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  1. Our capabilities
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Aerospace and defense

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We work with leading defense companies, government bodies and regulators on a wide range of legal services that are unique to the sector.

Our global defense sector group covers all key markets around the world. We have a complete understanding of the industry’s challenges and opportunities, and combine detailed knowledge of the sector with deep technical skills in areas such as M&A, regulatory and antitrust, IP, cyber and AI.

Defense companies face change driven by new technologies, evolving business models, cyber threats, export controls, geopolitical disruptions, and significant regulatory and public/ESG scrutiny. 

We guide and support governments and private sector defense clients through their complex transformations by adeptly navigating all legal and commercial challenges that arise, including transactional, regulatory, investigation and litigation work.  

The areas we cover include, among others, M&A, including combinations and divestments, FDI, sanctions, antitrust, cyber, IP/AI, tech collaboration and corporate ventures, ESG, dispute resolution, shareholder and NGO activism, and risk and crisis management. We have great experience in navigating the (cross-border) distribution of sensitive technology in compliance with international regulations.

We have a long history of successful delivery within this specialised domain. Working with us is a strategic alliance that promises not only legal acumen but a profound understanding of the defense sector's complexities.

Related capabilities

Antitrust and competition
Artificial intelligence
Data, privacy and cyber security
ESG risk and advisory
Industrials
Intellectual property
Mergers and acquisitions
Public procurement
Sanctions
National Security

Highlight experience

Highlight experience

Feb 18 2026

Freshfields Advises Onodrim Industries on Seed Funding

Global law firm Freshfields is advising Onodrim Industries, an Amsterdam-based European defense technology company, on its €40 million seed funding. The round was led by Founders Fund, Lakestar, and General Catalyst, with participation from leading funds and angels across Europe and the US. Onodrim Industries is a European defense and industrial technology platform developing the next generation of hardware, software, and industrial capacity required for Europe's long-term security, resilience, and prosperity.

Oct 24 2025

Freshfields advises Leonardo on signing MoU with Thales and Airbus to create a European leader in the space sector

Global law firm Freshfields assisted Leonardo in the signing of a memorandum of understanding with Thales and Airbus for the creation of a European leader in the space sector.

Aug 4 2025

Freshfields assisted Iveco Group in the sale of Iveco Defence to Leonardo

Global law firm Freshfields assisted Iveco Group in the agreement to sell Iveco Defence to Leonardo for Euro 1.7bn.

Jul 16 2025

Freshfields advises AST SpaceMobile on its joint venture with Vodafone

Global law firm Freshfields is advising AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (“AST SpaceMobile”) on its joint venture with the Vodafone Group (“Vodafone”). The new joint venture company, SatCo, is headquartered in Luxembourg and will exclusively distribute AST SpaceMobile’s satellite services to European mobile network operators under a single turnkey arrangement.

Apr 3 2025

Freshfields Advises Leggett & Platt on Sale of its Aerospace Products Group to Tinicum

Freshfields advised Leggett & Platt, Incorporated (NYSE: LEG), on its US $285m sale of its Aerospace Products Group to funds managed by Tinicum Incorporated, a U.S.-based private investment firm.

Dec 19 2024

Freshfields advises BAE Systems on landmark joint venture to deliver next generation combat aircraft

Global law firm Freshfields is advising BAE Systems plc on its strategic business joint venture with Leonardo and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement Co Ltd (“JAIEC”) to form a new company to deliver the next generation combat aircraft under the Global Combat Air Programme (“GCAP”).

Feb 9 2024

Freshfields advises BAE Systems on Air Astana IPO

Freshfields advised BAE Systems on Air Astana's US$847M IPO, listing shares & GDRs on London, Astana, and Kazakhstan exchanges. This marked the first LSE Main Market IPO of 2024.

