International law firm Clifford Chance announced that Emily DiStefano has joined the firm as an asset finance partner in New York, further bolstering one of the world’s leading aviation finance practices. DiStefano joins Clifford Chance from Debevoise & Plimpton, where she was a counsel in the corporate department.

DiStefano is highly respected for her experience in all aspects of aircraft finance, including secured lending, leasing, private equity investments and restructuring of transactions. She regularly advises major U.S. airlines on public and private enhanced equipment trust certificates (EETC) a popular financing product used by many large carriers.

DiStefano also brings significant leveraged finance expertise, having represented corporate borrowers and private equity funds in connection with large leveraged acquisitions, high-yield debt offerings, term loan, ABL and revolving credit facilities, and credit facilities secured by capital calls.

In 2012, Clifford Chance’s global aviation finance team advised on 10 Airfinance Journal Deal of the Year transactions twice the number of any other law firm. Clifford Chance also won three aircraft finance-related awards from Jane’s Transport Finance during the same period. The firm has been ranked Tier 1 in Asset Finance for nine consecutive years by Chambers Global, one of the leading independent guides to the legal profession.