Biography: Aviation

A Emilio Argüelles, was the founding senior partner of Argüelles & Asociados in 1985.

This firm covers all major practice areas and together with an extensive practice in aviation law, represents agencies and governments, banks, companies (including several Fortune 500 companies) and individuals mainly on international commercial transactions, corporate and business matters and litigation.

Mr Argüelles' aviation practice includes six years as general counsel of Argentina's then largest private airline, Austral Líneas Aéreas, and more than 20 years of private practice representing many of the world's leading aircraft and engine manufacturers, aircraft lessors, banks and financial institutions, including US Ex-ImBank and European ECAs, on most of the major aircraft transactions having taken place in Argentina including operative and financing leases, purchase, sale and leaseback, securitisation and cross-border operations. His practice also represents major international and domestic airlines on regulatory matters, operational issues, air traffic rights, bilateral air-transport agreements, airport and ground handling matters, and litigation. He has worked in several jurisdictions, principally in the US and other American and European countries.

Mr Argüelles graduated from the School of Law of the University of Buenos Aires (LLB 1964), attended Princeton University, (American law programme) and SMU Dallas, Texas, (MCL 1967). He was professor at the School of Law, University of Buenos Aires, and lectured at several institutions and seminars, (the American Management Association, Ordem dos Advogados do Brasil, Air Finance Legal Conferences), and has published books and articles on legal aspects of foreign investment, corporate regulations and international business transactions.

He is a member of various committees on air transportation regulations in Argentina, being involved with the aviation working group with respect to the Cape Town Convention.

He is a member of the Buenos Aires Bar Association, of the SM University Alumni Association and of the Comparative Law Association (member of the executive board 1977-1990).

Mr Argüelles is a Fulbright Scholar, received awards from the Institute of Law of the Americas and the Ford Foundation, and was appointed Honorary Citizen of the State of Texas, USA.

He speaks Spanish, English and Portuguese.