Law and Legal Liability: Law Programs for Non-Lawyers

"Lawyers are the only people in whom ignorance of the law is not punished."
 -Jeremy Bentham 1748-1832

Don't wait until it is too late! The need to understand the law is not restricted to lawyers. On the contrary, everyone involved in business should understand the basic legal concepts, which affect them and their companies every day. CIFFA is pleased to offer two courses, tailored to our industry, that will empower your decision making and contracting processes.

Part 1 - Contract Law for Non-Lawyers (8 hours)

Part 1 will provide participants with a good understanding of contract law, what constitutes a contract (and what does not) as well as explaining crucial related concepts such as, what contracts are unenforceable, jurisdiction and choice of applicable law provisions, the litigation process when things go wrong, and the role of national laws and international treaties. The course also focuses on what happens when one party breaches a contract, including calculation of damages, remedies, where one can sue and the court process.

• Basic Principles of Contract

  • What is a contract, what is not.

  • Offer, Acceptance, Letters of Intent, Memorandum of Understanding.

  • Applicable Law.

  • Jurisdiction.

  • Public Order.

  • National Legislation.

  • International Treaties.

• Liability and Litigation

  • Contractual Damages.

  • Contractual Remedies.

  • Limitation of Liability Clauses.

  • Proof and Evidence.

  • Appeals.

  • Enforcement of Judgments.

Part 2 - Air Cargo Law for Non-Lawyers (8 hours)

Building on what has been learned in Part 1, Part 2 then looks at the international law regimes applicable to air freight , and how these effect the private agreements between forwarders, airlines and customers as well as contractual liability for international air freight. In addition the course will review basic principles of competition law (antitrust) policy. Over 100 countries today have adopted competition laws. Competition laws prohibit certain types of contracts and agreements. The potential consequences of such illegal agreements can be enormous. In addition to huge fines and private actions for damages, in the USA, violators can go to jail and in the EU the contract is not enforceable.

• Sources of International Air Law and Practices

  • Chicago Convention-The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)

  • The International Air Transport Association (IATA)

• Liability for International Carriage

  • This section of the course examines the liability of an air carrier and forwarders under the major international Conventions: (The Warsaw Convention, The Hague Protocol, Montreal Protocol Number 4, The Montreal Convention 1999)

• Contractual Liability of Airlines and Forwarders for Air Cargo

  • Principles of Contract law.

  • Air Waybill.

  • Contract of Carriage.

  • Conditions of Carriage.

• Competition Law (Anti-Trust)

  • Overview of Competition Law Policy and Concepts.

  • Sanctions.

Who Should Attend?

All employees involved in negotiating agreements, handling claims or managing commercial relations including those with clients, manufacturers, airports, airlines, and general sales agents, Contract Managers, Claims Managers, Distribution Managers, Leasing Managers, Risk Managers, Purchasing Managers.

How will you benefit?

Any employee involved in contracting, claims handling or management of commercial relations will benefit from this course and be able to apply the skills learned to assist them with their daily responsibilities.

• You will understand the key issues involved in commercial contracting.

• You will understand what can and should be negotiated.

• Understanding of remedies and damages will greatly improve your negotiation and settlement of claims (by your company or against your company).

• Understanding of the rules of proof, evidence and the Court process will ensure that in the event of disputes, you are well prepared.

• Understanding of the specific liability regimes for international carriage by air will provide a broad range of benefits.

• Understanding of basic Competition law principles will help avoid potentially costly fines, actions in damages (or even jail) as well as ensuring that contracts will be enforceable.

Instructor: Robert Donald

Robert Donald is an attorney with over 20 years experience in the areas of international aviation, national and international commercial transactions, litigation, and competition law.

Robert is the former General Counsel of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and spent ten years with the IATA legal departments in Geneva and Montreal. He returned to private practice in 2004 and is Counsel to Fraser, Milner, Casgrain LLP, one of Canada’s leading national law firms.

Prior to joining IATA, Robert spent ten years in private practice as a partner in a Montreal law firm. His practice was concentrated in the areas of corporate/commercial and litigation. Robert received his degree in law from McGill University, a B.A. from Concordia University, and a postgraduate diploma in European Union Competition law from King’s College in London.

Schedule

Montreal

• Part 1, Contract Law for Non-Lawyers - 2008 Schedule TBA

• Part 2, Air Cargo Law for Non-Lawyers - 2008 Schedule TBA

Toronto

• To be announced

Pricing

Register for one (1) program only: $850.00 + $42.50 GST = $892.50

Register in both programs: $1,400.00 + $70.00 GST = $1,470.00

Non-Member Pricing

Register for one (1) program only ... $1,050.00 + $52.50 GST = $1,102.50

Register in both programs ... $1,600.00 + $80.00 GST = $1,1680.00

Note: Programs include continental breakfast, lunch, and refreshments during the day.

Register

To register, click here:
https://www.ciffa.com/https/registeronline_step1.asp