JOHNLEE CURTIS studied business at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, from which he earned an Master of Business Administration; international trade regulations at the World Trade Institute at the University of Bern (Switzerland), from which he holds a Master of International Law and Economics; law at the Stetson University College of Law, from which he earned a Juris Doctor; and Political Science at Furman University, from which he earned a Bachelor of Arts on a full music scholarship. He was also awarded a Ph.D. fellowship from the University of Lucerne (Switzerland), where he taught graduate level law students the regulation of international trade, as a member of the University's faculty of law. Through NCCR:TRADE , a trade-advisory program sponsored by the Swiss government, Mr. Curtis served as an international trade law consultant in coordination with the International Communications and Art Law Lucerne at the University of Lucerne, the Berkman Center at Harvard University, and other centers of research in the field. Thereafter, Mr. Curtis practiced law for several years at a prestigious Miami-based law firm. Over the course of his practice, Mr. Curtis has handled a wide variety of business and asset acquisition deals, as well as disputes in state and federal courts and before international arbitration tribunals. He has served in-house in senior roles for companies serving the aviation industry both private and publically-traded. Johnlee founded Aviation Transaction Advisors, P.A., and focuses on aviation asset sales, purchase, and leasing transactions.
REPRESENTATIVE COMMERCIAL EXPERIENCE
Representing AeroTurbine, Inc. the Florida subsidiary of AerCap (NYSE: AER), a leading commercial aviation asset management company with $240M+ of assets under management for five (5) years, concluding on average $500M of annual commercial transactions, and serving as the company’s SVP of the Legal Department as well as the Assistant Corporate Secretary
Representing a Seller in the sale of twenty-four (24) aircraft engines (worth ~$85M) subject to separate operating leases to separate foreign and domestic operators
Representing a Buyer in the purchase of the beneficial interest in an ownership trust concerning three (3) Boeing aircraft
Representing Seller in a joint-venture type transaction involving the sale of an aircraft engine repair station, licensing access to facility, and consultancy agreements
Representing Lessors in the negotiation of aircraft and aircraft engine leases with flagship carriers
Representing a Seller and Lessor in the lease and sale of an aircraft leased to a foreign operator and negotiating the lease and sales contracts (in-person) with both the counsel for Buyer and the counsel for Seller
Representing a company in the conclusion of a strategic partnership with a major airline
Representing celebrities and high net-worth individuals in connection with the purchase, financing and sale of private planes and helicopters
Representing Buyers, Sellers, and Brokerage Firms in connection with the purchase, financing, and sale of mega-yachts and super-yachts, among which are the 20 largest private vessels in the world
REPRESENTATIVE LITIGATION EXPERIENCE
Luther v. M/V Ouro Do Brasil, et al. (Brief Description: In Rem negligence action brought in federal court arising from damage and personal injury resulting from a vessel’s wake. Result: won a plaintiff's verdict)
El Dorado Trading Corporation (Brief Description: A dispute with Customs and Border Protection over the seizure of gold bars (worth millions of dollars) transported into the United States with inaccurate disclosure documentation. Result: won the release of seized gold with minimal penalties.)
H&R Yacht Service v. M/Y SERQUE (Brief Desciption: An In Rem vessel arrest and action for recovery of labor and material charges incurred in the course of a yacht re-fit project. Result: won a recovery of full claim.)
Addario et al., v. Jupiter Wreck (Brief Description: An action on behalf of the State of Florida to claim rights to certain assets recovered from a shipwreck. Result: successfully asserted the rights of the State of Florida.)
IYC v. Donnick (Brief Description: Litigating an appellate action for attorneys’ fees. Result: reduced the attorney fee award from over $2,500,000 to under $12,000.)
REPRESENTATIVE ARBITRATION/MEDIATION EXPERIENCE
PBYB v. Donnick (Brief Description: Result: won a lucrative arbitration award)
Confidential Client v. Royal Denship AS (Brief Description: Yacht construction dispute. Result: Winning a sizeable award in a case before the Danish Arbitration Institute.)
AeroTurbine, Inc. v. Orient Thai Airline (Brief Description: Lessor aviation asset repossession action in multiple jurisdictions and arbitration in New York before the AAA. Result: successful repossession of assets and collection of claim.)
Practice areas
Languages spoken
French, German, English
Aviation Transaction Advisors, P.A.
