HFW > Brussels, Belgium > Firm Profile
HFW Offices
BLUE TOWER
AVENUE LOUISE 326
1050 BRUSSELS
Belgium
HFW > The Legal 500 Rankings
Belgium > Aviation Tier 1
At HFW, the aviation practice spans the four main areas finance and leasing, commercial, regulatory as well as insurance and claims. Constituting a popular choice for airlines and insurers, the group fields strong ties to the French market, in part due to practice head Pierre Frühling splitting his time between the firm’s Brussels and Paris offices. Alix d’Arjuzon, who was promoted to counsel in April 2023, is noted for her focus on environmental matters alongside capabilities relating to commercial and regulatory issues.Practice head(s):
Pierre Frühling
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘In our experience, for legal services people and collaboration makes difference and HFW Belgium is excellent in that respect. Of course, competence and up-to-date knowledge are also excellent.’
‘Pierre Frühling is great lawyer, very competent, total aviation person. But most of all, Pierre has a great personality, always ready to find solutions and willing to help. He will always put the client relationship first.’
‘Excellent results.’
‘Pierre Frühling has an excellent level of expertise in the aviation sector. His knowledge of the matters and his close monitoring of the cases with clients makes a difference.’
Key clients
Aeromexico
Air Arabia
Air Canada
Air Corsica
Allianz AGCS
All Nippon Airways
AXA XL
Azul
Brussels Airlines
Cargolux
Cathay Pacific
CMA CGM
Croatia Airlines
Delta Air Lines
Delvag
El Al
Global Aerospace
Hi Fly
Jung Skies Croatia
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
Korean Air
La Réunion Aérienne
Liege Airport
Luxaviation – Abelag
Pegasus
Latam
Saudia
Swissport
Vietnam Airlines
Wizz Air
Work highlights
- Represented Liege Airport in several regulatory and contentious matters.
- Advised Delta Air Lines on several Belgian regulatory issues, including new Belgian tax schemes and noise issues.
- Represented Brussels Airlines and its insurer Allianz in several passenger claims.
France > Aviation
HFW specialises in transactions, regulatory work, and dispute resolution in the aviation sector. The firm frequently represents parties in cross-border matters, particularly in relation to the African market, while also fielding in-depth experience in advisory work relating to state aid, financing, and competition law. Paris and Brussels-based Pierre Frühling, who is a popular choice for airlines and insurers in non-contentious as well as dispute matters, leads the team together with aviation liability specialist Jean-Baptiste Charles. Alix d’Arjuzon fields a broad aviation practice with a focus on work pertaining to environmental issues.Practice head(s):
Pierre Frühling; Jean-Baptiste Charles
Other key lawyers:
Alix d’Arjuzon
Key clients
Aeromexico
AIG (UK)
Air Corsica
Aircalin
Allianz AGCS
All Nippon Airways
Arkia Israeli Airlines
AXA XL
Azul
Blade Urban Air Mobility
Camair Cameroun Airlines
Cargo Air
Cathay Pacific
Channel Jets
CMA CGM
Corsair
Croatia Airlines
Delta Air Lines
Delvag
El Al
Global Aerospace
Goshawk (SMBC)
Hi Fly
Jung Skies Croatia
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
Korean Air
La Réunion Aérienne
Madagascar Airlines
Mont Blanc Hélicoptères/HBG Group
Latam
Saudia
Sirius Aviation Capital
Swissport
Vietnam Airlines
Wizz Air
Work highlights
- Advised Air Corsica in its bid with Air France for the 2024-2028 Public Service Obligations routes between Corsica and the French mainland.
- Defended an international product and equipment supplier in court proceedings (launched by the relatives of deceased passengers) before French courts in relation to the crash of an aircraft.
- Advised Brazilian airline Azul on launching operations in France.
