Watson Farley & Williams (“WFW”) is delighted to announce that aviation and international law expert Jeffrey Wool has today joined the firm as Senior Global Advisor working out of both its London and New York offices.
Jeffrey serves as Secretary General of the Aviation Working Group (“AWG”), a not-for-profit international industry group that works on the development of policies, regulations and rules designed to facilitate advanced international aviation financing and leasing. He will continue in this role for AWG on secondment from WFW, who will serve as AWG’s international counsel going forward.
Jeffrey has extensive experience in international business and financial transactions, public and private international law, and aviation law and policy. In his capacity as Secretary General of AWG, he has coordinated all AWG activity since its inception in 1994. Jeffrey played a leading role in the development, negotiation and national ratification and implementation of the Cape Town Convention (“CTC”) and chaired the group that prepared the initial draft of the Aircraft Protocol. He currently leads global projects relating to the interpretation of and compliance with the CTC. Jeffrey also coordinated the formulation of AWG’s principles on airline restructurings following the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as leading on projects assessing ESG factors in aviation financing and leasing and directing the development of the Global Aircraft Trading System (“GATS”). Additionally, Jeffrey is a senior research fellow at the University of Oxford’s Harris Manchester College and is an affiliate member of the university’s law faculty.
WFW has a strong and close working relationship with AWG, having advising on several key projects including the development of its ESG framework, the design and build of the AWG carbon calculator, and the design and build of the Global Aircraft Trading System (“GATS”), providing ongoing support in relation to the CTC, and reviewing specific concerns in relation to aviation insurance connected to recent global events.
Global Aviation Sector Co-Head Jim Bell commented: “I am delighted to welcome Jeffrey to WFW. His reputation and experience are peerless and his joining us highlights WFW’s standing as one of the leading law firms for aviation expertise worldwide. This is also an exciting opportunity for WFW to build on our existing relationship with the AWG, with whom we have worked so closely in recent years”.
