DLA Piper has expertise in commercial contracts for aerospace companies and has, under the lead of Gregory Tulquois, been very active in advising aviation and industry players on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on their contracts. The Paris team is also particularly dedicated to liability disputes, IT and digital transformation-related projects, and corporate transactions. Vonnick Le Guillou
and Stéphane Lemarchand direct the practice together with Tulquois.
Aviation in France
DLA Piper
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Testimonials
‘Excellent knowledge of the aeronautical world and remarkable experience in the field.’
‘Vonnick Le Guillou is an attentive and available lawyer, who knows the aeronautics sector very well and provides sound advice Sophie Cochery is also an excellent lawyer with remarkable experience in the field of aeronautical litigation.’
Key clients
AIRBUS SAS
AIRBUS HELICOPTERS
ALLIANZ GCS
AXA XL
ATR
CHINA EASTERN AIRLINES
LA REUNION AERIENNE
COLLINS AEROSPACE
AIRBUS DEFENSE & SPACE
Aura Aero
HFW
HFW‘s Paris aviation team covers transactions, regulatory work and dispute resolution, regularly acting in high-profile, complex litigations involving multiple jurisdictions. Following its appointment to AXA’s global panel and French panel, the team has acted as counsel for AXA XL in several crashes and damage claims in Africa. Based in Paris and Brussels, Pierre Frühling leads the aviation team with Jean-Baptiste Charles who joined the partnership in 2020. Whilst usually acting on behalf of airlines, the firm has more recently received instructions from lessors.
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Testimonials
‘Excellent collaboration between the different lawyers of HFW, which is very reassuring for the clients.’
‘Excellent communication skills.’
Key clients
Aeromexico
Air Corsica
Air Tahiti Nui
Aircalin
Allianz AGCS
All Nippon Airways
Arkia Israeli Airlines
AXA XL
Cathay Pacific
CMA CGM
Corsair
Croatia Airlines
Delta Air Lines
Delvag
El Al
Global Aerospace
Goshawk
Hi Fly
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
Korean Air
La Réunion Aérienne
Mont Blanc Helicopteres / HBG Group
Latam
Saudia
Vietnam Airlines
Wizz Air
Work highlights
- Representing the leading French aviation insurer AXA in several crashes and damage claims in Africa.
- Representing Air Corsica in court in successfully defending a legal challenge against a French Public Service Obligations scheme.
- Acting as counsel to the leading French aviation insurer Global Aerospace in several liability matters including damages to a military Airbus during maintenance in Spain.
Clifford Chance
Clifford Chance‘s aviation team provides an extensive offering in the aerospace and defence field. Dessislava Savova specialises in commercial alliances and strategic industrial contracts and joint ventures. As one of the Airbus/Airbus SE global relationship partners, she has played a key role in the negotiation of complex commercial projects for Airbus. The firm also takes on impressive white-collar crime work due to Thomas Baudesson‘s expertise. He played a key role in the resolution of the Airbus corruption case with the French enforcement authority and in the global resolution of the case with UK and US authorities. Fabrice Cohen handles aerospace-related domestic and cross-border M&A transactions and securities law.
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Testimonials
‘True aviation finance/contracts experts.’
‘The team was able to bring its vast legal expertise and experience and assist us with applying these legal concepts to a complex market. The firm is very reactive and makes itself available at short notice. Will work 24/7 if required to get the job done.’
‘Great knowledge and expertise. Great people to work with, real team players. Ability to learn quickly the specifics of new technology and industry sectors. Very hard workers with high work ethics.’
‘Particular understanding of large PFI contract complexities and adjusting to the various needs of the many stakeholders.’
‘We have a lot of confidence in the long relationship with Michael Pearson who has been connected to our contract for many years – this reassures us that our long term welfare is being assured.’
‘Very good knowledge and experience of the industry. Very good professionals with a combination of theoretical and practical skills.’
‘Dessislava Savova embodies the qualities that a good aviation lawyer should have.’
Key clients
Airbus
Airbus SE
ATR (Avions de Transport Régional G.I.E.)
