The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has recently come under scrutiny regarding its commitment to incorporate diversity and inclusion principles in its legal proceedings. Specifically, the DOJ has defended its pledge to prioritize diversity and inclusion in the selection process of an independent monitor in its proposed plea deal with Boeing Co. The plea deal…
The humanitarian crisis facing Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh continues to deepen, as highlighted by Amnesty International’s recent announcement. The rights group has reported that the living conditions of these displaced individuals are perilous, largely due to a lack of essential services such as food, shelter, and healthcare in refugee camps. Reports have surfaced that many…
The dynamics within the U.S. airline industry reveal a growing disparity between large, well-established carriers and their low-cost counterparts. As highlighted in a recent analysis by Thomas Black, the gap between the industry elites and the budget airlines is widening, potentially altering competitive landscapes in the aviation sector. Delta Air Lines Inc. serves as a…
In a strategic move to bolster its finance practice, Hunton Andrews Kurth has welcomed Alan Cunningham and Richard Skipper as finance partners into its London office. The law firm announced this expansion on Tuesday, highlighting the extensive experience the new partners bring to its practice. Cunningham and Skipper’s expertise spans a broad range of sectors…
Hacking allegations brought against the law firm Dechert LLP by aviation executive Farhad Azima do not meet the criteria for racketeering claims and should be dismissed, according to a recent non-binding opinion by U.S. Magistrate Judge Jennifer Willis. The ruling, issued on September 26, 2024, came days after Azima and Dechert agreed to settle the…
The latest Morning Docket is quite eventful, featuring significant developments in law and governance. Eric Adams’ top aide has been served a federal subpoena, and her phone was seized by the DA. New York state prosecutors are now involved in the matter, shedding light on the increasing scrutiny faced by the administration. You can read…
Aviation entrepreneur Farhad Azima settled long-running hacking allegations against Dechert and two of its former partners, Neil Gerrard and David Hughes, in New York federal court. The claims, initially brought in the Southern District of New York, alleged that the firm and the former partners engaged in a scheme to steal Azima’s data on behalf…
Legal News Coverage JetBlue Airways Corp.’s CEO has publicly criticized the Department of Justice (DOJ) for its stance on airline mergers, contending that the federal entity’s “short-sighted” policies are exacerbating competitive imbalances in the aviation sector. This criticism aligns with broader industry concerns regarding antitrust regulations and market dynamics. In an address aimed at highlighting…
Dechert Settles Lawsuit Dechert, a prominent global law firm, has reached a settlement with a US aviation executive, Farhad Azima, who accused the firm of aiding in a hacking scheme against him. The legal dispute, which spanned nearly two years, involved allegations that Dechert and two of its former UK-based partners orchestrated a hack-and-dump operation…
Aaron Alter, the Chief Legal Officer of Hawaiian Airlines, has resigned following the airline’s $1.9 billion acquisition by Alaska Airlines. The acquisition, completed recently, also saw the departure of two other senior executives. Alter’s tenure with Hawaiian Airlines began in 2015, after his long-term role as outside counsel from the Palo Alto, California office of…
Liability over the tragic 2018 East River helicopter crash, which resulted in the deaths of five individuals, is now heading to a jury trial. The parents of Trevor Cadigan, one of the victims, quickly sued Liberty Helicopters Inc., NY on Air LLC (NYON), Airbus, and the aircraft part services company Dart Aerospace following their son’s…
Vinson & Elkins LLP has announced the opening of a new office in Dublin, Ireland. This strategic expansion is aimed at enhancing the firm’s ability to provide comprehensive New York and English law advice to clients engaged in aviation leasing and financing. The new Dublin office represents the firm’s continued commitment to meeting the needs…
“`html Vinson & Elkins has announced the opening of a new office in Dublin, a key global hub for aircraft leasing. Nearly three years after adding an aviation finance team in New York, the Am Law 100 firm expands its global footprint with this strategic move. Partner David Berkery, who joined Vinson & Elkins in…
Nearly three years after Vinson & Elkins added an aviation finance team in New York, the Am Law 100 firm has opened an office in Dublin, a global hub for aircraft leasing. Partner David Berkery, who joined Vinson & Elkins in early 2022 in New York, will head the new office, which launched on Monday….
Finding that Florida law applies to educational malpractice claims, a federal judge in Illinois is allowing the families of victims of a 2018 plane crash in Cuba to proceed with their lawsuit against Global One Training Group. The plaintiffs argue that Global One negligently trained aviation staff, contributing to the crash. In an opinion issued…
Holland & Knight has expanded its capabilities in the energy and tax sectors with the addition of Elizabeth Crouse as a partner in its Portland office. Crouse, who transitioned from Perkins Coie, brings a wealth of experience in advising strategic and corporate investors, developers, and operators within the renewable energy landscape on federal income tax…
For the first time in almost two decades, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing new cybersecurity regulations for airplane manufacturers. These regulations aim to codify standards that have, until now, been addressed via “special conditions” for specific aircraft, engines, or propellers. According to the source article, these updates were revealed on August 21 and…
With aircraft manufacturers significantly decreasing production and facing delivery delays, the market for both new and used aircraft has become increasingly tight in recent years. This shift has altered negotiating dynamics, favoring aircraft lessors and finance parties, particularly when it comes to defaults and restructurings. The current environment may even exacerbate existing financial distress within…
A New Zealand helicopter pilot, Glen Malcolm Conning, was tragically shot and killed on Monday by separatist fighters shortly after his helicopter landed in the remote village of Alama, located in the Papua province of Indonesia. Conning, 50, was employed by the Indonesian aviation company PT Intan Angkasa Air Service. According to Faizal Ramadhani, head…
“`html The latest Middle East Deal Roundup highlights significant activity led by prominent law firms. Clifford Chance is advising ALAFCO Aviation Lease and Finance Company on the $3.3 billion sale of its aviation leasing business to Macquarie AirFinance Group Limited, involving 75 aircraft and an order book of 20 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. Meanwhile, other…
GJ Ligelis Jr., a partner at Cravath, Swaine & Moore, has been recognized as a leading young attorney in the 2024 “They’ve Got Next: The 40 Under 40” list. Ligelis, aged 40, has garnered acclaim for his impressive work in the Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) sector. Notably, he represented AerCap in its $30 billion acquisition…
JetBlue Airways Corp. announced Tuesday that it has appointed a former member of its legal leadership team as the company’s next general counsel and corporate secretary. This move marks a significant internal promotion within JetBlue’s legal division, reflecting a strategic decision to leverage internal expertise to navigate the airline’s complex legal landscape. As the new…
In a letter on Monday, the House Committee on Homeland Security requested that CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz provide more transparency following significant global outages caused by a defect in an update to the company’s Falcon Sensor software. These outages, described by some as “the largest IT outage in history,” disrupted a variety of critical functions…
CrowdStrike Outage Yields Mixed Impacts on Big Law Attorneys in firms large and small woke up Friday to notifications of potential computer delays and access issues due to an outage at CrowdStrike, a popular cybersecurity tool. The issue originated from a faulty update for computers running on Windows operating systems Thursday night. The repercussions of…
The National Law Journal has recently unveiled its Elite Trial Lawyers list for 2024, highlighting the premier plaintiffs firms across various categories. This extensive list is a testament to the exemplary work conducted by these firms, often in high-stakes litigation or significant settlements. According to the National Law Journal, to be eligible, firms must demonstrate…