Aviation

  • Description
  • Relevant Transactions
We offer legal advice to airlines, lessors, insurance companies, lenders, ground handling companies and aviation maintenance shops, tailoring their particular needs, for the set-up of their business and continuity of their operation. We have a wide range of experience in matters such as:
  • Advice local and international airlines in their certification process before the Civil Aviation Authority to procure and update their operation permits.
  • Development of airport infrastructure.
  • Commercial transactions, such as contracts for fuel provision, maintenance contracts and catering services.
  • Insurance claims, including those for damages suffered by passengers and cargo, damages incurred on the ground by third parties and damages to the aircraft.
  • The execution and enforcement of security interests, including aircraft and engine mortgages, and other collateral.
  • Leasing and matters related to airline fleet management, such as subleasing contracts, interchange, charters, wet leases, amendments, novation and contract terminations.
  • Aircraft Registration and deregistration.
  • Regulatory matters before the Civil Aviation Authority, Tocumen International Airport, S.A. and other government entities.
  • Commercial agreements related to aircraft operation such as ground handling services.
  • Tax matters related to the sale, leasing and financing of aircraft.
  • Acquisition, sale, leasing and financing of aircraft, equipment and engines.
  • Passenger rights and consumer protection.
  • Traffic rights.
  • Antitrust and international trade.
  • Overflights, charters and technical stops permits

GALA contributed to the ICLG – Aviation Finance & Leasing 2021 (Panama Chapter)

The International Comparative Legal Guides (ICLG) recently published Aviation Finance & Leasing 2021 (Second Edition), providing readers with a practical insight into cross-border aviation finance and leasing law.

In the Panama chapter, our lawyers Cristina Lewis, Daniel Sessa, Claudia Juárez, and Anna Valdés, members of our aviation and tax teams, detailed key information on contractual, fiscal, and related matters, registration and deregistration, security, enforcement and repossession, conventions, liability for damage and environmental issues, insolvency and searches, and detention and confiscation of aircraft (May 24, 2021).

To view the Panama chapter: [ICLG Aviation Finance and Leasing – Panama](https://iclg.com/practice-areas/aviation-finance-and-leasing/panama)

GALA advised Copa on the sale of 14 aircraft

GALA advised Copa Holdings on the contractual and regulatory aspects of a sale to Alliance, an Australian economic group, of 14 EMB-190 aircraft, along with replacement engines and spare parts for these aircraft and engines. The transaction anticipates the delivery of the acquired assets to Alliance during the course of 2020 and early 2021. This agreement concludes Copa’s plan to sell its entire Embraer fleet, as announced in 2019.

The GALA team involved in this transaction was led by Cristina Lewis, partner of the firm and head of the Aviation Department, along with Claudia Juárez and Daniel Sessa, associates of that department.

In addition to GALA, Donna Smith (Copa’s attorney in the United States) and Norton White (Australia) and Patton Moreno & Asvat (Panama), representing Alliance, participated in the transaction (August 10, 2020).

Copa Holdings, S.A:

Advised Copa Holdings, S.A. on the acquisition, financing, leasing, and registration of the first five (5) Boeing 737-9 (737-MAX 9) aircraft, financed under the structure of Japanese Operating Leases with Purchase Option (JOLCO), a pioneering transaction in the Panamanian and Latin American legal market (January 2019).

Copa Holdings, S.A.:

Advised Copa Airlines on the financing, leasing, and registration of its current fleet, including its latest aircraft financed under the structure of Japanese Operating Leases with Purchase Option (JOLCO), pioneering transactions in the Panamanian and Latin American legal market (December 2018).

Servair Newrest Panamá, S.A:

Advised Servair, a subsidiary of Air France, on the establishment of an airline catering facility at Tocumen International Airport in the Republic of Panama (January 2018).

Área Leader

Partner

clewis@gala.com.pa

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