For more than forty years, Soulez Larivière Avocats has defended and assisted staff of the French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) as well as companies in the aviation sector in all areas of aviation liability, handling cases in criminal, civil, and contractual matters, and advising companies and professionals on aviation regulations and compliance. This long-standing practice has enabled the firm to acquire in-depth knowledge of the aviation sector, its regulations, its key players, and its safety mechanisms—knowledge that is essential for criminal defense in a field characterized by a high degree of technical complexity.
Building on this experience, the firm now handles all aviation cases involving criminal prosecution, across all types of aviation: commercial, business, and recreational.
The firm has extensive expertise in the field of aviation
The firm handles cases involving aviation accidents, ranging from minor incidents to major accidents, for which it provides not only its criminal law expertise but also its experience and methodology in crisis and disaster management (the Mont Sainte-Odile, Habsheim, Concorde, AF447 Rio-Paris, and the plane crash involving Christophe de Margerie in Moscow).
When an accident—whether fatal or resulting in injuries—leads to the opening of an investigation or a judicial inquiry, the firm takes a comprehensive approach, supporting its clients not only in criminal matters but also in matters related to compensation and insurance.
Criminal prosecutions are not limited to accidents. A near-miss or an aviation incident—even one without physical injury—can result in charges being brought against a pilot, air traffic controller, operator, or manufacturer, particularly on the grounds of endangering others or violating aviation regulations.
The firm handles these cases with the same high standards, and more generally, any criminal matter related to the aviation industry.
The firm also provides preventive services. Drawing on its experience in aviation criminal law, the firm helps its clients anticipate potential legal threats when a risk has been identified and advises them accordingly. The firm also assists operators in implementing a robust safety management system (SMS) and delegations of authority consistent with their organizational structure.
In addition, the firm trains executives and teams on criminal liability and prepares operators to manage a crisis following an accident or incident.