Johnlee S Curtis

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.)