Latham Advises West Star Aviation in Combination With Jet East

West Star Aviation (West Star), a portfolio company of The Sterling Group (Sterling), has announced that it has signed a definitive purchase agreement to combine with Jet East in the coming weeks following a shareholder meeting of Jet East's parent company, Gama Aviation Plc. West Star is a leading provider of maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services to the business aviation industry providing maintenance, modification, and other services to aviation customers. Jet East provides MRO services as well and focuses on supporting fractional and managed fleet operators. Capabilities include an expansive 'Aircraft on Ground' (AOG) mobile repair technician network, line maintenance operations, heavy maintenance facilities, and other complementary services.

Latham & Watkins LLP represents West Star Aviation and The Sterling Group in the transaction with a corporate deal team led by Houston partners Bruce Herzog and Nick Dhesi and London partner Douglas Abernethy, with associates Brad Guest and Zach Lippman. Advice was also provided on tax matters by Bay Area partner Katharine Moir, with associate Brian Rogers; on labor matters by Chicago associate Laura Waller; on benefits and compensation matters by New York partner Bradd Williamson and Chicago counsel Leah Segall, with associate Daniel Gocek; on antitrust matters by Washington, D.C. partner Jason Cruise and counsel Patrick English; on data privacy matters by Houston counsel Robert Brown; on sanctions matters by Washington, D.C. partner Joe Bargnesi, with associate Ryan Malo; on environmental, health, and safety matters by Washington, D.C. partner James Barrett, with associates Thomas Pearce and Anna Dykema; on real estate matters by New York counsel Shira Bressler; on intellectual property matters by Washington, D.C. partner Morgan Brubaker, with associate Ryan Clore; and on insurance matters by Los Angeles partner Drew Levin, with associates Hannah Cary and Ryan Kazemaini.