Bio

Kevin Lewis serves as co-leader of Sidley’s Aviation and Airlines industry team, co-leader of the firm’s Transportation practice, and former co-managing partner of the firm’s Houston office. Kevin has established a national reputation as a highly experienced corporate lawyer with a multifaceted practice built around corporate governance, M&A, capital markets and all manner of transactions, focusing on the aviation, other transportation and energy industries. Kevin’s practice has recently focused on transactions furthering sustainable air and surface transportation, as well as governance matters relating to ESG issues. Building on more than 35 years of experience advising the aviation industry, Kevin represents several major airlines in corporate venture capital investments, ESG initiatives, M&A transactions, loyalty transactions, joint venture and alliance transactions, and in all aspects of the regional airline segment, including spinoffs, mergers and acquisitions, capacity purchase and similar agreements, and dispute resolution. Kevin has represented aircraft engine and avionics manufacturers and other industry participants. Kevin’s work in the aviation industry has been recognized by a variety of publications. In 2021, his work with airlines was recognized by the Financial Times with their “Innovation in Sustainability and ESG” award. Texas Lawyer also named him to its 2020 “Texas Trailblazer” list, citing his involvement on “precedent-setting transactions that have helped shape the aviation industry.” In a recent publication, the chief legal officer of one of the world’s largest airlines praised Kevin’s industry acumen, saying “Kevin is a great lawyer who knows the airline industry better than just about any other lawyer.” Kevin is also an experienced corporate governance lawyer, representing boards of directors, audit committees, and special committees, as well as public companies across multiple industries. Kevin has also represented public and private companies in various M&A, project development, and joint venture transactions, as well as team owners in transactions in Major League Baseball and the National Football League. Kevin is widely recognized for his work. He was named a “Transportation MVP” by Law360 (2023), and has been included or ranked in The Best Lawyers in America in the areas of Corporate Law; International Trade and Finance Law; Corporate Governance Law; and Compliance Law (2006–2022). He is also listed in The Legal 500 U.S. in the areas of Capital Markets: Equity Offerings (2012 and 2013) and Capital Markets: Debt Offerings (2013 and 2014). Kevin has been named to Euromoney’s Expert Guide to World’s Leading Banking, Finance & Transactional Lawyers in Structured Finance and Securitization (2004, 2007, and 2009), and Euromoney’s Expert Guide to World’s Leading Structured Finance and Securitization Lawyers (2004, 2009, and 2012). Super Lawyers includes Kevin in its Texas directory (2005–2018), and he has been selected for The International Who’s Who of Capital Markets Lawyers (2010) and Who’s Who Legal: Texas for his Capital Markets Law practice (2007, 2008, and 2018). In addition to practicing in Houston, Kevin practiced for many years in Singapore and New York City.