Condon & Forsyth LLP

Firm Details:

Managing Partners: Christopher R Christensen, Bartholomew J Banino, John Maggio

Number of partners: 23

Number of lawyers: 53

Languages: English, French, Hebrew, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish

Firm Overview:

Condon & Forsyth LLP is a national law firm with fifty-three lawyers in offices in New York, Los Angeles, and Miami. Founded in 1935, the firm's attorneys represent a dynamic and diverse practice with a core focus on aviation, insurance law and reinsurance, product liability, class actions, and complex tort and commercial litigation, while recently adding practice areas in corporate transactions, trusts and estates, banking and finance, taxation, real estate, and immigration. Historically known for its work in the aviation and aerospace industry, Condon & Forsyth also provides a broad range of legal services to its clients with a depth of experience in various practice areas that is unmatched for a firm of its size.Main Areas of Practice:

Aviation & Aerospace:

Condon & Forsyth has unmatched experience in the representation of airlines, aerospace manufacturers and their insurers in litigation throughout the US. The firm is best known for its defense of aviation clients in litigation arising from major losses, such as Lion Air Flight 610 near Jakarta, Indonesia in October 2018; Aeromexico Connect Flight 2431 at Durango, Mexico on July 2018; Nature Air in Punta Islita, Costa Rica in December 2017; Cubana Flight 972 at Havana, Cuba in May 2018; Asiana Airlines Flight 214 in San Francisco, California in July 2013; Caribbean Airlines Flight 523 in Georgetown, Guyana in July 2011; the September 11th terrorist attacks; and Colgan Air Flight 3407 near Buffalo, New York in February 2009. The firm has significant trial success with favorable verdicts in courts throughout the country for cases arising from aviation accidents.

Litigation & Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR):

Condon & Forsyth is one of the most experienced firms in the US in defending complex multi-district litigation. The firm represents domestic and foreign clients in major litigation, trials and appeals in state and federal courts throughout the country, including recent successful trials in Florida involving a failure to divert claim during a medical emergency after a turbulence event and in California involving litigation between an airline and leasing company. The firm has a nationwide civil appellate practice with hundreds of reported decisions in the US Supreme Court, US Circuit Courts of Appeal and numerous state appellate courts, many of which established important precedent relating to aviation, product liability, insurance, treaty interpretation and foreign sovereign immunity. The firm’s attorneys are actively involved in all types of ADR, including arbitration, mediation, mini-trials and facilitated settlement negotiations. The firm has a proven track record in ADR involving aviation, insurance, reinsurance, employment, and general commercial matters.

Product Liability:

Condon & Forsyth’s product liability team represents and advises a diverse range of manufacturers in complex tort litigation, including manufacturers of commercial and general aviation aircraft and components, industrial machinery, satellites, power plant and pharmaceutical products. The firm advises its manufacturing clients about proposed airworthiness directives and product recalls; revise aircraft operators’ manuals, instructions and warnings; draft service bulletins and service information; and organize pilot and operator seminars.

Emergency Response & Crisis Management:

Condon & Forsyth is the go-to firm for investigations arising from aircraft accidents. For more than eighty years, the firm has assisted clients in responding to aviation disasters and managing the aftermath. Its emergency response and crisis management team assists airlines, manufacturers, maintenance providers and other transportation-related companies worldwide to mitigate and manage the investigative, legal and publicity matters resulting from mass disasters and crisis situations.

Insurance & Reinsurance:

Condon & Forsyth has an international reputation as counsel for insurers and reinsurers. Long recognized as authorities on aviation insurance, the firm’s attorneys have developed specialization and expertise in the most complex issues facing insurers and reinsurers. The firm’s specialized partners provide coverage opinions, draft policy language and litigate or arbitrate complex insurance and reinsurance coverage matters. One partner is the principal editor of the leading international authoritative treatise on aviation insurance.

Space & Satellite:

Space and satellite issues are a natural extension of the firm’s aviation and aerospace practice. The firm has long been a leader in the representation of various stakeholders in coverage claims, damages claims, and other space-related commercial disputes. Its space and satellite team has represented clients in litigation and arbitrations arising from fuel and propulsion issues, arcjet failures, launch failures, salvage rights/valuation determinations, and contractual disputes, among other issues.

Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS):

The firm’s UAS team is prepared to represent manufacturers, operators, pilots, insurers, and any other stakeholders in the numerous legal and business issues related to the ever-expanding use of unmanned aircraft systems. The UAS practice group includes lawyer-pilots with experience in FAA enforcement actions, as well as attorneys with real-world experience in accident investigation and litigation, product liability, aviation operations (including pilot training, flight operations, SMS programs, and manuals), contract formation and negotiation, risk management/loss prevention/insurance coverage issues, privacy issues, and litigation.

Commercial Litigation:

Condon & Forsyth is consistently ranked among the top aviation law firms in the US. Its commercial litigation team routinely handles both complex and common commercial litigation matters, offering clients the focus, imagination and efficiency from having detailed knowledge of the aviation industry.

Commercial Law & Finance:

Condon & Forsyth has considerable experience representing airlines, freight forwarders, charter companies, banks, real estate companies, manufacturers and leasing companies in a variety of transactions, including joint ventures, commercial aircraft sales and leasebacks, charter agreements, consulting agreements, and commercial real estate leases.

Corporate & Business Transactions:

The firm’s corporate and business transactions group excels in negotiations on behalf of clients to structure business transactions, including drafting, structuring and negotiating agreements and financing documents, aimed at successfully managing risk and avoiding future disputes. The team advises on corporate and commercial matters such as mergers, acquisitions, reorganizations and recapitalizations, sales of stock or assets, general and limited partnerships and limited liability companies. The firm’s range of expertise includes drafting, review and negotiation of purchase and acquisition agreements, legal due diligence investigations, acquisition financing, purchases out of bankruptcy and related agreements with brokers, lenders and other third parties.

Class Actions:

The firm’s class action practice group has pioneered innovative approaches to defending multi-district class litigation resulting in impressive victories. The team has successfully defended clients in multiple class actions, including litigation arising out of mass passenger disruptions, ticket and cargo fuel surcharges, taxation disputes and consumer protection regulations.

Regulatory & Government Affairs:

Condon & Forsyth’s regulatory experience dates back to the 1930s when the firm obtained the first Foreign Air Carrier Permit issued to a foreign airline by the US for Imperial Airways (the predecessor to British Airways). The firm continues to advise its international and domestic aviation clients on regulatory matters involving the US Departments of Transportation (DOT), Justice, Commerce, and Treasury (including OFAC), the FAA on issues such as trade sanctions, code sharing, licensing, high density traffic airport slots and regulatory compliance. The firm also represents airlines and pilots in proceedings before the NTSB, DOT, FAA and other federal agencies.

Labor & Employment:

The firm’s labor and employment team advises employers on numerous employment related issues including wrongful termination and discrimination claims. The team has successfully represented employers on these issues before state and federal courts and administrative agencies, and in arbitrations and mediations. It also works closely with clients and assists in the drafting and review of employee handbooks, affirmative action plans and personnel policies. Real Estate: Condon & Forsyth’s real estate group offers a full range of legal services including, acquisition, disposition, management, leasing, financing, and restructuring of each real estate asset class. It represents individuals, family groups, institutions, developers, financial institutions and commercial real estate owners worldwide and throughout the US.