Barry S. Alexander

Mr. Alexander serves as vice-chair of the firm’s Aviation Group. His practice concentrates on representation of airlines, product manufacturers, service companies, and aviation insurers in a wide variety of commercial, product liability, and personal injury litigation, and on the representation of premises owners and contractors in litigation arising under the New York Labor Law. Mr. Alexander acts as lead counsel in litigation in state and federal courts across the United States.

A frequent lecturer, Mr. Alexander has given multiple lectures and provided numerous seminars to manufacturers, airlines and insurers on various liability and regulatory issues. He also is an accomplished writer, having authored an article on airline liability for parental child abduction published in the SMU Journal of Air Law and Commerce, a chapter on the admissibility of expert evidence in federal court published in Litigating the Aviation Case, and a variety of articles on subjects including personal jurisdiction, tort reform, forum non conveniens and removal of Montreal Convention actions. He was the publications chair of DRI’s Aerospace Committee and editor of Skywritings, the Committee’s newsletter, between 2008 and 2011.

News & Publications

Education

Duke University School of Law, J.D., 1997
Cornell University, Industrial and Labor Relations, B.S., 1994

Bar Admissions

New York, 1998
New Jersey, 2019

Court Admissions

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

Clerkships

Honorable Sherrie L. Krauser, Circuit Court for Prince George’s County, Maryland

Other Distinctions

Listed in Who’s Who Legal: Transport 2018 and 2020 in Aviation – Regulatory and Aviation – Contentious categories
Listed as Leading Aviation Attorney by Aviation Expert Guides 2014-present
Winner of the International Advisory Experts Award Litigation Lawyer of the Year in New York, 2017
Listed in The International Who’s Who of Aviation Lawyers (Transport: Aviation-Contentious, Transport: Aviation-Regulatory), 2016, 2019 and 2020
Noted as “New York Super Lawyer,” 2015-2019

Representative Matters

Aviation Law and Litigation

Lead counsel for defendant in high-profile litigation arising out of crash of aircraft after day of filming on set of major motion picture.
Lead counsel for charter carrier in wrongful death litigation arising out of crash of aircraft in Bahamas.
Responsible for day-to-day handling of product liability action against major general aviation aircraft manufacturer arising out of crash; drafted motions for summary judgment that led to favorable settlement prior to decision.
Lead counsel for major international airline in litigation in New York and Pennsylvania, including actions arising out of alleged liability for parental abduction of child, and for personal injury alleged to have occurred on-board and during embarkation/disembarkation of aircraft.
Lead counsel in arbitration of substantial commercial dispute being arbitrated under UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules.
Lead counsel for one of world’s largest aviation engine manufacturers during international arbitration over cause of damage to engine.
Handled trial on behalf of aviation maintenance company; case settled favorably during trial.
Multiple trials on behalf of major global courier delivery services company.
Represent various aviation service companies in litigation pending in New York and New Jersey state and federal courts.
Responsible for day-to-day matters in litigation arising from the 2014 crash of a Gulfstream IV aircraft in Bedford, Massachusetts
Obtained dismissal in district court of claims for tortious interference with employment and discrimination on the basis of race and ethnicity on behalf of major international air carrier. Handled briefing and oral argument before the Second Circuit.
Successfully obtained summary judgment that was upheld on appeal to Second Circuit of claims against major international air carrier arising out of foreign government’s confiscation of large amount of currency due to lack of proper Customs documentation. Handled briefing and oral argument before Second Circuit.
Drafted amicus briefs for world’s largest airline trade association in multiple Federal Circuit Court/Supreme Court appeals.
Handled all aspects of wrongful death litigation against Fixed-Base Operator arising out of incident involving shipment of cargo dollies that fell onto truck driver.

Product Liability

Defended overnight package delivery company in wrongful death action arising out of allegedly defective conveyor belt
Defended airline in action arising out of allegedly defective ground support equipment.
Responsible for day-to-day handling of litigation against aircraft component manufacturer arising out of the crash of a general aviation aircraft.
Attended inspections and advised major international manufacturer of electrical equipment with regard to product liability claims
Assisted with summary judgment briefing in litigation against major manufacturer of golf carts.

Insurance Coverage

Lead counsel for insurer overseeing coverage litigation in California and Georgia federal courts relating to wrongful death and personal injury litigation arising out of crash after day of filming on major motion picture.
Go-to-insurance coverage counsel for major aviation insurer.
Represent insurer in litigation involving continuous trigger and other unsettled issues of insurance coverage law arising out of damage to major construction project.
Drafted amicus brief submitted to Texas Supreme Court on behalf of Aviation Insurance Association in In re Deepwater Horizon litigation.
Advised clothing manufacturer and retailer with regard to insurance coverage issues arising out of multiple sexual harassment and discrimination claims

Insurance Defense/Labor Law

Defend variety of owners and contractors in labor law litigation arising out of construction in New York City.
Represents insureds in variety of premises liability actions.
Represent interests of excess insurer in relation to lawsuits with high exposures.
Defended owner/developer against lawsuits arising out of injuries to laborers during the construction of two buildings at JFK International Airport.
Defended general contractor against lawsuits arising out of injuries to laborers during construction of movie theater in New York City.

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