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 (including construction finance) of a newly manufactured Gulfstream G800) aircraft
Corporate Restructuring
Advised a business aviation services provider in their shareholder restructuring
Aircraft Purchase
Advised a HNWI on the acquisition of a new Gulfstream G600 aircraft
Aircraft Finance
Acted as lead counsel to a major global bank for the financing (including syndication) of a Gulfstream G700 aircraft
Aircraft Leasing
Acted as Swiss counsel to an international leasing company for the leasing (sale and lease-back) of six Airbus A320neo/A320neo aircraft
Aircraft Finance
Acted as lead counsel to a major global bank for the financing of a Gulfstream G550 aircraft.
Aircraft Leasing
Acted as Swiss counsel to an international leasing company for the leasing of an Airbus A320
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.
Aircraft Finance
Acted as lead counsel to a major global bank for the restructuring of a financing of Bombardier Global 5000 aircraft.
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 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).
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.
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.
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.
Presentation11.09.2019
gbf Aviation Law Workshop 2019
Flightradar24, Plane Finder and the like, the nightmare of secretive aircraft owners?