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The 15th Annual McGill University / PEOPIL Conference on

International Aviation:
Liability, Insurance & Finance

Comillas University, Madrid
5 – 6 June 2025

10.25 CPD hours

we are very grateful to our Sponsors
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Interested in sponsoring this conference?
Please contact our Sponsorship Liaison

Dr. Donal Hanley, Conference Chair
McGill University Institute of Air & Space Law

email: conferences.iasl@mcgill.ca

Please click here for the sponsor opportunities.

Hotel Information:
For a list of hotels in the vicinity of the conference venue, please click here.

Comillas Universidad Pontífica 
C/ Alberto Aguilera, 23
28015 Madrid
Spain

This event brings together world-leading aviation liability, insurance and finance experts to address, inter alia, the following topics:

  • Recent Developments in Liability of Air Carriers
  • Liability of Airports and other Service Providers
  • Products Liability of Manufacturers of Aircraft, Engines and Component Parts
  • Global Regulatory Update
  • Insurance
  • Environmental Liability
  • Cargo Liability
  • Aircraft Finance
  • Future Industry Trends
  • Data & Technology Liability
  • Passenger Rights – Dispute Resolution Trends
  • Shooting Down Aircraft

In addition, the conference will host two luncheons and a reception/dinner to facilitate networking among attorneys, insurers, air carriers, manufacturers and government representatives.

This is the fifteenth annual McGill/PEOPIL Conference on International Aviation Liability, Insurance & Finance

Prior conferences have been held in:

  • Toulouse 2008
  • Montreal 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2024
  • Amsterdam 2010
  • London 2012, 2014
  • Edinburgh 2016
  • Dublin 2018
  • Paris 2023

Programme

schedule and speakers subject to change

Thursday 5 June 2025

Day 1

09:00 – 09:45

Registration and coffee

Sponsored by:

AHBL-Logo
Arena Alvarez Advogados

09:45 – 10:00

Welcoming Remarks

Prof. Dr. Donal Hanley
Conference Chair
McGill University Institute of Air & Space Law (IASL) – Conference Chair

Ana Romero Porro
PEOPIL President

Prof. Dr. Vincent Correia
McGill University IASL Co-Director

10:00 – 11:00

Recent Developments in Liability of Air Carriers
Moderator

Mia Wouters – GDS Lawyers, Brussels

Panellists tbc
  • Sarah Stewart – Stewarts, London
  • Robert Clifford – Clifford Law Firm, Chicago
  • Enrique Navarro – Clyde & Co, New York
  • Ricardo Pazos Castro – Comillas University, Madrid

11:00 – 12:00

Liability of Airports and other Service Providers
Moderator

Laura Pierallini – Studio Pierallini

Panellists tbc
  • tbc – Kreindler & Kreindler, New York/Boston
  • Pierre Fruhling – HFW, ??
  • Jenny Ann Urban – National Air Transport Organisation, ??
  • Justin Erbacci – DG ACI World
  • Anne-Frédérique Pothier – Eurocontrol

12:00 – 12:30

Refreshment Break

12:30 – 13:30

Product Liability
Moderator

Mark Harvey – Hugh James

Panellists tbc

  • Christopher G. Kelly, Holland and Knight
  • Melanie Etienne, Airbus
  • Veeru Mewa, Victim First
  • Stuart Fraenkel or Nicole Andersen, Nelson & Fraenkel

13:30 – 15:00

Lunch
Sponsored by

15:00 – 16:00

Global Regulatory Update
Moderator

Tony Payne, DLA Piper

Panellists tbc
  • Luc Tytgat, ex GC EASA/Eurocontrol
  • Daniel Wand 4 KBW, Barrister in London
  • Cedric Newcombe, GC Emirates (Eric)
  • Anita Mosner, Holland & Knight

16:00 – 16:30

Refreshment Break

16:30 – 17:30

Insurance Panel
Moderator

Prof. George Leloudas – Swansea University 

Panellists tbc
  • Ulla Norhall, Munich Re
  • Sebastien Saillard, Allianz
  • Steve Marks or Ricardo Martinez-Cid, Podhurst Orseck
  • Prof. Abel Benito Veiga Copo, Dean of Comillas Law

17:30 – 18:30

Environmental Liability
Moderator

Isabelle Lelieur

Panellists tbc
  • Melissa Infusino, Air Canada
  • Patricia O’Shea, Head of Legal, Dublin Airport Authority
  • Gregory Laville de la Plaigne, Clyde & Co- Paris

20:00 – 23:00

C/Fuenterrabia, 2

28014 Madrid

Friday 6 June 2025

Day 2

09:00 – 10:00

Cargo Liability
Moderator

David Short, Balfour & Manson

Panellists tbc
  • Holger Bürskens, ASD Law
  • Kelly Shoaf, American Airlines
  • Carlos Villacorta, BCV Lex

10:00 – 11:00

Aircraft Finance
Moderator

Donal Hanley – McGill Institute of Air & Space Law

Panellists tbc
  • Torridon Linskaill, White & Case
  • Stefan-Michael Wedenig, McGill Institute of Air and Space Law
  • David Bartlett, Apollo
  • Marie O’Brien, A&L Goodbody

11:00 – 11:30

Refreshment Break

11:30 – 12:30

Future Industry Trends
Moderator tbc

Solenn Le Tutour – Le Tutour Avocats

Panellists tbc
  • Carol Anderson, IATA
  • David Kendrick, UK CAA
  • Robert Land, Jet Blue
  • Wayne Tyrell, Irish Aviation Authority

12:30 – 13:30

Data & Technology Liability
Moderator

Urban Olson – Advokatfirman Urban Olson AB

Panellists tbc

  • Adrian Cioranu, ACI
  • Axelle Cartier
  • Conny Avery, Wisk
  • Sorana Pop, ICAO

13:30 – 15:00

Lunch
Sponsored by

15:00 – 16:00

Passenger Rights - Dispute Resolution Trends
Moderator

Martine de Serres, Air Canada

Panellists tbc
  • Shereena Rai, BA

16:00 – 17:00

Shooting Down Aircraft...Again
Moderator

Peter Neenan, Stewarts

Panellists tbc
  • Prof Maria Jesus Guerrero Lebron mjgueleb@upo.es
  • Uliva Zeynalova Bockin, Dentons Azerbaijan
  • Antoinette Collignon, Legaltree
  • Joe Fiorante or Jamie Thornback, CFM Lawyers

17:00 – 17:15

Closing Remarks by Conference Chair

17:15 – 19:00

Farewell Reception - "Vino Español"
Sponsored by