Aviation & Aerospace
Aerospace law is one of our core areas of practice. Our expertise in this field is widely recognised and encompasses all legal aspects of the aerospace industry. We regularly deal with high-profile and complex matters such as air disasters, transactions relating to the acquisition of large business jets and airliners, and regulatory advice on carrier licensing and traffic rights.
Unlike our competitors, our aviation practice embraces all legal aspects of the aerospace industry. Our practice is unique in its ability to provide our aviation clients with a full range of services, always at the highest level. Originally born out of our firm's strong insurance practice, and hence focused on aviation accident claims, our aviation practice has expanded into regulatory and aircraft transactional work, which now constitutes a significant part of our activities. This holistic approach to aerospace law allows us to have a thorough understanding of the aviation sector and its common legal issues. Outside of their legal practice, our lawyers regularly engage in publishing articles and teaching/speaking activities in all aspects of air law.
For carriers, aircraft owners and insurers, we offer in particular the following services:
- claims handling and associated litigation following aviation accidents and incidents (defence and subrogation), assistance in accident investigation and criminal proceedings;
- advice on aviation insurance coverage issues;
- drafting of the contractual documentation relating to the acquisition, financing, use, operation and maintenance of aircraft, advice on tax and custom implications of such transactions;
- advice on commercial agreements of the airline industry; and
- regulatory work in connection with carrier licensing and traffic rights, airport use, competition, online flight sales, environmental and consumer protection
Aircraft Finance
Acted as lead counsel to a major global bank for the financing of a Bombardier Global 6500 aircraft
Aircraft Leasing
Acted as Swiss counsel to an international leasing company for the leasing of two Embraer E190 aircraft
Aircraft Purchase
Advised a Business Jet Operator on the acquisition of two Embraer Phenom 300 aircraft
Aircraft Purchase
Advised a HNWI on the acquisition of a Dassault Falcon 7X aircraft
Aircraft Finance
Acted as lead counsel to a major global bank for the financing of a Bombardier Global 6000 aircraft
Helicopter Purchase
Advised a company on the acquisition and operation of a Bell 429 helicopter
Aircraft Finance
Acted as lead counsel to a major global bank for the financing of a Pilatus PC24 aircraft
Space law regulation
Established comprehensive comparative space law study for a government space agency.
Aircraft Finance
Acted as Swiss legal counsel to a global bank in context with the financing of the purchase of a new Bombardier Global 7500 aircraft.
Aircraft Sale and Purchase
Comprehensively advised a multinational corporation on the acquisition of a pre-owned Bombardier G5000 aircraft by way of trade-in of a Bombardier CL605 aircraft.
Aircraft Finance
Acted as lead counsel to a major global bank for the financing of a Boeing BBJ aircraft and an Airbus ACJ aircraft for a UHNWI.
Expert opinion on applicable passenger protection regulations in Switzerland
Issued an expert opinion in foreign court proceedings issued by an airline attempting to recover the compensation paid to passengers as a result of its aircraft having been damaged on the ground.
Aircraft Finance
Acted as lead counsel to a major global bank for the restructuring of a financing of Bombardier Global 5000 aircraft.
Drone manufacturing regulations
Advised the manufacturer of drones used on state missions regarding the applicable manufacturing/certification standards.
Passenger Claims
Handling passenger claims for an airline client (flight cancellation in the Covid 19 context).
Expert Opinion on sovereign immunity of airports as a result of international air law
Issued an expert opinion in court proceedings regarding the seizure of airport and air navigation service charges collected by IATA on behalf of a state.
Aircraft Purchase
Comprehensively advised a HNWI on purchase, financing and operation of a Gulfstream G500 aircraft.
Aircraft Finance
Acted as lead counsel to a major global bank for the financing of Dassault Falcon 8X aircraft.
Aircraft Attachment
Attachment of two corporate aircraft to secure claims arising out of a commercial dispute.
Sanctions, etc.
Advised an aviation manufacturer on various issues relating to sanctions, anti-money laundering and competition regulations.
Aviation Contracts
Advised an aviation manufacturer on the drafting of various contract templates for supplier and customer relationships in the defence industry.
Conditions of Carriage
Drafted conditions of carriage and other GTC for a business aviation client.
Aircraft Insurance Claim
Advice to an aviation insurer on denial of coverage due to illegal aircraft operation.
Aircraft Operations
Comprehensively advised a Swiss AOC operator in the preparation, negotiation and implementation of numerous aircraft operating agreements and therewith related legal documentation (for aircraft ranging from Pilatus PC12 to Gulfstream G650).
Air Operations
Advice to a foreign airline on the taking-up of Swiss operations (including AOC application process and traffic rights).
Aircraft Finance
Acted as lead counsel to an US Global bank of the workout and restructuring of the financing of a Bombardier Global 6000 aircraft.
Aircraft Finance
Acted as lead counsel to a major Swiss global bank for the financing of a pre-owned Dassault Falcon 900DX aircraft.
Aircraft Finance
Acted as lead counsel to a major global bank for the financing (including pre-delivery stage payments to the manufacturer) of the acquisition of a new Bombardier Global 7500 aircraft.
Aviation insurance policies
Advised an insurer on the wording and the regulatory implications of its aviation policies.
Aircraft lien
Assisted an ambulance aircraft operator in connection with a threatened lien for allegedly not having paid fuel charges.
Passenger claims
Defended airlines and their insurers against passenger claims arising out of various incidents, including claims based on EU261.
General aviation accidents
Defended carriers and their insurers against claims by passengers and relatives.
Gold vanished in the air
Represented liability insurer in litigation following the theft of gold cargo during its carriage by air.
Traffic rights in non-scheduled operations
Advised an operator on traffic rights requirements for the non-scheduled commercial operation of a business jet fleet.
Gulfstream 650ER
Advised a bank on security to be granted by the borrower for the
re-financing of the aircraft.
B787 Dreamliner fire
Advised the insurers of a Swiss-based aircraft part manufacturer, on liability and procedural issues arising out of the fire of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner (USD 42M loss).
Refinancing of a business jet
We advised a Swiss bank on the refinancing of a business jet. In particular, we drafted and negotiated all contractual documents.
ACJ Sale
We advised a company on the sale of an Airbus Corporate Jet which included drafting and negotiating the aircraft sale and purchase agreement and the escrow agreement.
Online flight sales
We advised an airline on the regulatory requirements applicable to the online sales of flights and travel packages.
Airline strategic alliance
We assisted two airlines on the competition law self-assessment of a strategic alliance, which included in particular a code-share agreement.
Purchase of an Agusta AW139
We advised a company on the purchase of an Agusta AW139 helicopter. We were, in particular, involved in reviewing and negotiating the aircraft purchase agreement, and clarifying related VAT-issues.
Purchase of a Falcon Dassault 900LX
We advised a client on the purchase of Falcon Dassault 900LX Jet, including reviewing and negotiating the aircraft purchase agreement.
Purchase of a Bombardier Global 6000
We advised a company on the purchase of a Bombardier Global 6000 Jet, including reviewing and negotiating the aircraft purchase agreement.
BBJ Sale
We advised a family office on the sale of a Boeing Business Jet.
Publication01.01.2023
The Use of Interim Measures in International Commercial Arbitration under Swiss and French Law
Alexandre Mazuranic, Christian Iovene, Tania Iakovenko
Publication01.06.2022
Drone Regulation
Contribution of Swiss chapter of Lexology’s Getting the Deal Through Series on Drone Regulations 2021.
Publication02.02.2022
L2B Aviation - International Aircraft Registration Guide
Contribution of Swiss Chapter in L2B Aviation - International Aircraft Registration Guide.