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Francisco Prat is the managing partner and founder of Prat & Cia., a boutique law firm focused on aviation, based in Chile.
He has ample experience providing advisory and legal services in regulatory, finance and contentious aviation matters, to national and international airlines, aircraft financiers and lessors. Also praised for his extensive knowledge on regulatory, compliance and consumer protection matters.
Mr. Prat holds a law degree (JD equivalent) from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile and a Master of Laws (LLM) degree from Duke University, US. He is admitted to practise law in Chile and in the state of New York, US.
Francisco Prat has been recognized as a WWL Global Elite Thought Leader in Transport (2024), is a member of the Latin American Association of Air and Space Law (ALADA), and Director and Secretary at the Chilean Institute of Air and Space Law (IDAE).
Renata Fonseca is the Chief Legal Officer of GOL Airlines. She is the Director of Institutional Relations, responsible for planning the institutional relations area, defining strategic approaches, and managing the team to strengthen relationships within the company’s departments. Her role also involves consolidating the company’s strategic matters before legislative, executive, and regulatory bodies.
Agustín Ojea is Flybondi’s Chief Legal Officer and joined the team of Flybondi, Argentina’s first low-cost airline, in January 2018. He currently serves as Legal Director and Compliance Officer. In his role, he is responsible for the company’s strategic legal planning, interactions with investors and the Board of Directors, and regulatory negotiations with government authorities. As Chief Legal Officer, he also oversees the airline’s corporate, contractual, insurance, intellectual property, antitrust, consumer, litigation, labor, and union matters.
Before joining Flybondi, Agustín was the Legal and Compliance Manager at Midia Carrier, and prior to that, he gained legal experience at two renowned law firms: Allende & Brea and Estudio Jurídico Garay. Agustín holds a law degree from the Universidad Católica Argentina and an MBA from the Universidad de San Andrés in Argentina.
Humberto Lopez Mata is Delta’s Director of International and Regulatory Affairs where he is responsible for regulatory matters and leading the organization’s government affairs strategy in Canada, the Caribbean, and Latin America. Before joining Delta Air Lines, Humberto was an Associate at the international law firm, White & Case, and held senior positions at Aeromexico, Mexico’s flag carrier, Grupo Bimbo, the largest Mexican-owned baking company and one of the largest bakery companies in the world, and Instituto para la Protección al Ahorro Bancario (IPAB), Mexico’s deposit insurance entity. He is a graduate from Escuela Libre de Derecho in Mexico, and Northwestern University and Miami University in the United States of America, and is also licensed to practice law in Florida, New York, and Mexico.
Eduardo Leal Macedo has been the Head of Public Affairs at LATAM Airlines Brazil since 2023, where he leads and builds strategic initiatives and alliances with the public and private sectors. He has over 20 years of experience in liaising with public authorities and international organizations. Before LATAM, he worked at Vivo and Brazilian Textile and Apparel Industry Association (ABIT), leading significant projects in Governmental and Institutional Relations.
Eduardo holds a degree in Political Science from the University of Brasília (UnB) with an MBA in Corporate and Economic Law and a specialization in Corporate Communication, both from Fundação Getúlio Vargas (FGV). Since 2022, he has been representing LATAM Airlines in the most strategic forums for the development and sustainability of the aviation industry, contributing to discussions on topics such as the democratization of civil aviation, Climate Change, and Regional Integration of South America, among others.
Gerente de Nuevos negocios Biorenovables en BioD S.A, Ingeniera Química con más de 16 años de experiencia en biocombustibles, inicio su carrera en la dirección de los laboratorios de inspección y ensayo de biodíesel; en este rol hizo parte de la construcción de la guía de buenas prácticas de biocombustibles en Colombia, lideradas por el ministerio de Minas y Energía, así como en la elaboración de las normas técnicas colombianas NTC para biodiesel y sus mezclas con diésel. Tras haber cursado programas ejecutivos en Kellogg School of Management en 2017, ha liderado el proyecto de mezclas superiores de biodiesel en vehículos de carga pesada y liviana en Colombia y actualmente ha desarrollado proyectos colectivos que aporten a la meta global de descarbonización en otros segmentos de transporte liderando el proyecto de combustibles de aviación sostenible en Colombia SAF desde el año 2018 y es parte del grupo de construcción de la hoja de ruta del SAF para Colombia liderado por la Aerocivil.
Eliseo Llamazares is partner in KPMG and Head of Aviation in LATAM.
Eliseo has developed his professional career for more than 20 years in Spain (Palma de Mallorca) leading aviation industry. In 2017 started his career in Latin-American, moving to Chile and leading this industry in South America and now is living in Panama, leading aviation and tourism industries, in all Latin-America.
Eliseo has a master’s degree on Airports, Airlines and Aeronautic Management in IT Aerea (Spain).
