Danielle Roman

Overview

I am a Partner in our Banking and Finance team in Hong Kong, having practiced in Asia for over 15 years. I advise on a broad spectrum of cross-border transactions, including asset finance (in particular aviation and shipping), fund financing, acquisition and leveraged finance, debt restructurings and general corporate lending.

In fund financing, I regularly represent private and commercial banks on subscription credit facilities, hybrids, NAVs and GP/Management facilities. I am on the global board of the Fund Finance Association, and am also a board member of Women in Fund Finance.

I have significant expertise in helping major financial institutions, lessors and investors on the financing and leasing of commercial aircraft, corporate jets and other related assets, including engines and helicopters, across a variety of structures. I also advise on the finance and leasing of ships and other vessels. I am on the leadership team and board member for Advancing Women in Aviation Roundtable (AWAR).

Prior to joining Mourant in 2012, I worked at Clifford Chance in Hong Kong and Dentons in London.

Professional qualifications 

Registered Foreign Lawyer, Hong Kong (currently non-practising)

Solicitor, England and Wales (currently non-practising)

Solicitor, British Virgin Islands

Memberships

• Advancing Women in Aviation Roundtable (AWAR)
• Fund Finance Association (FFA)
• Women in Fund Finance 

 Work highlights 

• Advising ORIX in connection with its acquisition of a 30% stake in aircraft lessor Avolon Holdings Ltd. from HNA Groups Bohai Capital Holding Co. ORIX Aviation is a subsidiary of leading Japanese financial services group ORIX Corp. This matter was awarded 'Overall Deal of the Year' by Airfinance Journal Awards 2019.
  
  
• Advising Comsys (Tianjin) Leasing Co, Ltd., in respect of the acquisition of an Airbus A380 aircraft with a secured loan provided by China Development Bank and the leaseback of the Aircraft to a Mauritius-based operating lessor, Veling Group , with a 12 year operating lease attached to Emirates. This matter was awarded 'Best cross-border airline or lessor financing by a Chinese financier' category by Airfinance Journal's Inaugural China Awards 2018. 
  
  
• Advising Stonebriar Commercial Finance LLC, a privately held commercial finance company (a spin-off from Guggenheim Partners), with respect to it’s purchase of a portfolio of 16 loans and leases, including 22 aircraft from CIT Bank, N.A. and CIT Finance LLC (each being a US commercial bank subsidiary of CIT Group Inc).
  
  
• Advising CSIC Leasing, the financial leasing arm of China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC), in connection with its first ever ship lease financing worth US$65.5million with Greek tanker owner Eletson Corporation. CSIC is a leading PRC state-owned business and one of China's largest shipbuilding and ship repair conglomerates.

What the directories say

"When it comes to being commercial and how to apply legal principles thoroughly, she is very good", Chambers Asia-Pacific, 2021. 

Danielle is, "The perfect balance of technical expertise, fast response time and value for money", Chambers Asia-Pacific, 2020.

'Danielle Roman is well regarded by clients, with one describing her as a "very switched-on, technically sound and business-minded" practitioner with a "very good work ethic." Her counsel is frequently sought on a diverse mix of financing transactions, ranging from acquisition finance and LBOs to asset and real estate finance', Chambers Global, 2019.

Danielle is recognised in the Finance chapter of Who’s Who Legal: Aviation, 2017 - 2020

'Danielle Roman is acclaimed by market sources for being "incredibly dedicated to delivering top client service. She is extremely responsive, commercial and great to work with." She is adept at providing assistance to clients on fund financing and asset financing mandates', Chambers Asia-Pacific, 2019.

The ‘technically strong, attentive and responsive’ Danielle Roman is ‘very knowledgeable in the asset finance space’, Legal 500, 2018.