France > Aviation finance
The aviation finance expertise at HFW spans business aviation as much as commercial, with the firm’s client portfolio consisting of a wide variety of companies such as airlines, airports and insurers. Fleet restructuring and insolvency matters form part of the group’s advisory capabilities under the leadership of Pierre Frühling, an experienced aviation lawyer whose know-how ranges from transactional work to regulatory and litigation. Alix d’Arjuzon was appointed to Counsel in April 2023 and has a specialisation in environmental matters in relation to the aviation industry.Practice head(s):
Pierre Frühling
Other key lawyers:
Alix d’Arjuzon
Testimonials
‘HFW are very pragmatic in their approach. The cooperation with us and the counterparty was very good. Sufficient availability of partner and expertise in various fields.’
Key clients
Aeromexico
AIG
Air Corsica
Aircalin
Allianz AGCS
All Nippon Airways
Arkia Israeli Airlines
AXA XL
Azul
Blade Urban Air Mobility
Camair Cameroun Airlines
Cargo Air
Cathay Pacific
Channel Jets
CMA CGM
Corsair
Croatia Airlines
Delta Air Lines
Delvag
El Al
Global Aerospace
Goshawk (SMBC)
Hi Fly
Jung Skies Croatia
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
Korean Air
La Réunion Aérienne
Luxaviation
Madagascar Airlines
Mont Blanc Hélicoptères/HBG Group
Latam
Saudia
Sirius Aviation Capital
Vietnam Airlines
Wizz Air
Work highlights
- Advised Air Corsica on the modernisation of its fleet, consisting of buying and leasing a fleet of new generation Airbus A320neos, as well as a large batch of ATR-72 XT “green” aircraft.
- Represented the lessor Goshawk in the insolvency proceedings of Lion Air before the commercial court of Paris.
- Advised Blade Urban on entering into its large-scale cooperation agreement with Héli Sécurité (France) and French operator Monacair (Monaco), covering the fleet of the 3 operators and integrating the distribution systems into Blade Urban.
HFW > Firm Profile
The firm: HFW is a global, sector-focused law firm providing expert advice to clients in aviation, commodities, construction, energy and resources, insurance and reinsurance, and shipping.
The firm prides itself on the deep industry expertise of its lawyers, and its entrepreneurial, creative and collaborative culture. HFW has over 600 lawyers operating in 20 offices across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia.
Areas of practice
Aviation: HFW Brussels office hosts one of the most pre-eminent full-service aviation practices in Belgium, acting for the industry on finance and leasings, the full spectrum of insurance and liability-related issues, as well as EU, competition, state aid and regulatory issues. The team is a recognised leader in resolving the most complex claims and has unrivalled experience of aviation safety and economic regulation, combined with competition and antitrust expertise.
Regulatory law: the firm is closely involved in advising clients on EU public procurement law and border remedies. Notably, the firm advises a number of railway and logistics providers, and this practice encompasses banking and financial law as well as the telecommunications and energy sectors. This practice also relates to other regulated industries such as insurance, postal and transport (harbours, waterways and airports).
Insurance: the Brussels office has a market leading aviation insurance practice and have worked on some of the most high profile cases in the market in recent years. The practice has grown significantly over the years and can now boast experience in acting on several high profile Belgian insurance claims, including fire, industrial hazards, professional liability claims, as well as acting on a number of insurance regulatory matters.
Competition and state aid: the firm’s EU and competition law practice provides both a stand-alone service to clients, as well as relevant support to other departments on relevant commercial transactions or disputes. It helps clients to use competition and trade law positively for competitive advantage, as well as defending them from attack by the authorities and in the courts.
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air transport | Pierre Frühling | ||
| EU litigation | Pierre Frühling | ||
| General EU regulatory | Pierre Frühling | ||
| Insurance | Pierre Frühling |
Staff Figures
Number of lawyers : 615 at this office : 11Languages
Dutch English French German GreekOther
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Top Tier Firm Rankings
- France > Aviation
- France > Aviation finance