The firm has a noted practice in aviation matters and has over the years represented several International and Domestic air carriers. We are frequently first choice counsel in Nigeria to the international market leaders in the Aviation industry; providing legal advice on matters relating to their corporate and commercial interests. From the transaction perspective we have acted as counsel to international airlines in the negotiation and documentation of a joint operating/code shore agreement with the National carrier in Nigeria.
We have acted as local counsel in several aircraft wet lease agreements and give advice from time to time on liens and aircraft registration requirements. We are often involved in providing legal advice to international airlines leasing companies entering into aircraft operating lease agreements with domestic passenger airline carriers. We have also provided services on behalf of clients involving drafting operating lease agreements, powers of attorney and assignment of aircraft insurance. We regularly render advice on repossession and deregistration procedures in Nigeria, claims by third parties and other non-statutory liens. The scope of our instructions has resulted in a thorough understanding of and working relationship with, regulatory bodies in Nigeria particularly the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and Ministry of Aviation (MOA).
A & O has also assisted in the complete startup legal advice of international airline operations. We routinely advise on corporate regulatory compliance ranging from their employment and labour issues to importation of skilled personnel. As local counsel to a number of domestic and International passenger airline companies we provide legal representation in claims and disputes under contracts of air carriage.
The firm contributed the “Nigeria” chapter in the work “Aircraft Finance, registration security and enforcement” published by Longman. This was recently updated in the work “Aircraft liens and detention rights” Sweet & Maxwell (August 2001).
