Aviation and Transportation

Transportation and the investment, creation and/or revitalization of any network is essential for the forward movement of the Canadian economy and connecting it to the world. To be engaged in this space requires a partner with experience and extensive knowledge of not only the transportation sector and its players, but the legal, commercial, operational, regulatory and technical issues that accompany these types of operations.

Our lawyers represent air operators, including domestic and international air carriers, in regulatory, litigious and commercial matters. We provide advice on the establishment of air services and assist in navigating the multi-faceted legal requirements from start-up to mature operation. We regularly appear on our clients’ behalf in provincial and federal courts and represent them before the Canadian Transportation Agency, the Transportation Appeal Tribunal of Canada, the Canada Human Rights Tribunal and other tribunals and departments of government involved in the administration of laws affecting the aviation industry.

In the case of foreign operators such as air carriers or other travel intermediaries, we provide a full range of services relating to the day-to-day operations of an aviation business in Canada including, reviewing and drafting commercial agreements, commercial leasing, employment advice, protection of intellectual property, local licensing, privacy issues and business start-ups.

Since 1907 when our then partner, George F. Shipley K.C. was appointed by the Board of the Railway Commissioners for Canada to examine toll rates across the country, we have partnered with our clients that include governments, government agencies, private sector developers, operators, lenders and P3 investors on projects in Canada for governments, government agencies and private sector entities in the air, transit and urban mass transit, truck, bus, and rail sectors of the transportation industry.

Our litigators represent clients in hearings before the Canadian Transportation Agency, the Transportation Appeal Tribunal of Canada, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal and the courts. We also defend vehicle and equipment manufacturers and retailers in product liability claims and class actions.