National law firm Weightmans LLP has welcomed aviation specialist Sonia Lopez as partner into its London-based team.
Sonia brings with her over 21 years of aviation industry legal experience, having started her training at Beaumont and Son and latterly as a Legal Director at Clyde & Co.
Sonia has significant major loss experience, having been involved in high-profile major airline catastrophes since 2007. She also has also garnered a reputation for successfully assisting clients navigate high profile and reputationally significant passenger claims. Her practice encompasses a broad spectrum of aviation and travel related work, including subrogation and coverage and she also regularly advises airlines on regulatory issues, latterly helping airlines navigate issues arising out of the pandemic.
Sonia has a proven track record in driving innovation through the aviation claims process to provide airline risk management teams with meaningful trend data, engage with airlines on risk management issues and ensure that clients are provided with a high quality, nimble and cost-efficient service to secure the best possible outcomes.
Weightmans launched its aviation team in 2019, headed by Andrew Krausz, to advise the industry and its insurers on contentious, regulatory and commercial matters. Weightmans’ aviation offering was further bolstered with the arrival of Partner Adam Baker in December 2021.
Sonia said: 'I am delighted to join the Weightmans aviation litigation team, as it enters a new phase of further expansion to establish itself as the pre-eminent choice for aviation clients looking for a high quality, innovative and cost-efficient approach.
'Weightmans’ investment in technology to enhance the client experience and effectiveness of claims handling is exciting and I look forward to galvanising these opportunities to the benefit of aviation clients, while broadening my work in assisting airline management teams in understanding and limiting their risk. I am also delighted to bring together the technical expertise of Andrew and Adam, with my experience in Spanish speaking jurisdictions to further broaden the airline and general aviation offering.'
Andrew Krausz, head of aviation at Weightmans LLP said: 'Sonia is recognised as first-class and a real ‘go to’ hands on problem solver for the most difficult and reputationally sensitive matters. She is one of the world’s most experienced and capable aviation lawyers in the major loss arena and as the team grows beyond 10, she will be another fabulous mentor for our talented junior lawyers.'
