Paul Jebely joins Sterlington as vice chair, international

Paul Jebely has joined law firm Sterlington as partner and vice chair, International. 

He is a well-known private aviation lawyer and industry figure. Jebely estimates that he has served as lead counsel on approximately $23bn aircraft transactions and has represented clients holding combined wealth of more than $1trn. Legal ranking publisher Chambers & Partners recently labelled him “the billionaire whisperer” and the “The Top Gun representing UHNW aircraft owners.”

Sterlington was founded in 2016 by Chris Harrison, a mergers and acquisitions specialist, who was formerly at Cravath, Swaine & Moore. The firm includes partners from Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz and other prestigious firms. Jebely will split his time between Asia, the Middle East and North America. 

“I am so excited to be joining Sterlington. You just have to look at the calibre of the other lawyers there. It definitely has some of the best legal minds out there – and me,” said Jebely. 

He leaves Withers where he was a senior equity partner and global head of aviation and marine. Jebely has also been a partner and head of aviation finance and private wealth practices at Clyde & Co and Pillsbury. 

Jebely started his legal career in Toronto before moving to London. As an associate he saw opportunities to advise South African lenders and quickly built a strong practice. He is a Visiting Scholar at The Nelson R. Mandela School of Law in South Africa. Jebely kept many of his South African clients when moved to Hong Kong in 2011 and significantly expanded his Asian and global UHNW client base. 

In his spare time, he founded and is still chair of the Hague Court of Arbitration for Aviation and its Centre for Mediation, which aims to keep aviation disputes out of court where possible.  

“Reports of my ‘retirement’ are exaggerated,” says Jebely, who is in his mid 40s. “My extraordinary clients around the world and my great core team will benefit from working with best-in-class lawyers at one of the world’s most innovative law firms.”