Amy Karnikian

Counsel

Overview

Amy Karnikian is a seasoned aviation attorney and serves as counsel in the Aviation Group. Amy’s practice focuses on business and commercial aircraft, general aviation transactions, aviation regulatory compliance, and advising clients on emerging technologies such as unmanned aircraft systems (Drone/UAS) and electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.

She advises high-net-worth individuals, Fortune 500 corporate flight departments, and airlines on operating structure matters such as leasing, timeshare and fractional ownership agreements, and the sale and purchase of aircraft. Amy also advises investors on the regulatory impact of investment in aviation-related businesses or those that own and/or operate aircraft.

Amy previously served as senior associate at a major law firm, where her practice focused on commercial aircraft sales, leasing, finance, restructuring, and a variety of other cross-border transactions. Her clientele included aircraft lessors, financial institutions, and airlines. During her tenure at that firm, she led the negotiations of high value sale-leaseback and financing transactions spanning various jurisdictions, aircraft maintenance contracts with OEMs and MROs, lease novations in connection with sale and purchase transactions, and various other corporate and transactional matters in the aviation space.

In addition to her work at that firm, Amy spent a year as a secondee at Amazon, where she supported the Global Amazon Air cargo business on a wide range of matters.

Amy earned her J.D. with a concentration in Corporate Law from Loyola Law School of Los Angeles and her B.A. in Global and International Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Prior to her legal career, she worked for a leading aircraft lessor, where her passion for aviation took root.

Career & Education

|
    • University of California, Santa Barbara, B.A., Global and International Studies
    • LMU Loyola Law School, J.D., Corporate Law
    • University of California, Santa Barbara, B.A., Global and International Studies
    • LMU Loyola Law School, J.D., Corporate Law
    • California
    • California
    • Armenian Women’s Bar Association, Executive Committee (2023-Present)
    • ABA Forum on Air & Space Law, Member
    • International Aviation Womens Association, Member
    • Armenian Women’s Bar Association, Executive Committee (2023-Present)
    • ABA Forum on Air & Space Law, Member
    • International Aviation Womens Association, Member
    • Armenian
    • Armenian

Representative Matters

  • Representation of a Fortune 500 company in the sale of multiple aircraft
  • Representation of private equity client in conducting due diligence and counseling related to the acquisition of an aviation-related business
  • Representation of a private equity firm in connection with a multi-tranche, two-currency bridge facility to finance helicopter purchases and a corporate loan
  • Representation of an aircraft lessor in connection with its bid to acquire full aircraft portfolio of a competitor, including initial due diligence and negotiation of purchase agreements and lease transfers
  • Representation of an aircraft lessor in connection with the sale-leaseback and financing of new Airbus aircraft to a Japanese airline
  • Representation of a helicopter lessor and its affiliates as special aviation counsel in connection with its Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, including the sale of approximately 125 helicopters on lease to different lessees in various jurisdictions