Background

Donald H. Bunker and Associates was established in Dubai in 1994 by Dr. Donald Bunker and is the continuance of a long-established Canadian aviation practice and has grown from a simple organization consisting of Donald Bunker and a secretary to a team of full-time lawyers and office staff, supported by a number of foreign legal, financial and technical associates, practicing aviation law exclusively.

We are able to negotiate an entire legal, financial and technical package, co-ordinating with airframe and engine manufacturers, financial institutions, government support agencies and their respective lawyers. Notable examples include:

• Financing of the initial Rolls Royce powered Boeing 777 fleet for Emirates Airlines including the use of German and Japanese leveraged leases with European agency support;
• United States Eximbank supported financing of a fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft and European agency support financing for a fleet of ATR72s and Airbus A-310 aircraft for Tarom, the Romanian national carrier;
• European agency supported financing of a fleet of Airbus A-330 aircraft for SriLankan Airlines;
• Purchase and lease financing of a fleet of Airbus A-340 aircraft for Air Mauritius;
• Japanese Samurai leases for Air Canada B-747 and B-727 aircraft; and
• Fleet planning assistance to Lithuanian Airlines, the first former Soviet Republic airline to acquire Western aircraft.

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Mission

Our Firm's mission is to provide prompt, comprehensive, affordable and practical legal and financial advice to commercial airlines, corporate aircraft operators, private clients and other related organizations around the world which could not otherwise obtain such services. We work very closely with our clients to provide a tailor-made service and encourage them to consider our Firm an integral part of their management team. Often working in tandem with our clients' in-house lawyers and management, we are able to gain an intimate knowledge of a particular client's business enabling us to keep an eye out for information which might be of relevance or commercial importance and alert them to potential problems that may affect their airline or business. In this way, our clients view us as an extension of their in-house legal team.

Our Firm particularly specializes in providing legal and financial advice to commercial airlines, Heads of State, Government authorities, corporate aircraft operators, private clients and other related organizations worldwide in particular areas of the aviation industry such as the acquisition, financing, leasing and disposition of aviation related equipment and assets including aircraft, engines, spare parts and simulators.

Drawing on years of experience and extensive knowledge of the aviation industry, we are confident of our abilities to meet each client's particular legal requirements in an efficient and cost-effective manner.

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Vision

The original idea was to establish a global aviation law practice using an "open skies" jurisdiction operating as a hub for international air traffic as our Firm's base. Dubai fit the bill perfectly! Conveniently located between Europe and Asia, close to Russia and the other CIS republics and a short hop to the Asia sub-continent and Africa with good connections to North America, Dubai has established itself as the pre-eminent communications and commercial center of the Middle East. Over one hundred airlines regularly use Dubai and the other emirates. With its considerable investment in infrastructure to support the aviation industry, Dubai's drive to encourage entrepreneurship, commerce is expected to continue to grow exponentially.

While capitalizing on the many benefits that Dubai has to offer, our Firm is committed to playing an active role in the development of Dubai, the Middle East generally and the aviation industry worldwide.

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Donald Bunker

The late Dr. Donald Bunker was the founding partner of Donald H. Bunker and Associates.

Dr. Bunker’s legal career spanned over 50 years, during the majority of which he specialized in international, commercial and aerospace law representing clients such as the Royal Bank of Canada, Air Canada, Emirates, Air Mauritius, Wardair, Tarom Romanian Airlines, Aeroflot, International Lease Finance Corporation, Bank of Montreal, Quebecair, Lithuanian Airlines and many other well-known financial institutions, airlines, leasing companies and manufacturers, Heads of States, Government authorities, corporate aircraft operators and private clients.

Dr. Bunker served as a Professor of Law at the McGill University of Air and Space Law teaching aviation finance law and frequently gave aviation finance lectures at IATA in Montreal and Geneva. He also was a regular guest lecturer at various conferences and institutions and was a director on the boards of many companies including Airclaims International Inc. and Volvo Canada Ltd.

Dr. Bunker graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Economics) (1968, Concordia University (then Sir George William’s University)) and went on to attain a Bachelor of Civil Law (1971, McGill University), a Masters of Law (1985, McGill University) and a Doctor of Civil Law (aerospace finance law) (1986, McGill University).

He was admitted to the Quebec Bas Association and was a member of numerous professional bodies including the International Institute of Space Law, McGill University of Air and Space Law Association (Past President), the Academy of Transport of Russia, The Royal Aeronautical Society (Fellow) and the American and International Bar Associations.

Dr. Bunker published numerous books and articles with respect to aerospace finance and insurance law and economics including The Law of Aerospace Finance in Canada, and International Aircraft Financing published by IATA.

Sadly, Dr. Bunker passed away on 25 January 2018 and the firm is committed to continuing his legacy.

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Ian Veall

Ian Veall is the Managing Partner of Donald H. Bunker and Associates.

