Biography: Aviation

Laura Pierallini is founder and name partner of Studio Legale Pierallini & Associati, a multidisciplinary law firm based in Rome and Milan.

Laura Pierallini spent years at the legal and tax department of Arthur Andersen Worldwide Organization and from March 2001 to December 2005 was the managing partner of the international law firm Coudert Brothers, in Rome.

Laura Pierallini holds a BA from Classical High School and a JD, summa cum laude, from Università degli Studi La Sapienza of Rome. She was admitted to the Bar in the District of Rome in 1986, and to practice before the Supreme Court in 1998.

She is a professor of Commercial Law and Air Law for the Masters course in aviation and tourism at the LUISS University of Rome.

Laura Pierallini has practised aviation law since 1988, offering a complete range of assistance to airlines, banks, leasing companies and manufacturers. Inter alia, experience in aviation by the firm includes: representation of domestic and foreign companies engaged in air transport; aircraft insurance work; Italian labour and regulatory advice; financial and corporate assistance; international work for airlines' handling companies; representation of manufacturers and Italian and foreign lenders in connection with the acquisition, disposition and operation of commercial aircraft, including purchase, lease, charters and financings for such transactions; regulatory work, including representation before governmental agencies, having continuous contacts with the civil aviation authorities, mainly in Italy and the EU but also abroad; advising international leasing companies and financiers in their aircraft business in Italy and registration and de-registration of aircraft in Italy. Ms Pierallini has assisted two IPOs of airlines at the Milan stock exchange, as well as M&A of domestic airlines by foreign airlines.

Laura Pierallini has acted as counsel to administrators and major Italian airlines in extraordinary administration. She is adviser to the Italian Association of Air Carriers and has succeeded in challenging resolution of the Italian CAA related to airports' charges before the Administrative Supreme Court (Consiglio di Stato).

She has attended many conferences on aviation, presenting speeches and moderating panels at various Italian and international symposia, inter alia, the European Air Law Association (EALA) 23rd Annual Conference held in Rome on 4 November, 2011, whose relevant panel focused on airline bankruptcy and passenger rights, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) legal forum held in Rome on 19-20 September 2011, dealing with new developments in aviation law in Italy, and the conference on entry conditions to the Italian air transport market held in Rome on 7 July 2011, presenting a speech on access requirements for EU and non EU air carriers.

She has contributed to various publications, including the Italian chapter of Getting the Deal Through – Air Transport (2006 to 2011); Airfinance Annual 2011/2012; Aircraft Finance and Aircraft Liens; A New Prescriptive Intervention Towards the Homogenization of the Air Carrier Liability; The Role of the Airport Manager Package Tours; The Legislative Decree No.111/1995: Effects on Relations Between Tour Operators and Travel Agents; and Travels, Holidays, Package Tours, Denied Boarding and Cancellation: New Fines for Airlines.

She is recommended as leading lawyer by several guides, including Top Legal, Aircraft Financing, International Law Office – Aviation, The International Who's Who of Aviation Lawyers, Corporate UK and Expert Guides – Aviation Lawyers.

The firm has been named Aviation Law Firm of the Year 2009 by ACQ Finance magazine, Aviation Law Firm of the Year 2010 by Global Law Experts magazine, Leading Aviation Law Firm of the Year 2011 by Intercontinental Finance, and Aviation Law Firm of the Year 2011 by Finance Monthly.

Laura Pierallini is a member of L2B Aviation, the International Aviation Women's Association, the European Air Law Association and the European Aviation Club.