Vedder Price announced that Dean N. Gerber, longtime Global Transportation Finance shareholder, board and Executive Committee member, will depart the firm in April 2019 to become general counsel of ORIX Aviation, an Aircraft Lessor, aviation investor and aircraft asset manager. Gerber has represented and counseled ORIX Aviation on a variety of legal matters at Vedder Price.

Gerber joined Vedder Price in 1991 and is regarded as one of the top aviation lawyers in the world. Under his leadership as chair of the Global Transportation Finance team, the firm’s commercial aviation finance practice achieved global recognition and prominence and has been noted by Chambers Global as one of the top law firms for Asset Finance in the world.

In addition to his extensive practice representing lessees, equity participants, lenders, credit enhancers, underwriters, governmental agencies and others on various aspects of aircraft finance, Gerber has helped shape the firm as a member of its management team. He helped to build out the firm’s international offices in London and Singapore by recruiting and retaining top talent while also providing high level leadership and support for the firm’s long-term strategies.

Gerber has been a frequent writer and speaker at industry seminars, air finance conferences and legal forums. Among his many accolades, he was selected annually by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America since 2008 and was inducted into the inaugural Legal 500 US Hall of Fame in 2017.

“I have been privileged to work with the talented and dedicated attorneys of Vedder Price for the last 28 years,” said Gerber. “We built a practice that defined the equipment finance field in a way that no other law firm has done. I’m proud of the work the team has accomplished, the clients we have served and the reputation we have created, and look forward to providing the same quality service as General Counsel of ORIX.”

“Our Global Transportation Finance team would not be the renowned international practice it is today without Dean’s leadership and business acumen,” said Michael A. Nemeroff, president and CEO of Vedder Price. “He has been an extraordinary colleague and we are grateful for his service to the firm, his unparalleled integrity and his commitment to teamwork, as well as his world-class abilities as an aviation lawyer. We wish him all the best in his new endeavor at ORIX.”