With a hard-earned track record that stretches back more than a half century, O’Melveny is the counsel of choice for the biggest names in aviation. We combine a deep understanding of the aviation business with a sophisticated knowledge of the legal, regulatory, and market forces impacting our clients. It’s how we’ve helped major airlines, airport owners and operators, investors, and developers achieve success in this fiercely competitive sector.
Along the way, we and our clients have partnered to produce many of the legal breakthroughs and seminal business events that have shaped the industry. Our experience includes:
Serving as primary outside counsel to over a dozen major passenger and cargo airlines in bet-the-company labor, employment, and union-related cases in federal district and appellate courts across the United States, including cases that produced many of the most significant court decisions issued to date under the Railway Labor Act
Spearheading the first post-deregulation merger of US airlines, and playing a decisive role in virtually every significant ownership change since, including the merger of Northwest and Delta, the merger of United and Continental, and the merger of US Airways and American Airlines
Successfully defending a number of airlines, airport operators, and insurance companies in litigation arising from air crashes
Assisting on more than 50 airport projects in the last two decades, including advising airlines and investment banks in financing the development of new airport terminals, and the improvement of existing terminals and other airport facilities
Advising airlines and aircraft leasing companies on transactional matters, including providing corporate counseling and serving as issuer’s counsel in more than US$12 billion in securities offerings
Air Lease Corp.
O’Melveny represented Air Lease, an aircraft leasing company, in a series of major financing transactions within a single year—three public offerings of debt, raising aggregate gross proceeds of US$1.85 billion; a US$100 million private placement of notes; establishment of a private shelf facility; and an amendment and extension to Air Lease’s unsecured revolving credit facility. Read
American Airlines, Inc.
O’Melveny secured a victory for American Airlines in the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in one of the first appellate decisions addressing the McCaskill-Bond amendment to the Federal Aviation Act, which was enacted in 2007 to ensure that the integration of airline seniority lists after a merger occurs in a “fair and equitable manner.” Read
Case Study: Alaska Air Group
O’Melveny counseled Alaska Airlines on all aspects of its US$4 billion acquisition of Virgin America. Read
Case Study: American Airlines
O’Melveny achieved an important victory for American Airlines when the Third Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the dismissal of claims brought by a putative class of nearly 10,000 legacy American pilots. Read
LaGuardia Gateway Partners
O’Melveny represented the LaGuardia Gateway Partners consortium in its winning bid to assume operational control of New York LaGuardia Airport’s central terminal building and to build, finance, operate, and maintain a replacement terminal. Read
Ontario Airport Authority
O’Melveny represented the airport authority in an historic transaction enabling the airport’s transfer from the City of Los Angeles to the authority. Read
Spirit Airlines
O'Melveny obtained a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) for Spirit Airlines prohibiting Spirit pilots from disrupting Spirit’s operations. Read
United Airlines, Inc.
O’Melveny secured two major summary judgment wins for United Airlines, confirming that California labor and employment law does not apply to individuals who work primarily outside the state’s borders. Read
US Airways, Inc.
Since advising US Airways regarding labor and antitrust issues in its historic merger with American Airlines, O'Melveny has continued to advise the newly combined company on some of its most important matters, including a putative nationwide class action. Read
US Airways, Inc.
O’Melveny secured a victory for US Airways, Inc. in its attempt to stop an illegal slowdown by its pilots. Read
US Airways, Inc.
Since advising US Airways regarding labor and antitrust issues in its historic merger with American Airlines, O'Melveny has continued to advise the newly combined company on some of its most important matters, including a putative nationwide class action. Read
US Airways/American Airlines
O’Melveny represented US Airways in connection with its merger with American Airlines, both in structuring a complex set of labor agreements to secure union support for the deal, and as lead trial counsel in the Department of Justice’s attempt to enjoin the merger on antitrust grounds. Read
Thank you for your interest. Before you communicate with one of our attorneys, please note: Any comments our attorneys share with you are general information and not legal advice. No attorney-client relationship will exist between you or your business and O’Melveny or any of its attorneys unless conflicts have been cleared, our management has given its approval, and an engagement letter has been signed. Meanwhile, you agree: we have no duty to advise you or provide you with legal assistance; you will not divulge any confidences or send any confidential or sensitive information to our attorneys (we are not in a position to keep it confidential and might be required to convey it to our clients); and, you may not use this contact to attempt to disqualify O’Melveny from representing other clients adverse to you or your business. By clicking "accept" you acknowledge receipt and agree to all of the terms of this paragraph and our Disclaimer.
