Our International Aviation Group works as one team across our 23 office network and gives expert advice on all the specialist legal issues that arise across the whole of the aviation and aerospace sector.
For more information, please see our Aviation Capability brochure.
Our areas of expertise include:
Aircraft Financing & Leasing
We have practical hands-on understanding of the specific regulatory, technology and business issues important to the aviation sector. We provide expert legal advice on all aspects of aircraft asset management from the first draft of the letter of intent, through delivery and portfolio management and work out, insolvency, repossession and remarketing. We are interested in working on deals where our sector understanding and commercial experience in the industry adds value. We work with our clients in a practical way with a view to achieving commercial solutions rather than “just” providing the correct legal advice.
For more information, please see our Aircraft Financing and leasing flyer and Aircraft Financing and crediantials.
Airlines
Our specialist team deals with the broad range of issues in this area, including the establishment of new airlines and relationships with applicable aviation authorities, airline licensing, ownership and control issues, traffic rights issues, slot swap arrangements and negotiation with airport slot coordinators, and competition and regulatory issues including in respect of economic regimes arising in relation to airports.
For more information, please see our Airlines flyer and Airlines credentials.
Airports
The business of an airport covers many different commercial aspects. Whilst the comprehensive experience of the lawyers who make up our Aviation Department makes the firm well suited to advise airports on industry specific issues, we will also cover within the firm matters (e.g. outsourcing, property, IT) which do not directly relate to the aviation industry.
For more information, please see our Airport Credentials flyer.
Corporate Aviation
Corporate, business and private aviation is an established segment of the aviation industry with great growth potential. We have considerable experience in this segment acting for sellers or buyers in the sale and purchase of aircraft, structuring transactions through tax efficient ownership and management structures, acting for lessors or lessees in leasing transactions, and putting in place the contractual and other arrangements which will allow an owner to generate income from chartering the aircraft to third parties, income which can help to off set the costs of ownership.
For more information, please see our Corporate and Private Aviation flyer and Corporate and Private Aviation credentials.
Product Liability
Product liability claims are increasing throughout the world including in the aviation & aerospace sector. This is true for product manufacturers, B2C and B2B retailers, and all intermediaries, including distributors, suppliers, retailers and importers, all of whom are exposed to a range of product liability risks from faults in delivered products.
For more information, please see our Product Liability in the Aviation Sector flyer.
Tour Operators
We are fully conversant with industry specific legislation affecting tour operators and travel agents. We can add value for clients in relation to re3gulatory issues arising in the Civil Aviation Authority and in respect of booking conditions and other contractual documentation. We have long and detailed experience in advising on all the difficult questions which arise when a major player goes out of business.
Heads of Group: Catherine Erkelens & Paul Briggs