He is co-chair of both the General Equipment Finance and Business Jet Finance sub-practice groups, and has almost 40 years of experience representing bank-affiliated, captive and independent financing providers and investors, as well as lessees and borrowers. in all aspects of aviation and other equipment finance transactions, including documenting, structuring, negotiating, syndicating and enforcing these transactions.

Mr. Gross handles all types of equipment finance matters and structures, including true/ tax motivated leases, synthetic leases, TRAC leases, equipment financing agreements, loans and other secured financings and “bundled” and other vendor-originated financings. He has significant experience with a wide spectrum of asset types, including transportation, trucks and trailers, manufacturing, logistics, construction, energy, medical/health-related and high-tech equipment, modular units and fixtures.

Mr. Gross is considered an industry leader regarding the leasing and financing of all types of aviation assets, including fixed wing aircraft, helicopters and engine pools. Clients include market-leading aircraft and helicopter financing providers, investors and operating lessors, as well as large publicly or privately held businesses, governmental entities or high-net-worth individual lessees and borrowers.

The business aircraft financed in these transactions include jets and turbo-prop aircraft operated primarily for the customer’s business purposes, or for  transportation services including chartering, or pursuant to fractional or “pay card” arrangements. The financed helicopters are typically operated in various service capacities (e.g., air ambulances, oil and gas service, fire suppression, hauling, etc.) or for VIP, business or other transportation purposes. These aircraft and helicopter financings vary in structure and include domestic and multi-jurisdictional tax and non-tax leases, operating leases and secured loan financings, involving progress payment, completion and other multi-funding structures.  The structures of these transactions typically involve multiple counter-parties, including citizenship and other trusts, management companies, maintenance program providers and affiliated and unaffiliated users of the aircraft and the manufacturer or other seller.

Many clients rely on Mr. Gross and Vedder Price’s Capital Markets team as lead counsel on securitizations of diverse asset classes, and he regularly assists clients with a broad spectrum of other capital markets transactions, including large portfolio purchases, “one-off” sales and assignments, discounting, back-leveraging and participation transactions. Mr. Gross has also prepared lease, loan and syndication forms for many of the most active financing providers in the industry. Working with Vedder Price’s well-regarded bankruptcy and creditors’ rights practice, Mr. Gross has assisted financing providers, including various creditor groups, with workout, restructuring, bankruptcy and enforcement matters.

Mr. Gross has been selected for inclusion in numerous editions of Who's Who Legal’s The International Who's Who of Aviation Lawyers. Mr. Gross has been ranked Band 1 in Private Aircraft (global-wide)(2016-2022) in Chambers High Net Worth, which recognizes the world’s leading high net worth advisers. In addition, in 2013 Mr. Gross was ranked in Chambers USA in the Nationwide Banking & Finance: Equipment Finance & Leasing category. He was selected by his peers for inclusion in Washington DC Super Lawyers (2007–2022) and The Best Lawyers in America (2007–2022) in the field of Equipment Finance Law. A client respondent in Airfinance Journal’s 2011 Guide to Aviation Lawyers mentions, “Vedder Price can turn a deal in a day or two if necessary. Ed Gross is our go to person for time-sensitive matters.” He was also recognized among the world’s leading aviation attorneys by Euromoney Legal Media Group’s Expert Guides from 2013 to 2021.

Mr. Gross was elected as Fellow to the American College of Commercial Finance Lawyers in 2011, and elected as Regent to the College in 2012. He has been recognized by the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA), receiving the Distinguished Service Award in 2008 and ELFA’s Legal Committee Edward A. Groobert Excellence in Leasing Award in 2011. He was invited to participate as an industry observer in the drafting of the Amendments to the Uniform Commercial Code, which amendments were approved by the Uniform Laws Committee in July 2022 for enactment in the states, and include revisions contributed by Mr. Gross relating to chattel paper collateral and hybrid (“bundled”) leases. 

Mr. Gross obtained his B.A. from the University of Maryland and his J.D. from the University of Baltimore School of Law.