Transportation: Aviation: Litigation: Nationwide

THE FIRM Clyde & Co remains at the forefront of global aviation litigation and as a result the team continues to deal with some of the most complex and sensitive global disaster cases. It is also increasingly dealing with complex financial litigation and regularly advises on issues surrounding sanctions.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Diane Westwood Wilson is a "bright, articulate lawyer who is very pleasant to work with." She is a highly experienced advocate who is well versed before the Supreme Court.

Andrew Harakas continues to lead many headline cases for the firm. He is highly rated by his peers, who praise his "tremendous track record" in court and describe him as a "very astute and well studied individual."

THE FIRM Condon & Forsyth is a natural choice to handle complex aviation litigation. The team has extensive experience handling disaster cases and is regularly called upon to advise clients from the very start to the end of the process. Although it advises on a wide range of work, the team is noted for its strength in dealing with cases arising from the insurance market in London.

Commercial Awareness "The main selling point is their experience. They have worked for the London market forever so they are very good at understanding how the market works and what issues they need to concentrate on.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Desmond Barry wins widespread praise for the work he has been doing in property litigation arising from 9/11. One commentators attests that he is "great: very smart, very client friendly, always available and willing to question his own opinions."

Stephen Stegich is known as one of the go-to attorneys for product liability cases. Market sources rate his robust approach to discovery and describe him as a "thoughtful and clever attorney." 

Michael Holland is a "very practical" attorney with a long history of acting for airlines in major litigation both in the US and abroad. Not only has he handled a wide range of disaster cases, but he also has experience dealing with a range of other litigation, including complex class action claims.

"Very solid trial lawyer" Frank Silane is a widely respected attorney, described by one interviewee as a "gentleman and man of his word." He is noted for his particular expertise in trying damages cases.

THE FIRM This extensive aviation team has a broad client list, but is perhaps best known for its long term relationship with Boeing, for which it undertakes a vast range of work. A recent highlight saw it represent Boeing in continuing litigation arising out of the Helios Airways crash. As well as Boeing, the team acts for the likes of BAE Systems, Honeywell International and Turbomeca.

Client Service "They are aggressive in their defense of their clients; they know the law very well and they can always be counted on to produce a thoughtful work product."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Bruce Campbell is described by market sources as a "very thoughtful and hardworking" attorney who brings a "wealth of experience" to litigation.

Sources "very much enjoy working with" John Dillow, the firm's head of department. He is described as the sort of attorney that you can "brainstorm with and bounce ideas off." He takes control of the firm's extensive work with Boeing.

Steven Bell wins widespread praise for his "very practical" approach. He is well known for his specialist knowledge of litigation involving helicopters.

THE FIRM Hogan Lovells has an impressive aviation practice, which has the advantage of being supported by a huge integrated global network of offices. The team has built an impressive practice around representing Airbus, with which it has developed a long-lasting and consistent relationship. The team handles a wide range of litigation for Airbus, which includes some of the most complex disputes in the market. As an example, the team was called upon to handle the litigation arising out of the Air France Flight 447 crash.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Thad Dameris is described by market sources as a robust litigator who is "devoted to getting the best results for his clients." As well as leading the Air France Flight 447 litigation, he has lead numerous other cases for Airbus, including a case concerning the crash of TAM Linhas Aereas Flight JJ 3054 in Sao Paulo.

THE FIRM Operating primarily out of its offices in New York, Florida, DC, Illinois and California, this firm continues to maintain a highly active aviation litigation practice. As a result of its long history in this space, the team has a deep understanding of complex disaster litigation. Recent work includes its continued representation of Air France in litigation concerning the Air France Flight 447 case. Beyond disaster cases, the team is also adept at complex commercial litigation arising in this space.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Clients that work with Randal Robert Craft find "his experience really stands out," especially when dealing with difficult disaster cases. He has been acting as lead counsel for UPS in the Dubai 747 crash litigation, as well handling litigation regarding the Turkish Airlines Flight 1951 crash in Amsterdam.

Christopher Kelly is a highly experienced litigator who continues to act for JetBlue Airways on a number of matters, including a large-scale class action in connection with the airline's skycaps services. He also took a leading role in the Air France Flight 447 matter. 

THE FIRM This sophisticated practice has experience litigating for a wide range of prominent clients. The team consists of several attorneys with notable backgrounds in the aviation industry, including several pilots, which gives the team an edge when dealing with the complex technical aspects of cases. It has recently been handling the sensitive Geetz v. Honeywell International case which concerned a Chinook helicopter crash in Afghanistan.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Cochair of the aviation practice, Don Rushing brings his extensive experience of aviation to bear on a variety of technically complex cases. He has been instructed by Honeywell International regarding potential litigation surrounding the Air France Flight 447 crash. He is being assisted on that matter by William O'Connor, a rising star in the aviation sphere. O'Connor draws praise for his ability with clients: "He worked with his clients to foster trust, and listened to concerns and ideas, and incorporated them where he believed it would help move the matter to resolution," noted one impressed source.