Awards
The firm’s aviation lawyers have more than four decades of experience handling catastrophic aviation matters, including major airline disasters, general aviation accidents, wrongful death claims, and property damage disputes. Today, our practice extends well beyond traditional tort defense to include complex commercial disputes, government contract matters, insurance coverage disputes, and emerging aerospace matters, including disputes arising out of spaceflight operations pertaining to launch services and satellites.
We approach every matter with a clear point of view: these cases demand early clarity. Delay increases cost, risk, and exposure. Our team focuses on delivering disciplined, fact-based assessments at the outset, enabling our clients to make informed decisions about litigation, resolution, or trial.
Our lawyers combine deep technical knowledge, regulatory fluency, and trial experience. We move quickly and deliberately, pursuing targeted discovery to position each matter for decision at the earliest appropriate stage.
What differentiates our approach:
- Early, informed decision-making
Rapid assessment of exposure, liability, and damages to guide strategy from day one. - Depth across aviation and aerospace
Experience spanning airline disasters, general aviation incidents, satellite and launch-related disputes, and government contractor defense. - National reach, coordinated execution
Multi-office teams across Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, and Dallas handling complex, multi-jurisdictional matters. - Commercially grounded strategy
We understand that success includes managing cost, protecting brand reputation, and minimizing operational disruption—not just winning at trial. - Regulatory and incident response guidance
Pre-incident counseling, emergency preparedness, and representation in proceedings before the National Transportation Safety Board and other regulatory bodies.
In Los Angeles, Art Willner brings more than 40 years of experience in major aviation incidents, including airline disasters and terrorism-related matters. His background in the central claims office of a leading aviation insurer provides clients with a practical understanding of how exposure is evaluated and managed.
Spaceflight and Aerospace Litigation
Representing aerospace clients in cutting-edge litigation, including matters involving commercial launch providers and satellite operations.
Major Airline Disaster Litigation
Represented a major domestic airline in nearly 100 wrongful death claims consolidated in the Northern District of California arising from an MD-80 crash off the California coast.
Aviation Multidistrict Litigation
Headed the defense of ten foreign non-carriers in the multidistrict litigation arising from the September 11 attacks, resulting in voluntary dismissal.
Coordinated the defense of an FAA repair station in multi-state litigation involving wrongful death, injury, and property loss claims arising from a King Air crash into the FlightSafety International facility in Wichita, Kansas.
Aviation Industry Representation
- Obtained defense verdict at jury trial in Los Angeles in wrongful death action against a business jet operator arising from a Cessna CJ crash during takeoff.
- Obtained defense verdict in federal court in Los Angeles in wrongful death case against a major airline involving alleged failure to provide adequate in-flight medical care.
- Represented a Part 145 repair station in a $10 million property damage case involving a Sikorsky helicopter crash; achieved a highly favorable settlement.
- Longstanding representation of major FAA repair stations, FBO operators, flight schools, and aviation insurers in catastrophic loss, commercial, and regulatory matters.
- Representing one of the largest FBO operators nationwide, including a successful appellate outcome in Collins v. Westchester County Airport.
- Advising underwriters at Lloyd’s of London on liability and hull policies for unmanned aviation systems (drones).
Crew Representation
- Represented the captain and first officer of a major domestic airline in connection with dozens of passenger injury lawsuits arising from a landing accident at Burbank Airport; obtained summary judgment on punitive damages claims.
- Represented the estate of the helicopter pilot in litigation arising out of the Kobe Bryant accident.
Government Contractor Defense
Won summary judgment for Sikorsky Aircraft in multiple military aircraft accident cases involving the government contractor defense.
Arthur I. Willner
Partner
Joseph I. Fontak
Partner
Joseph G. Colao
Managing Partner
Joshua K. Leader
Glen Silverstein
Managing Partner
Edward Martinovich
Partner
Diana Acuña
Associate
Brian K. Cifuentes
Partner
Leader Berkon Wins Summary Judgment Motion in Aviation Case
Leader Berkon has just won a summary judgment motion for our client, an aviation engine maintenance firm, in Texas state court. The case involved the fatal crash of a Virginia State Police helicopter in 2017. The estates of two state troopers killed in the crash...
The Year in Aviation
The Year in Aviation 55th Annual SMU Air Law Symposium
Recent Developments in Aviation Law
Arthur Willner and Ray Mariani, members of the Leader Berkon Colao & Silverstein Aviation Litigation team, have authored "Recent Developments in Aviation Law", which was just published by the SMU Journal of Air Law and Commerce in its annual symposium edition....