Prior to joining the firm in 1997, Ian headed the corporate/commercial department of a City of London firm based in Dubai and has since focused his practice on corporate aircraft operations. He represents national and international corporate aircraft operators and private individuals in aviation matters involving, amongst other things, the management, operating and chartering of corporate aircraft, fractional ownership programs, the acquisition, financing, and disposition of aviation related equipment and assets, including aircraft (fixed wing and rotary), engines and spare parts.

REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE

• Drafting and negotiating sale and purchase agreements and ancillary documents for commercial airlines, corporate aircraft operators and private clients in connection with the acquisition of new and used, commercial and corporate aircraft (including Boeing, Airbus, Embraer, Bombardier, Gulfstream, AgustaWestland, Bell Helicopter, Eurocopter, Kazan, ATR and Pilatus equipment).
• Structuring financing transactions for private clients in connection with the acquisition of new and used corporate aircraft and related equipment.
• Representing corporate aircraft operators in connection with aircraft finance related security documentation such as tripartite agreements, coordination agreements, assignments of insurance and security assignments.
• Drafting and negotiating 'Ad-hoc', 'Block' charter and aircraft management agreements for corporate aircraft operators and private clients.
• Advising corporate aircraft operators and airports in connection with Fixed Base Operations (FBO) agreements.
• Representing corporate aircraft operators and private clients in connection with aircraft fractional ownership programs.
• Advising aircraft operators in connection with Search and Rescue (SAR) and Medevac agreements.
• Advising corporate aircraft operators in connection with regulatory issues including cabotage and aircraft registration.
• Advising clients in connection with airport construction, concession and ground handling agreements and hangar leases.
• Representing Heads of State and VIP aircraft operators in connection with interior completion agreements.
• Advising Government authorities in connection with Air Traffic Control (ATC) agreements.
• Acting as escrow agent of funds and documents for aircraft transactions.

EDUCATION

• The College of Law
  1993, Law Society's Finals' Course
• University College of Wales, Aberystwyth
  1992, Bachelor of Law (with distinction)
• University of Toronto
  1989, Master of Arts, Arab Studies
  1988, Bachelor of Arts, Middle East and Islamic Studies
• Kuwait University
  1986, Diploma in Introductory and Intermediate Level Modern Standard Arabic

ADMISSIONS

Solicitor, England & Wales

MEMBERSHIP OF PROFESSIONAL BODIES

• Law Society of England and Wales

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Christine Veall

Christine Veall is a partner of Donald H. Bunker and Associates.

Since joining the Firm in 1996, Christine’s practice has focused primarily on advising commercial airlines and Heads of State in aviation matters involving, amongst other things, the acquisition, financing, leasing and disposition of aviation related equipment and assets, including aircraft, engines and spare parts.

REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE

• Representing commercial airlines in connection with Government supported and non-Government supported financing transactions for the acquisition of new aircraft and related equipment.
• Representing commercial airlines in connection with sale and leaseback transactions involving multiple aircraft and related equipment and multiple aircraft engines.
• Representing Heads of State in connection with the acquisition and VVIP interior completion of new aircraft and the disposition of aircraft, engines and spare parts.
• Structuring financing transactions for commercial airlines and private clients in connection with the acquisition of new and used commercial and corporate aircraft and related equipment.
• Drafting and negotiating sale and purchase agreements and ancillary documents for commercial airlines and private clients in connection with the acquisition of new and used commercial and corporate aircraft.
• Representing commercial airlines in connection with aircraft operating lease agreements and wet lease agreements.
• Representing commercial airlines and private clients in connection with technical services agreements, maintenance services agreements, personnel lease agreements, and pilots’ employment contracts to support the maintenance and operation of commercial and corporate aircraft.
• Representing corporate aircraft operators in connection with aircraft finance related security documentation such as coordination agreements and tripartite agreements.
• Representing commercial airlines, corporate aircraft operators and private clients in connection with regulatory matters involving the General Civil Aviation Authority of the United Arab Emirates.
• Acting as escrow agent of funds and documents for aircraft transactions.

EDUCATION

• The College of Law
  1993, Law Society’s Finals’ Course
• University College of Wales, Aberystwyth
  1992, Bachelor of Law (with distinction)
• University of Guelph
  1990, Bachelor of Science

ADMISSIONS

Solicitor, England & Wales

MEMBERSHIP OF PROFESSIONAL BODIES

Law Society of England and Wales

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News

We are pleased to announce the renewal of the affiliation between Donald H. Bunker and Associates and Sarin & Co..
Sarin & Co. was established in Chandigarh, India in 1932 and is one of the only law firms in India to provide complete aviation law services to airlines, aircraft lessors, aircraft lessees and Governments. The affiliation between Donald H. Bunker and Associates and Sarin & Co. became effective on 20 August 2011 and has enabled clients in India and the Arabian Gulf to benefit from the combined expertise and resources of both firms.

Print this page25 Nov 13