Locke Lord Strengthens Aviation Litigation Capabilities With Additions of Experienced Litigator Eric Strain as Partner in New York and Paul Stinson as Senior Counsel in San Francisco

(NEW YORK and SAN FRANCISCO) August 1, 2019 – Eric Strain has joined Locke Lord’s New York office as a Partner in the Firm’s Aviation Industry Group. With more than two decades of experience representing aviation companies from North America, Europe and Asia, including defending against wrongful death, personal injury and commercial claims, Strain and Paul Stinson, who joins the Firm as Senior Counsel in the San Francisco office, will further strengthen Locke Lord’s national aviation litigation capabilities.

Strain and Stinson come to Locke Lord from another large national law firm, where Strain was deputy leader of the aviation team. Strain serves as lead national product liability defense counsel for some of the world’s largest aircraft manufacturers located in Europe and their U.S. affiliates. He is especially well versed in representing foreign and domestic corporations through all stages ‎of dispute resolution in the United States, including mediation, trial and appeal, and is a national ‎leader on issues involving the jurisdiction of U.S. courts over foreign defendants. ‎He is valued by his clients for his ability to visualize and execute on complex legal and technical strategies that are tailored to his clients’ specific needs, whether they be a prompt and efficient resolution or full and aggressive defense. Stinson has worked with Strain on such matters for nearly 15 years, and also devotes his practice to defending aviation clients in complex product liability and commercial disputes.

“Locke Lord is committed to building upon our internationally recognized reputation in the aviation defense and aviation insurance industries, and the strategic additions of Eric and Paul are an important milestone for us in that effort,” said Nick DiGiovanni, Chair of Locke Lord’s Insurance and Reinsurance Dispute Resolution, Coverage and Claims Practice Group. “Their vast aviation industry knowledge and experience will be integral to our New York and San Francisco offices, as well as our nationally recognized products liability and insurance litigation teams. We are thrilled to welcome them to the Firm.”

“I have had the pleasure of working side-by-side with Eric for many years and have gotten to see firsthand his extraordinary capabilities as a litigator. He will be an enormous asset to Locke Lord and our clients, and I am particularly looking forward to coordinating with him and Paul given the bustling aviation industry in Texas, a market in which Locke Lord has deep roots,” added Scott Jones, a Partner in the Firm’s Dallas office and Chair of its Business Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practice Group.

Strain’s substantial courtroom experience includes state and federal court jury trials, arguing before several U.S. courts of appeals and briefings submitted to the U.S. Supreme Court. He has been directly responsible for published opinions setting favorable precedent on personal jurisdiction and other issues impacting aviation industry clients.

“Locke Lord’s geographic footprint, collegial and collaborative environment and strong commitment to the next generation of lawyers in order to build highly skilled and diverse teams focused on the future were just a few of the reasons that made the Firm a very attractive platform,” said Strain. “Paul and I are looking forward to working closely with the Firm’s many talented lawyers and building upon the existing deep relationships we have with Locke Lord throughout the years that we have jointly represented our aviation clients.”

From major aircraft accidents to satellite risks to aircraft financing to regulatory matters, Locke Lord covers a wide range of issues affecting the aviation industry today. The Firm’s aviation defense lawyers have provided assistance to the aviation industry and its insurers for more than 50 years. Locke Lord provides services related to product liability, airlines, aircraft lessors, airport and general aviation. The team has extensive experience handling litigation, mediations and arbitrations as well as with aircraft acquisition, sales, financing, leasing, regulatory compliance and risk management for aviation transactions.

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About Locke Lord LLP
Locke Lord is a full-service law firm with global reach and 20 offices designed to meet clients’ needs in the United States and around the world. The Firm has a history that spans more than 130 years and is a leader in the middle market arena. Locke Lord focuses on providing the highest levels of commitment, quality and service to clients across its five Key Sectors: Energy and Infrastructure; Finance and Financial Services; Insurance and Reinsurance; Pharmaceutical; and Private Equity. In addition, the Firm advises clients across a broad spectrum of other industries, including fund formation, venture capital, health care, public finance, real estate, technology, cybersecurity and white collar, while providing a wealth of experience through its complex litigation, intellectual property, tax, regulatory and transactional teams.