Offering ’excellent expertise in all matters of aviation law’, Holland & Knight‘s aviation practice is based predominantly in New York, Washington DC, Florida, Illinois, and California. The group consistently acts for both US and foreign airlines in major litigation arising out of high-profile airline crashes. It also handles disputes over aircraft leases, passenger claims, and class actions involving US and international law. On the regulatory side, the team assists with licensing issues, regulatory compliance, competition analysis, and defense-side enforcement matters. The department additionally handles aviation trade work (including high-profile disputes over traffic rights) and the regulatory aspects of airline commercial alliances and mergers. Firm-wide litigation section leader Christopher Kelly defends airlines and manufacturers (and their insurers) against suits brought throughout the US; and Steven Raffaele and Judy Nemsick are also experienced aviation litigators. Over in DC, Anita Mosner is ’a true expert in her field’, while Benjamin Allen is a June 2023 hire from the US National Transportation Safety Board, where he spent over a decade. All attorneys listed are in New York unless otherwise stated.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

‘Very knowledgeable about clients’ industries and always extremely responsive.’
‘Very good network with excellent expertise in all matters of aviation law.’
‘Anita Mosner is a true asset and business partner for clients. She is dedicated to clients’ needs and operations.’
‘Anita Mosner - experienced across a broad range of aviation issues. A true expert in her field.’

Key clients

Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation
Bombardier
American Airlines
Envoy Air
Frontier Airlines
Concesionaria Vuela Compañía de Aviación S.A.B. de C.V. (d/b/a Volaris)
Estate of Joshua Pepperd
Hyannis Air Service, Inc. d/b/a Cape Air
JetBlue Airways Corporation
Alaska Airlines
Volaris
Tradewind Aviation
Bristow Helicopters

Work highlights

Represented American Airlines and Envoy Air in connection with an NTSB investigation and litigation.
Served as national counsel to JetBlue Airways in state and federal litigation throughout the US (in both insured and uninsured matters).
Assisted Volaris with devising strategies to adapt to the implications of Mexico’s downgrade into Category 2 status under the FAA’s IASA program.