At HFW, the aviation practice spans the four main areas finance and leasing, commercial, regulatory as well as insurance and claims. Constituting a popular choice for airlines and insurers, the group fields strong ties to the French market, in part due to practice head Pierre Frühling splitting his time between the firm’s Brussels and Paris offices. Alix d’Arjuzon, who was promoted to counsel in April 2023, is noted for her focus on environmental matters alongside capabilities relating to commercial and regulatory issues.

Hailed as an ‘outstanding aviation practice’, Kennedys remains a market-leading outfit in this space with a practice that covers the full gamut of aviation matters, including finance and leasing as well as disputes and damage claims. The firm counts a host of high-profile domestic and international companies in addition to government institutions amongst its client roster and acts for airlines, cargo companies, lessors, and insurers alike. Dimitri de Bournonville, who is particularly experienced in regulatory matters as well as aviation finance, purchase and leasing, heads the Brussels-based team. On associate level, the ‘bright and upcoming’ Dries Deschuttere is a key name to note alongside Guillaume Mockel, with the latter joining in January 2023 from AdaStone Law.

DLA Piper stands out for its widespread expertise in the aviation sector, with a particular strength in relation to EU-regulatory matters. The practice is also well versed in advising clients hailing from the high-tech aerospace industry as well as work relating to airports. Bob Martens specialises in public law and jointly leads the team with restructuring partner Ilse Van de Mierop; both are active on non-contentious and dispute matters in this space. Charles Dumont De Chassart fields a broad aviation practice which includes corporate and restructuring work as well as litigation.

Praised for its ‘outstanding work in the field of aviation’, Erkelens Law provides clients from the aviation sector with advice along a vast spectrum of matters, including regulatory, commercial, and contentious. Business aviation, airports, and environmental issues are further capabilities of the practice headed by Catherine Erkelens, who fields a broad practice covering airport charges and ground handling, amongst others. Philippe Carous complements his expertise in general aviation with niche knowledge concerning the regulation of drones.

With ‘a huge breadth of international knowledge across the sector’, AdaStone Law is well versed in a wide array of aviation work, spanning financing and litigation as much as state aid and data protection. Stéphanie Golinvaux, whose practice includes regulatory, transactional, and liability-related matters, leads the team jointly with Hannah Tacheny, an experienced practitioner with particular expertise in airport regulations alongside competition and commercial law.

CMS continues to have a strong presence in the aviation sector, making it a popular choice for a broad range of clients such as airports, manufacturers, public authorities, and carriers. Sustainability and state aid form as much part of the advisory portfolio as finance and commercial contracts, while the group also benefits from specialist employment law and social security expertise owing to Gaël Chuffart. Noted for her ‘great expertise in state aid’, Annabelle Lepièce heads the practice and also excels in matters relating to ground handling services.

K&L Gates GP has an offering that includes particular expertise in matters relating to air ticket distribution, airports, ground handling, and regulatory. The group is headed by Mélanie Bruneau, whose expertise includes regulatory compliance. Philip Torbøl departed the firm in January 2024.

KADRANT LAW advises aviation clients on the finance and leasing of aircraft as well as business aviation, regulatory issues, and litigation. Giulia Mauri heads the practice and focuses on transactional matters. Former co-head of the practice Frédérique Jos left for an in-house position in October 2023.