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Aviation Litigation and Regulation

Our aviation lawyers provide clients with cost-effective guidance and support for their businesses aligned to commercial objectives and business protection requirements. 

This industry is constantly evolving, requiring the latest legal knowledge while often also being cross-border. African and multinational clients turn to us for our vast experience and resources, addressing issues from financing and acquisitions to local registrations, regulatory compliance, arbitration and litigation.  

Local insight, global reach: with lawyers in 20 African countries, our teams understand local practices and the political, cultural and legal frameworks involved in doing business in the region, helping speed up resolution and avoiding potentially costly litigation. 

This on-the-ground presence is backed by a global Africa team of more than 200 lawyers in Johannesburg, Casablanca, London, New York, Paris, Dubai, Perth, Hong Kong and Beijing. 

Drawing on the global resources of one of the world’s biggest law firms, we provide a fully integrated business legal service across multiple jurisdictions. Our lawyers have been closely involved with many of the significant issues the aviation industry has faced in the last 20 years and continue to advise on the challenges ahead. 

Key capabilities include: 

  • defending death and injury claims wherever clients do business
  • complex commercial litigation as well as mediation and other alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methods to resolve disputes without the expense of litigation
  • emergency assistance to airlines in the immediate aftermath of an accident
  • inquests, criminal investigations and public enquiries
  • contribution claims by way of subrogation or otherwise to recover losses incurred by an airline, manufacturer or aviation service provider
  • defending claims involving bodily injury, delay, loss, damage or delay to baggage, disabled passengers or those with reduced mobility pursuant to the Montreal Convention 1999 and Regulation 261/04 and Regulation 1107/06, including liaising with regulatory bodies
  • providing guidance on incorporating specific dispute resolution, arbitration, choice of law and jurisdiction clauses in commercial agreements
  • regulatory issues
  • local registrations, filings and tax; corporate registries, courts and civil aviation authorities
  • cross-border and domestic purchase, sale, finance and leasing for aircraft, equipment and engines
  • infrastructure and airports: development, financing, acquisition, delivery, commissioning, operations 

Please contact us to discuss how we can help you to achieve your objectives.