1200 Brickell Avenue
Ste. 1950
Miami, FL, 33131
State | Status | Acquired | Updated |
---|---|---|---|
NY | Currently registered | 2016 | 07/09/2022 |
DC | Good Standing | 2008 | 06/08/2022 |
FL | Member in Good Standing | 2007 | 06/01/2022 |
Award name | Grantor | Date Granted |
---|---|---|
Aviation 100 - Lessor of the Year: ILFC | Airline Economics Magazine | 2013 |
Florida Legal Elite - Top Up & Coming Attorneys | Florida Trends Magazine | 2012 |
Ph.D. Fellowship | University of Lucerne | 2005 |
William F. Blews Pro Bono Service Award | Stetson University College of Law | 2004 |
Music Scholarship (4 year) | Furman University | 1998 |
Title | Company name | Duration |
---|---|---|
Shareholder | Aviation Transaction Advisors, P.A. | 2019 - Present |
Senior Director and Counsel | Global Eagle Entertainment, Inc. | 2017 - 2019 |
Vice President, Corporate Counsel | AeroTurbine, Inc. | 2015 - 2017 |
Senior Associate Counsel | AeroTurbine, Inc. | 2013 - 2015 |
Chairman, Art Law Practice Group | Moore & Company, PA | 2007 - 2012 |
Attorney | Moore & Company, P.A. | 2007 - 2012 |
Faculty Member | University of Lucerne | 2005 - 2006 |
International Trade Law Consultant | NCCR (Swiss Government) | 2005 - 2006 |
Holland & Knight, LLP | 2001 - 2001 |
Association name | Position name | Duration |
---|---|---|
LegalArt Miami | Attorney Contributor | 2011 - Present |
The International Seakeepers Society | Attorney | 2010 - Present |
United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit | Member | 2009 - Present |
United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida | Member | 2008 - Present |
United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit | Member | 2008 - Present |
Florida Yacht Broker's Association | Member | 2007 - Present |
American Bar Association, International Law and Practice Section | Member | 2007 - Present |
Customs and International Trade Bar Association | Member | 2007 - Present |
United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida | Member | 2007 - Present |
United States Court of International Trade | Member | 2007 - Present |
American Bar Association | Member | 2007 - Present |
International Communications and Art Law Lucerne | Attorney Contributor | 2006 - Present |
Phi Alpha Delta | Member | 2002 - Present |
Florida Bar Journal | Editorial Board | 2012 - 2014 |
Publication name | Title | Date |
---|---|---|
FYBA COMPASS | The Assistance A Maritime Lawyer Provides In Share Transfer Yacht Transactions | 2012 |
FYBA Compass Magazine | Chartering in Italy and France: Query whether VAT can be avoided | 2010 |
Wynwood: The Art Magazine - The Law of Art and the Art of Law column | A Glance at the Present State of Art Auction Signs and Symbols | 2009 |
Wynwood: The Art Magazine - The Law of Art and the Art of Law column | The Fairey Use Doctrine: A Present Battle in the Legal Wars Arising from Derivative Art | 2009 |
ArtPulse - The Law of Art and the Art of Law column | No Work of Art is Truely "Un-Titled": The Role of Title Insurance in the Art World | 2009 |
Yacht Council | IYC Defeats Motion for 1.79 Million in Attorney’s Fees | 2009 |
South of Fifth Magazine | Global Citizen: Profile on Attorney Johnlee Curtis | 2009 |
FYBA Compass Magazine | New Yacht Ownership Structures in a Changing Ownership Environment | 2008 |
International Journal of Cultural Property | Culture and the Digital Copyright Chimera: Assessing the International Regulatory System of the Music Industry in Relation to Cultural Diversity | 2006 |
School name | Degree | Graduated |
---|---|---|
Northwestern University, Kellogg Graduate School of Management | MBA | 2017 |
Universität Bern - World Trade Institute | Master of International Trade Law & Economics | 2005 |
Stetson University College of Law | JD - Juris Doctor | 2004 |
Furman University | BA - Bachelor of Arts | 2001 |
Conference name | Title | Date |
---|---|---|
Law Clinic for Artists | Art Law | 2011 |
SeminArt | Contracts for Artists | 2011 |
World Trade Forum | International Trade Law | 2005 |
Case name | Outcome |
---|---|
Luther v Ouro Do Brasil, et al. | Plaintiff's Verdict |
El Dorado Trading Corp. | Release of cargo |
Sea Tow Key Biscayne v OSG | Settled |
ArtPulse | |
H&R Yacht Service v. M/Y "SERQUE" | Recovery of Full Amount Sought |
Posted by Cammie
November 8, 2013
Posted by anonymous
June 15, 2012
Posted by anonymous
May 15, 2012
Posted by Richard
May 1, 2012
Blair Brogan, Admiralty and maritime Attorney on Jul 5, 2012
Relationship: Co-worker
I endorse this lawyer.
Jessica Ticktin, Contracts and agreements Attorney on May 15, 2012
Relationship: Worked together on matter
I have known Johnlee Curtis for many years and I am happy to endorse him. We have worked together on projects in the past and I can say from personal experience that he is a very hard-working attorney who truly cares about doing a great job for his clients.
Julie Dick, Admiralty and maritime Attorney on May 15, 2012
Relationship: Worked together on matter
Johnlee Curtis is an absolute pleasure to work with. He is committed to creating high quality work product. Johnlee goes above and beyond to provide helpful advice and put in the extra work that is needed to get a project done well. I worked with Johnlee on maritime and non-profit law matters and I highly recommend him and his work.
Sema Yildirim, Admiralty and maritime Attorney on May 8, 2012
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer. I have known Attorney Curtis for over 10 years. He is dedicated, hard working and committed to doing a good job for his clients.
Stephen Lott, Unknown Attorney on Apr 30, 2012
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I have had the pleasure of working with Johnlee Curtis on a variety of legal matters, and from these experiences I have found that, in addition to being an excellent attorney, Johnlee is also a consummate professional and a true intellectual. His keen understanding of the law, and of a wide variety of related disciplines (art, economics, international trade, etc.), is rivaled only by his shrewd business acumen and practical approach to representing and counseling clients. Moreover, Johnlee is a very genuine and approachable person, someone who inspires trust. In short, Johnlee is a true lawyer's lawyer, and I highly recommend him to anyone seeking stellar legal representation.
Jared Kalmanson, Aviation Attorney on Mar 12, 2011
Relationship: Worked together on matter
As LegalLink Coordinator of LegalArt, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) dedicating itself to providing artists with affordable legal services, grants and educational opportunities, I was fortunate enough to work with Johnlee on a SeminArts "Contracts for Artists" presentation he gave to our members on March 7, 2011. From the time we first spoke on the phone, Johnlee was willing and eager to lend his services to help educate the Miami arts community. Johnlee gave a phenomenal lecture that received rave reviews from all those in attendance. I look forward to working with Mr. Curtis on future projects.
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