Transport Law

Transportation and logistics companies in Australia face a number of unique legal challenges which only a legal team with transport industry knowledge and experience can assist with.

Cooper Grace Ward has direct experience in transport law, working with a range of clients, particularly in the aviation, bus and road transport and heavy transport sectors.

Aviation Law

From aircraft owners and insurers to major operators of aviation infrastructure, Cooper Grace Ward provides a high level of legal support to the aviation industry in Australia and internationally.

Members of our Aviation Law Team, led by partner Kevin Bartlett, have provided services to the aviation and insurance industries for more than 25 years.

Our clients in the aviation industry include leading domestic and international aviation insurers, brokers, airlines, general aviation owners and operators, a national television network, fixed wing and helicopter training facilities, repair organisations, pilots, and leading aviation law practitioners in the UK, USA and New Zealand.

Kevin Bartlett’s longstanding association with McGill University’s Institute of Air and Space Law provides our team with a strong network of contacts around the world in leading positions within global insurance and aviation circles.

Services we offer

Our services to the aviation industry include:

• Conducting litigation resulting from aircraft accidents
• Defending aviation insurance claims, including
  • Personal injury and death claims
  • Hangarkeeper, product liability and airport owner/operator claims
  • Non-ownership liability claims
  • Aerial overspray and crop damage claims
  • Air carriage and ticketing claims
• Advising on policy, indemnity and subrogation issues
• Conducting subrogated recovery actions
• Representing clients at coronial inquiries
• Negotiation with regulatory authorities on behalf of general aviation owners and operators, AOC holders, and air transport operators 
• Defending CASA prosecutions and conducting review proceedings in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal and the Federal Court
• Advising operators on risk management issues, licensing and certification requirements
• Advising on and drafting air charter agreements
• Conducting litigation and advising in relation to aircraft contractual disputes, including aircraft parts and components, sales and employment issues
• Advising on land use planning issues and noise exposure around airports.

Bus and Road Transport Law

The team at Cooper Grace Ward has more than 13 years of specialist practice in the bus and road transport sector, providing us with the insight you need to make the right business decisions.

We have assisted and represented private bus operators in a range of issues including business and share sales, as well as bus contract negotiations with State Governments.

We have also developed strong relationships with bus industry associations across Australia, having advised and represented the Queensland Bus Industry Council, BusNSW, TasBus and the Bus & Coach Association of South Australia.

Services we offer

Our major services in this area include:

• Advice and negotiations on Metropolitan, Outer-Metropolitan and Rural and Regional Bus System Contracts (New South Wales)
• Advice and negotiations on Translink and Queensland Transport service contracts, including long distance, kilometre based school service, fares based school service and commercial contracts (Queensland)
• Advice and negotiations on Rural School Service, Urban Fringe Student Only, Urban Fringe General Access, Urban and Long Distance Contracts (Tasmania)
• Advising on Queensland, New South Wales, Tasmanian and South Australian passenger transport legislation, regulation and standards
• Due diligence, drafting of contracts and advice on business sales, mergers and acquisitions Australia-wide
• General commercial and property advice to private bus and transport operators, including advice on succession, re-structuring and shareholder agreements.

Heavy Transport Law

Our transport team acts for a variety of road transport operators from owner drivers to national logistics companies. We also act for heavy machinery and earthmoving contractors and for insurers involved in the heavy motor insurance industry.

We can help your transport business with:

• Drafting conditions of carriage
• Preparing and advising on contractual documentation such as subcontracting agreements, hire agreements and fleet provider contracts
• Advising on issues relevant to the operation of warehousing facilities
• Sale and purchase of transport businesses
• Commercial litigation arising from heavy motor vehicle accidents including physical damage to vehicles and related claims for demurrage and loss of profits
• Industrial relations issues you may encounter such as negotiating and settling collective bargaining and workplace agreements and defending unfair dismissal proceedings
• Defences to Workplace Health & Safety Act prosecutions
• Advising on all of the planning requirements for the establishment of and expansions of depots
• Advising on the infringement of planning legislation and any enforcement action relating to the infringement
• Interpreting transport legislation and regulations including the requirements for environmental licences associated with the operation of depots.
   

What our clients say

Read more about what CGW clients say about our firm.