Professional Highlights

CONSULTING

Mergers and Acquisitions

  • Economic consultant to United Airlines on proposed acquisition of US Airways
  • Lead advisor to Singapore Airlines on cross-equity swap and preferred marketing agreement with Delta Air Lines
  • Advisor to Air Canada on acquisition of an interest in Continental Airlines
  • Financial, restructuring and M&A advisor to Juneyao Group on its subsidiary airlines

Restructuring

  • Financial Advisor/Industry Consultant to Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation in bankruptcy reorganization proceedings of AMR/American Airlines
  • Industry expert advisor to United Airlines Creditors’ Committee on all aspects of United’s reorganization plan and business models
  • Advisor to numerous hedge funds and private equity entities on investments in various aspects of the airline industry
  • Consultant to Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation on analysis of United Airlines’ plans for emergence from bankruptcy
  • Consultant to Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation on analysis of US Airways’ plans for emergence from bankruptcy and possible termination of pension plan
  • Consultant to the owners of Hawaiian Airlines on restructuring of Hawaiian Airlines in the process of its successful emergence from bankruptcy
  • Financial advisor to Creditors’ Committee on reorganization of Sun Country Airlines
  • Lead advisor on restructuring of Air Macau
  • Lead advisor on restructuring of Cebu Pacific Air
  • Worked with Boeing Commercial and ILFC on possible restructuring of ATA
  • Special counsel to Pan Am Creditors’ Committee, with responsibility to sell Pan Am’s international route authority

Strategic and Competitive Positioning and Aeropolitical/Regulatory/Legal/Messaging

  • Lead aeropolitical advisor to Lufthansa German Airlines on Germany-U.S. bilateral agreement and Open Skies Agreement
  • Aeropolitical advisor to Singapore Airlines in persuading U.S. to implement an Open Skies policy
  • Advisor to CNAH and Air China on cross-equity swap with Cathay Pacific and sale of Dragonair to Cathay Pacific and Swire Group
  • Economic consultant to Northwest Airlines on U.S.-Japan relationship
  • Economic/aeropolitical consultant to UPS on U.S.-China route authority
  • Consultant to Hong Kong Dragon Airlines (Dragonair) on economic and analytical aspects of submissions of Dragonair to ATLA with respect to the application of Cathay Pacific for Hong Kong–China route authority; expert witness at hearings
  • Consultant to HMSHost in development of strategic plan to identify airport prospects worldwide; prepared and delivered presentations, and obtained food and beverage concession contracts
  • Consultant to Delaware North regarding development of strategic plan to identify airport prospects in North America and other strategic locations in North America
  • Consultant to Continental on DOT approval of tri-partite Continental/Northwest/Delta operations
  • Consultant to DFW International Airport on most recent (2009) DOT approval of BA/AA/IB antitrust immunity application and JV arrangement
  • Consultant/lawyer for Southwest Airlines’ acquisition of Midway slots from Northwest and Midway Airlines

Investment Assessment

  • Project Leader for the creation of new airline in Macau owned by Shun Tak Holdings and the Chinese Government via CHAC
  • Lead advisor to Marvin Davis/Davis Companies and Kirk Kerkorian/Tracinda on their leveraged buyout efforts of Northwest, United, TWA, and other airlines
  • Lead advisor to Shenzhen Airlines/Mesa in creation of first U.S.-PRC JV airline
  • Lead advisor to Virgin Blue Airlines in assessing investment in the Chinese market
  • Primary consultant to Virgin Group on development of business plan for creation of a U.S. “Virgin” airline
  • Consultant to start up airline in Hong Kong/Macau on financing, fleet and network issues

 Global Aviation Alliances

  • Lead advisor to Lufthansa German Airlines on selection of U.S. alliance partner and creation of global alliance
  • Advisor to Air Canada and Singapore Airlines on alliances with United Airlines
  • Consultant to Delta Air Lines on selection of European alliance partner
  • Consultant to bmi british midland on selection of U.S. alliance partner
  • Consultant to China Southern on alliance relationship with Delta Air Lines
  • Consultant to Air China on selection of an alliance partner
  • Consultant to China Eastern on selection of global alliance

Network Development/Buildout

  • Consultant to Lufthansa German Airlines on hub expansion at Frankfurt and hub development at Munich
  • Consultant for Air China on creation of hub operation at Beijing Capital International Airport
  • Consultant to British Midland on creation of hub at Manchester International Airport
  • Consultant to Dragonair on strategic planning re possible code-share and cooperation agreements
  • Consultant to Shanghai Airlines on strategic planning re possible creation of all‑cargo airline and process of securing foreign investor funding
AIRPORTS and AIRPORT RELATED
  • Consultant to Macquarie Bank Limited in its acquisitions of various airports throughout the world and in identifying and securing opportunities in infrastructure in Greater China
  • Advisor to JFK IAT LLC and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol on bidding for and successfully acquiring leasehold to old International Arrivals Building at JFK and redeveloping that terminal into new terminal
  • Advisor to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol on acquisition of Brisbane Airport in Brisbane, Australia
  • Consultant to Shanghai Airport Authority on creation of major international hub operations and expansion of air services and development of new terminal
  • Consultant to Beijing Capital International Airport on Strategic Plan and Implementation, including identification of requirements to meet BCIA’s 2015 goals, detailed Air Route Network Deficiency Study and new terminal development
  • Advisor to Kunming Province on development of new airport and related real estate
  • Advisor to Wuhan on the development of  airport and related infrastructure and real estate
  • Consultant to CAAC Southwest Region Administration and Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport, performing the “China Southwest Regional Aviation Infrastructure Development Study” (funded by the U.S. Trade and Development Agency), which included Passenger and Cargo Demand Forecasts, a detailed Air Route Network Plan, assessment of existing Regulatory Framework, and development of an Investment Plan (including options and approaches, environmental implications, economic and financial analysis and implementation)
  • Air service consultant to DFW International Airport
  • Air service consultant to Las Vegas McCarran International Airport for international service
  • Air service consultant to City of Phoenix Department of Aviation for international and domestic service at Sky Harbor International Airport
  • Air service consultant to Port of San Diego for domestic and international service at San Diego International Airport
  • Air service consultant for Amsterdam Airport Schiphol for international service
  • Air service consultant for Manchester International Airport for international service
  • Air service consultant for the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority for domestic and international service
  • Air service consultant for the City of Philadelphia Aviation Department for domestic and international service at Philadelphia International Airport
  • Consultant to Kunming Airport Authority on corporate structure and strategic plans
  • Consultant to Shenzhen International Airport on air service activities and cargo development
LEGAL
  • Complex 45-day arbitration involving Puerto Rico and Iran
  • Legal challenge to SFAR-40 (grounding by U.S. Government of DC-10 aircraft)
  • Oversight of complex contract to “jumboize” RoRo ships
  • M&A activity for Southwest Airlines, Marvin Davis and Kirk Kerkorian/Tracinda
  • Negotiated bilateral aviation service agreements on behalf of non-U.S. airlines
  • Created, as part of the initial team, the first global aviation alliance – Star Alliance
  • Cross-equity swap and preferred marketing agreement on behalf of Singapore Airlines with Delta Air Lines
  • Special Master to Pan American bankruptcy to sell international route authorities
  • Contested U.S. aircraft repair stations’ challenges to 14 CFR 145 (foreign repair stations) on behalf of Israel Aircraft Industries
  • Challenged numerous U.S. Government/Department of Transportation complaints against non-U.S. airlines and their governments under the International Air Transportation Fair Competitive Practices Act