Press Releases

HFW Partner becomes Legal Adviser to IUAI

Holman Fenwick Willan is delighted to announce that Partner Giles Kavanagh will become Legal Adviser to the International Union of Aerospace Insurers (IUAI), effective 6 June 2014. Giles, who leads HFW's Aerospace practice, has for many years represented aerospace insurers in relation to aviation catastrophes and other significant losses. He is recognised by international legal directories as a leader in his field.

With 81 members around the globe, the IUAI is the voice of the global aerospace insurance industry. It plays a significant role in representing the interests of its members (aviation and space risk insurers and reinsurers) to governments, and national and international institutions and associations, in order to positively influence the legislative and regulatory framework governing the industry. The Union is an accredited Observer to the International Civil Aviation Organization, the European Commission, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, the European Civil Aviation Conference, and the International Chamber of Commerce, and was actively involved in drafting the Montreal Convention 1999 (which came into force in Nov 2003), the Globaltime scheme for airline war risk insurance during 2001/02, the two Montreal Conventions of 2009 (which are successors to the 1952 Rome Convention), and the 2014 Protocol to the Tokyo Convention of 1963.

Commenting on his appointment, Giles Kavanagh said: "I am honoured to take up the post of Legal Adviser to the IUAI. Aerospace insurers play a vital role in supporting the global aerospace industry. I look forward to advising and representing them effectively in relation to the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead."

David Gasson, IUAI's Secretary General, said of the appointment: "We are very pleased to have appointed Giles as our Legal Adviser. He was the outstanding candidate from a very distinguished shortlist."

The outgoing Legal Adviser is Sean Gates, who has served the Union for the past 16 years.

For more information, please contact Tania Phayre, Head of Marketing Communications, on +44 (0)20 7264 8546 or email tania.phayre@hfw.com.