buy, sell, lease and finance aircraft and other high-value assets.

contentpilot/introduction

Structuring transactions across multiple countries, he balances different legal systems, regulatory rules and commercial priorities, ensuring deals that move assets and money around the world are legally sound and commercially feasible.

core/paragraph

James works with airlines seeking liquidity, lessors expanding fleets, and banks and private equity firms investing in aviation. His experience spans structuring secured financings, negotiating operating leases, and guiding multijurisdictional transactions to align business goals with regulatory compliance. He counsels clients on sale-and-leaseback transactions to optimize capital, advises on asset-based lending structures, and addresses collateral and enforcement issues across jurisdictions.

Working collaboratively with in-house counsel and deal teams, he determines his legal strategy and proposes solutions based on his clients’ business objectives. Known for simplifying complex, multiparty negotiations and skill in navigating the challenges of multijurisdictional deals, James helps clients keep transactions on track.

James E. Kilner

James E. Kilner

Credentials

Education

Bar Admissions

Insights & Events

James Kilner Named to Airline Economics 40 Under 40 Class of 2023

Twelve Vedder Price Practice Areas and 46 Attorneys Distinguished in The Legal 500 United States in 2023

James E. Kilner

Credentials

Education

Bar Admissions

Insights & Events

James Kilner Named to Airline Economics 40 Under 40 Class of 2023

Twelve Vedder Price Practice Areas and 46 Attorneys Distinguished in The Legal 500 United States in 2023

Slide Menu

Slide Search