Sidanth Rajagopal is an aviation finance lawyer with broad experience in complex cross-border aviation finance matters. He provides key commercial and technical advice throughout the deal cycle, and counsels clients in financing, leasing, purchasing, restructuring, and repossessions for both commercial aircraft (fleet and individual) and business jets. He also advises on capital markets and debt capital market transactions. Sidanth regularly advises on innovative financing structures involving Sharia-compliant aircraft leasing, insurance-backed finance, pre-delivery payment financing, and structuring majority share purchases in AIM-listed entities, setting up funds focused on aviation assets and other aviation business acquisitions.
Although experienced across geographies, Sidanth is widely known for his work in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa representing global clients including emerging and established airlines, leasing companies, private equity investors, and asset financing banks. He is fluent in Hindi and Tamil (India).
Middle East & Africa Law Firm of the Year, Middle East & Africa Finance Aviation 100 Awards (2023)
Middle East & Africa Lease Deal of the Year, Middle East & Africa Finance Aviation 100 Awards (2023)
Recommended, Corporate Finance (Including Islamic Lending), United Arab Emirates, The Legal 500 EMEA (2024)
Legal Advisor of the Year, Airline Economics (2022)
Leading Individual, Transport: Transport Finance and Leasing, The Legal 500 UK (2025)
Next Generation Partner, Transport: Transport Finance and Leasing, The Legal 500 UK (2024)
Next Generation Partner, Finance: Transport Finance and Leasing, The Legal 500 UK (2022)
Recommended, Transport: Aviation, The Legal 500 UK (2022, 2024, 2025)
Recommended, Finance: Securitisation, The Legal 500 UK (2022)
Ranked, Asset Finance: Aviation Finance, Chambers UK (2022–2025)
Notable Practitioner, IFLR1000 (2022)
Leading Lawyer, Aviation, Expert Guides (2014–2022)
Leading Lawyer, Aviation, India Business Law Journal (2015–2018)
Recognized, 40 Under 40, Airline Economics (2018)
Leading Lawyer, Aviation, Asia Law Leading Lawyers (2013)
Leading Lawyer, Aviation, Who’s Who Legal (2012)