Contacts

Meet the team
San Francisco

Beth George

Partner
Washington, DC, Silicon Valley

Brock Dahl

Partner
London

Piers Prichard Jones

Partner
Brussels

Deborah Janssens

Partner, Global Co-Head of Industrials
Munich, Düsseldorf

Stephan Waldhausen

Partner, Global Co-Head of Industrials
Milan

Nicola Asti

Partner
London

Kate Gough

Partner
Paris

Guillemette Burgala

Partner
Paris

Charlotte Colin-Dubuisson

Partner
Paris

Alexandra van der Meulen

Partner
Washington, DC

Nathan Castellano

Counsel
Meet the team

Our thinking

Our thinking

Mar 13 2026

Building a Stronger Europe: Why a Unified Defence Market Matters Now

The European Commission is spearheading an initiative to forge a Defence Single Market. This comes at a critical time, with Europe's security...

Feb 25 2026

Investing in the German Defence Sector: Turbo-charging the armed forces – Germany's new act to accelerate Bundeswehr procurement

In the wake of Zeitenwende, Germany is accelerating its defence procurement system to respond to a significantly increased demand for...
Feb 19 2026

Munich Security Conference 2026 – The battle for advantage: Defence, capital and control in a contested world

Defence has always sat at the heart of state power. What is changing is how that power is built, financed and deployed – through...

Feb 16 2026

Freshfields side event at the Munich Security Conference: “In defense tech, Europe should aspire to become a global player.”

On the eve of the Munich Security Conference, global law firm Freshfields once again hosted a high-profile panel discussion exploring the implications of the current geopolitical landscape for business and defense.

Jan 19 2026

Investing in the German Defence Sector - Investment Control Law: Stricter Scrutiny in the Era of the ‘Zeitenwende’

For investors in the German defence sector, foreign direct investment (FDI) control proceedings pose one of the most significant hurdles...
Jan 5 2026

AI Supply Chain and Security: Congress Mandates Strict Controls for AI acquired by the U.S. Defense Agencies and Intelligence Community

For companies interested in selling AI to U.S. defense and intelligence agencies, the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)...
Dec 3 2025

Investing in the German Defence Sector – BMWE Releases Guidance on Drones and Loitering Munitions

This week, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) released an official guidance paper (Merkblatt) on the...
Nov 25 2025

UK Gov launches consultation on an offsets regime for the defence sector: time to have your say.

On 23 October 2025, the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) launched an open consultation seeking views from the market on a potential new...
Nov 21 2025

Investing in the German Defence Sector – Regulatory Challenges and Opportunities

In this new blog series, we explore key regulatory opportunities and challenges shaping investments in the German and European defence...
Jun 27 2025

Defence Tech M&A – Key Legal Insights in a High Stakes Market

This blog provides a high-level overview of legal due diligence considerations for investors considering investing in the defence...
Jun 26 2025

Armed for opportunity: navigating investment and compliance in the Dutch defence sector

While public defence spending is set to rise significantly, increased private sector involvement is also being encouraged. In this blog,...
Blog
Jun 24 2025

Roadmap for EU Defence Consolidation: Guidance on M&A and State aid in the EU Commission’s Defence Readiness Omnibus

The European Commission (EC) recently unveiled its Defence Readiness Omnibus (the Omnibus), an initiative designed to reduce regulatory...
Blog
Jun 6 2025

The UK’s Strategic Defence Review 2025: Risks, Readiness & Regulatory considerations

In the context of increasing global instability the UK’s Strategic Defence Review (SDR), published this week, highlights the UK...
Blog
Apr 29 2025

New EU Regulation on defence-related investments - EU opens up additional funds for defence investments

Last week, the European Commission (EC) published its draft proposal for a Regulation aimed at incentivising defence-related investments...
Blog
Mar 24 2025

REARM Europe: Antitrust considerations following the White Paper on Defence

Europe finds itself at a pivotal moment, simultaneously affected by both war and an international order undergoing significant change. ...
Blog
Sep 18 2024

The European Defence Industry Programme: key takeaways for businesses

The defence sector has never been more important for the European Union. The war in Ukraine has led to a heightened sense of urgency...
Blog collection
Jan 22 2025

Sustainability

Related capabilities

Antitrust and competitionArtificial intelligenceData, privacy and cyber securityESG risk and advisoryIndustrialsIntellectual propertyMergers and acquisitionsPublic procurementSanctions
Related capabilities
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