Clyde & Co has poached Ashurst’s head of aviation for Asia, Middle East and Africa Paul Jebely, to launch the Asian arm of the firm’s global aviation finance practice.

Jebely, who will head the Asian group from 11 March 2011, will focus on leasing and financing deals across the region with a particular interest in commercial aviation, business jet and the engine sectors. Additionally, he will also continue to represent a significant number of African lenders and clients.

Prior to his appointment to Clyde & Co, Jebely was a senior associate with Ashurst and head of aviation in Hong Kong and prior to that, worked with Hogan & Hartson in London.

Qualified to practice in the US, Canada and England & Wales, Jebely will be the fifth senior lawyer to join the firm’s global business aviation team.

Concurrent to its Asian launch, Clydes also plans to establish a Middle East aviation practice – to be led from Dubai by business jet specialist Oliver Tebbit, who will relocate from the firm’s London office in April 2011.

Jebley’s appointment is the firm’s third senior lateral hire in Greater China since the beginning of the year. Minter Ellison construction partner Ian Cocking joined Clyde as the head of its China construction group in January, followed by the hire of Michael Cripps as a partner based in the firm’s Shanghai office. Previous to Clydes, Cripps spent five years as Group General Counsel of Insurance Australia Group.ALB 

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