Airbus Helicopters
Airbus Defence and Space
Cessna Citation European Service Center
ArianeGroup
AirTanker
Air France
Work highlights
- Conducted multiple investigations into allegations of bribery and corruption and played a key role in the successful resolution of the Airbus corruption case with the French enforcement authority, the Parquet National Financier, and more generally in the global resolution of this case which also involved the UK Serious Fraud Office and the US Department of Justice and State Department.
- Handling and coordinating close to 50 arbitrations and proceedings before local courts in 15 different jurisdictions over 6 continents.
Kennedys
Kennedys is lauded for its expertise in aviation disputes, including air carrier liability, aviation product liability claims, transport, and cargo claims. Focusing on transportation disputes, Aurélia Cadain heads the carriers’ liability practice. Nicolas Bouckaert is in charge of the aerospace product liability practice. The team is counsel to airlines, aerospace manufacturers, and insurers.
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The team is very helpful. They reply and handle all our cases in a timely manner.’
‘I liaise with Aurélia Cadain, she is efficient and professional. She gives us good advice and good proposals for the way forward when we have a hearing.’
Signature Litigation AARPI
Signature Litigation AARPI stands out through its stellar product liability work in the aviation sector, handling matters from industry leaders such as Boeing, GE Aviation, Global Aerospace, and Honeywell Aerospace. Practice head Thomas Rouhette is supported by a strong bench of experienced senior associates, including Claire Massiera who dedicates her time to commercial and product liability in the aviation field and has developed significant experience representing manufacturers and insurance/reinsurance groups in major aviation accidents. Senior associate Ela Barda is regularly engaged in complex aviation-related product liability mandates.
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Key clients
Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty
AXA
The Boeing Company
Continental Motors
Daher
GE Aviation
Global Aerospace
Honeywell Aerospace
Rolls-Royce
Work highlights
- Assisting Boeing with the French law aspects of the 737 MAX-related disputes.
- Representing Continental Motors Inc. in proceedings following the hard landing of a Cirrus SR22 aircraft that experienced an engine failure in cruise flight, with both the pilot and his wife sustaining serious injuries.
- Representing Honeywell International Inc., in court proceedings brought by Valljet, a French business aviation company, following the repair and replacement of aircraft engines.
Courrégé-Foreman
Boutique firm Courrégé-Foreman is dedicated to criminal and commercial litigation and has a strong focus on the aviation industry, having represented civil aviation authorities, manufacturers, a major airport operator, air traffic control authorities and pilots. Mauricia Courrégé and Simon Foreman are the co-founders of the firm.
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Key clients
SAFRAN GROUP
AEROPORTS DE PARIS
GLOBAL AEROSPACE INC
LA REUNION AERIENNE
Work highlights
- Representing Safran in proceedings brought in the Paris district court by families of victims of Aeroflot flight 1492 crash in Moscow on 5 May 2019.
Leno Avocats
Founded in 2018 by Beatrice Fleuris and Laura Dubois, Leno Avocats is an independent boutique law firm dedicated to the aeronautics and aviation sector. The firm’s activity encompasses air transport and aeronautics litigation, passenger and freight transport aviation liability, insurance and reinsurance, and commercial and financial transactions. The team advises almost all French airports with regard to their civil and criminal liability exposure.
Practice head(s):
Testimonials
‘The team is very organised. Good timing of invoicing.’
‘Béatrice Fleuris is very efficient and responsive. Very good analysis of the cases presented.’
Key clients
Dedienne Aerospace
DMJG Holdings
La Réunion Aérienne
Global Aerospace
ERGO Versicherung AG
Club Mediterranée
Axa XL
Lloyd’s of London
Union des Aéroports Français
Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty
Generali
Work highlights
- Advising all French airports, apart from ADP, and their liability insurers in every case and event where the airport may have civil and criminal liability exposure.
- Assisting Generali with a recourse claim arising from a loss within air transportation of chirurgical masks during the Covid crisis.
- Assisting Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty SE with a survey ordered by a court following the drop of an aircraft engine during transportation.