Aviation and Aerospace Law
Condon & Forsyth LLP has represented domestic and
foreign airlines and their insurers for more than sixty years. Widely respected in the
field of aviation law and litigation, our firm's focus has been to ensure that our clients obtain
the best financial and legal results possible.
Condon & Forsyth LLP has successfully guided clients through many major commercial airline
disaster cases and aviation accident investigations. Our attorneys are skilled in assisting
airlines and insurers at accident sites during the early,
critical hours of an air disaster investigation. We advise our clients on the accident
investigation process and procedures of regulatory agencies, including procedures of the
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Our attorneys also assist in the development and implementation of air carrier family
assistance plans which ensure that airline personnel respond appropriately in the event
of an accident.
The following is a partial listing of the major aviation cases in which the firm was lead
counsel for one of the parties:
- In re September 11 Litigation (21 MC 97, 21 MC 101)
- In re Air Crash at Belle Harbor, New York, on November 12,
2001 (MDL No. 1448)
- In re Air Crash at Taipei, Taiwan, on October 31, 2000 (MDL No. 1394)
- In re Air Crash Near Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, on October 31, 1999 (MDL No. 1344)
- In re Air Crash Near Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia, on September 2, 1998 (MDL No. 1269)
- In re Air Crash at Agana, Guam, on August 6, 1997 (MDL No. 1237)
- In re Air Disaster Near Cove Neck, New York, on January 25, 1990 (MDL No. 843)
- In re Air Crash Disaster Near Warsaw, Poland, on May 9, 1987 (MDL No. 787)
- In re Korean Air Lines Disaster of September 1, 1983 (MDL No. 565)
- In re Air Crash Disaster at Washington, D.C., on January 13, 1982 (MDL No. 499)
- In re Air Crash Disaster at Warsaw, Poland, on March 14, 1980 (MDL No. 441)
- In re Air Crash Disaster at John F. Kennedy Int'l Airport on June 24, 1975 (MDL No. 227)
The firm has successfully handled virtually every conceivable issue for airlines and their insurers,
including individual personal injury matters and cargo damage claims, as well as claims arising from
major aircraft accidents. The firm has litigated at the trial level as well as on appeal many of the
landmark legal precedents in aviation law, particularly relating to the Warsaw Convention.
Condon & Forsyth has also advised and handled regulatory matters before the Department of Transportation
(and its predecessor the Civil Aeronautics Board), the Federal Aviation Administration and the National
Transportation Safety Board. Condon & Forsyth is currently regulatory counsel in Washington, D.C. for ten
foreign carriers. The firm advises these airlines and various other airlines on regulatory, aeropolitical
and business issues and disputes in connection with their U.S. operations.
The firm has handled, on a recurring basis, such tasks for its airline clients as:
- Obtaining licenses (foreign air carrier permits, renewals, operating exemptions);
- Preparing airlines and foreign governments for Bilateral discussions on such issues as
fifth freedom rights, third country code sharing and open skies;
- Advising airlines on the antitrust aspects of code sharing, alliances and other airline cooperative
agreements and the need for antitrust immunity;
- Obtaining charter authority and operational authorizations for blocked space arrangements,
codeshares and wet leases;
- Representing airlines in DOT and FAA enforcement proceedings for HAZMAT violations, passenger
complaints and alleged violations of cargo shipping sanctions to certain countries;
- Handling U.S. Customs and immigration problems relating to passengers and cargo;
- Representing clients before airport authorities in regard to leases of airport premises,
gates, user fees and other operational issues;
- Advising airlines on advertising rules and standards;
- Assisting airlines on tariff and noise regulation requirements;
- Advising airlines on economic sanctions relating to the sale and export of American-made
equipment to Libya, Cuba and Iran;
- Preparing comments on proposed regulatory measures impacting our airline clients;
- Assuring compliance with U.S. employment laws affecting foreign and locally engaged staff,
including issues of wrongful termination and discrimination;
- Preparing and reviewing U.S. aircraft registrations, lien recordings at the FAA in
Oklahoma City, OK and U.C.C. filings in Washington, D.C.;
- Assisting airlines on INS fee audits;
- Preparing and reviewing contracts with travel agents and wholesalers, charter contracts,
maintenance and spare parts contracts and passenger and cargo handler contracts;
- Providing advise about, and preparing contract documentation for, equipment purchases, leases
and financings; and
- Preparing documentation for federal and state servicemark and trademark registrations.
Condon & Forsyth LLP authors The Liability Reporter, published annually under the auspices of the
International Air Transportation Association (IATA) and our attorneys are instructors at the IATA
Aviation Training and Development Institute. We offer timely and
authoritative seminars and publications on important decisions,
statutes and regulations, including a monthly newsletter.
Recently covered subjects involve:
- The Warsaw System and air carrier liability
- The legislative response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks
- Airlines' increased exposure resulting from the IATA Intercarrier Agreements and the Montreal Convention of 1999
- Damages recoverable in aviation death actions
- Choice of law issues
- Insurance and reinsurance
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