14th Annual McGill Conference on International Aviation Liability, Insurance and Finance

Friday 13 September 2024 

08.00-08.30 Registration 

08.30-08.45 Welcome from Law Faculty Dean and Institute Co-Directors  

Dean Robert Leckey, Prof. Dr. Vincent Correia, Prof. Dr. Andrea Harrington 

08.45-10.00 Liability of Air Carriers 

Moderator: Louise-Helene Senecal, General Counsel-Litigation, Air Canada 

Speakers: 

• Erin Applebaum, Partner, Kreindler & Kreindler 

• Tracy A. Brammeier, Partner, Clifford Law 

• Caryn Geraghty Jorgensen, Shareholder, Stokes 

• Andrew Harakas, Partner, Clyde & Co. 

• Clay Hunter, Partner, Patterson MacDougall  

10.00-11.00 Liability of Airport and Other Service Providers  

Moderator: Laura Pierallini, Name Partner, Pierallini Studio Legale 

Speakers: 

• Sylvain Choinière, Vice President, Legal, Aéroports de Montréal 

• Isabelle Lelieur, Founding Parter, Lelieur Avocat 

• Racquel Reinstein, Attorney, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey 

• Francis Schubert, former CCO and Deputy CEO, Skyguide 

11.00-11.30 Refreshment Break

11.30-12.30 Product Liability 

Moderator: Alan Reitzfeld, former Senior Partner, Holland & Knight 

Speakers: 

• Roland Küsters, Senior Underwriter and Senior Legal Counsel, Munich Re 

• Steven Marks, Partner, Podhurst Orseck 

• Pete Neenan, Partner, Stewarts 

• Christopher Odell, Partner, Arnold & Porter 

12.30-14.00 Lunch 

Networking buffet followed by keynote speech by Michael Gill, Director of the Legal Affairs and External Relations Bureau of the International Civil Aviation Organization

14.00-15.15 Global Regulatory Update 

Moderator: Mia Wouters, Partner, GDS Advocaten 

Speakers: 

• Erick Ferrandez EASA Representative to ICAO & Canada. Alternate EU representative to the ICAO Council 

• Tony Payne, Partner, DLA Piper (TBC) 

• Ken Quinn, Partner, Clyde & Co. 

• Evelyn Sahr, Member, Eckert Seamans 

• Kerianne Wilson, Director, Customer Accessibility, Air Canada 

15.15-16.15 Insurance Panel  

Moderator: Prof. Dr. Andrea Harrington  

Speakers: 

• Philip Chrystal, Of Counsel, GBF Lawyers 

• Chris Kunstadter, Global Head of Space, AXA 

• Ulla Norhäll, Claims Lawyer Aviation, Munich Re, Germany 

• Rachel Priester, Senior Vice President, US Head of Claims, Global Aerospace 

16.15-16.30 Transition to ICAO 

16.30-18.00 ICAO Cocktail  

Keynote speech by Juan Carlos Salazar, Secretary General of International Civil Aviation Organization 

18.00-21.00   Dinner

The ‘Flying Outlaws’ to play after dinner 

*** *** *** 

Saturday 14 September 2024 

08.30-09.30 Cargo Liability 

Moderator: Prof. Dr. John Saba 

Speakers: 

• Luiz Eduard Arena Alvarez, Partner, Arena Alvarez 

• Holger Bürskens, Partner, Arnecke Sibeth Dabelstein 

• Katia De Loose, Senior Corporate and Commercial Counsel, Atlas Air  

• Carlos Tornero, Director Legal Services, International Air Transport Association 

09.30-10.30 Aircraft Finance  

Moderator: Prof. Dr. Donal Hanley 

Speakers: 

• Elizabeth Evans, Partner, Clyde & Co. 

• Don Gray, Of Counsel, Holland and Knight

• Anna-Maria Masciotra, Assistant General Counsel, Air Canada 

• Thomas Schmid, Senior Vice President – Legal, Azorra Aviation 

• Carlos Sierra, Managing Partner, Sierra Latam  

10.30-11.00 Refreshment Break

11.00-12.00 Dispute Resolution: Mediation, Arbitration, Litigation 

Moderator: Prof. Dr. Andrea Bjorklund 

Suggested Speakers: 

• Gary Birnberg, Chair, Advisory Board, Hague Court for Arbitration in Aviation 

• Martine de Serres, Assistant General Counsel, Air Canada 

• Robert Hedrick, Partner, Aviation Law Group 

• Karl Hennessee, Senior Vice President, Airbus 

12.00-13.00 Data & Technology Liability and Legal Considerations 

Moderator: Urban Olson, Name Partner, Advokatfirman Urban Olson AB 

Speakers: 

• Axelle Cartier, Chargée de cours, Université Toulouse 1 Capitole and Paris 1 

• Adrian Cioranu, President, Aviation Infrastructure Management Solutions 

• Philippe Morio, Cybersecurity Technical Officer, International Civil Aviation Organization 

13.00-14.30 Lunch 

14.30-15.45 Update on National/International Air Transport Organisations Current/Future Issues  

Moderator:  Prof. Dr. Ludwig Weber

Speakers: 

• Luis Fiallos, Senior Manager, Legal Services, International Air Transport Association 

• Jeff Morrison, President & CEO, National Airlines Council of Canada 

• Doug Mullen, Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, Airlines for America 

• Yaw Nyampong, Legal Officer, International Civil Aviation Organization 

• Jacqueline Serrao, Deputy Assistant Chief Counsel, International Affairs and National Security Law Division, Federal Aviation Administration 

15.45-16.45 Book Discussion with the Editors on The Montreal Convention: A Commentary  

Moderator: Professor Vincent Correia 

Speakers: Professors Laurent Chassot, Paul Dempsey and George Leloudas 

16.45-17:00 Brief Closing Remarks

17:00 -18:30 Farewell Reception