DANIEL KETCHIBACHIAN, CEO of Aeropuertos 2000, holds a degree in Business Administration from University of Buenos Aires and an MBA from University ORT Uruguay. He was General Manager of Ezeiza Airport. Previously, he worked in Brazil, where he served as Commercial Director and President of Consorcio Inframerica, overseeing the management of airports in Brasilia and Natal. Prior to his arrival in Brazil, he was CCO for commercial operations at the airports in Argentina, Uruguay, Ecuador, and Armenia. Previously, he held the position of Commercial Director at the Airport of Armenia and was CEO of Duty Paid Argentina, the retail operator at the country’s main airports.
Paola Aimée Plá Puello is the Deputy Director General of the Dominican Civil Aviation Institute (IDAC). She is a lawyer specializing in Aeronautical Law, having trained at the National Institute of Aeronautical and Space Law (INDAE) in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She has over 15 years of experience in the civil aviation sector in the Dominican Republic. She began her career at the Dominican Civil Aviation Institute (IDAC), where she held various positions, including head of the legal technical division, head of the air transport department, and secretary of the full board of the Civil Aviation Board and the National Facilitation Committee. This committee is responsible for setting aviation policy, regulating the economic aspects of air transport, and overseeing facilitation in the Dominican Republic. Paola has played a key role in the formulation, adoption, and revision of air transport policies, ensuring their proper implementation and advising on the fulfillment of international commitments through treaties and agreements. She has been involved in significant legislative reforms, including the Civil Aviation Law of the Dominican Republic and the Civil Aviation Fiscal Incentives Law, as well as in drafting regulations related to consumer protection and air transport facilitation. Additionally, she has led teams that negotiated Air Services Agreements, serving as a negotiator in these processes. Her career is distinguished by her contributions to the development of civil aviation in her country and her role as Deputy Director at IDAC.
Ligia is the Global Head of Tax Policy at the International Air Transport Association. Before joining IATA, Ligia was a Board Member at the Civil Aviation Authority in Portugal, serving as CFO and CHRO, and with oversight duties over Economic Regulation, Sustainability, and Medical Certification. Before this experience, Lígia was the Aviation and Space Advisor to the PT Minister for Economy and the Secretary of State for Transport. Ligia has represented the Portuguese State for years, integrating various delegations at the EUROCONTROL, EU Council, DG MOVE, UNWTO, ECAC, and the EU Court of Justice.
Mr. Binder, Secretary for the Latin American Commission of Civil Aviation is a lawyer and Magister of Public Policy and Management of the University of Chile. He was an officer, for 16 years, in the Ministry of Transport and Communications of Chile where he exercised different positions, among them, the one of Counselor for the Civil Aeronautics Board, and then, after being selected through a public tendering, became the General Secretary of the same organization. Mr. Binder was a professor for Public Policy and Aeronautical Law in the University of Chile and University Adolfo Ibáñez.
After a public tendering, he was designated Secretary for the Latin American Commission of Civil Aviation, assuming the role on 2 January 2019.
Oracio Marquez is Regional Director for External Relations & Sustainability (EAS) for Latin America and the Caribbean. In this role, Oracio and the EAS team are responsible for myriad of issues ranging from managing international government and stakeholder relations to advocating on government regulatory matters affecting the airline industry in the region. The EAS team is also responsible for promoting the advancement of global best practices and standards aimed at simplifying the doing business process for IATA’s member airlines.
Internally, Oracio and the EAS team work closely with IATA’s country managers, regional leadership team and the other divisions at IATA to collectively develop and implement strategies to promote the attributes of the aviation sector. Externally, the team seeks to build relationships with a broad range of stakeholders including member airlines, government authorities, trade associations and other potential allies.
Raphael Linares currently holds the position of General Counsel & Head of Fleet at Azul Airlines. In addition to leading the legal, governance and compliance teams, Raphael oversees the airline’s aircraft leasing and financing activities as well as fleet planning and asset management matters.
In his current position, Raphael is the focal point at Azul for the leasing companies, OEMs and financiers in general. As an aviation executive, has both finance and legal backgrounds with a proven 10+ years of unique airline, legal and banking track record.
Prior to joining Azul, has served for 5 years as a corporate and M&A lawyer in some of the most reputable law firms in Brazil. Raphael has also held leading positions at the legal department of a Brazilian investment bank, specializing in project, asset-backed and structured finance transactions.
In 2021, Raphael has successfully concluded the Aviation Management Executive Program at Embry-Riddle University. Earned his law degree from the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo in 2012.
Cecilia Demarco is a lawyer who graduated from the Faculty of Law at the University of the Republic of Uruguay, with further academic training through postgraduate studies in business and labor advisory at the University of Montevideo. She has also complemented her education with various specialization courses at the IATA Learning Center, both in Geneva and Montreal.
In August 2022, she took on the role of Legal Director at JetSMART Airlines, where she has challenged herself in developing and strengthening the company’s legal and compliance area to drive its growth throughout the region. Additionally, she serves as Corporate Secretary for the entities belonging to the JetSMART Group.
Before joining JetSMART, Cecilia accumulated over 13 years of experience as an in-house legal advisor within the Uruguayan aviation industry, in addition to collaborating with renowned legal firms in the country, providing advice to airline companies and other industrial sectors
Dr. Marco Antonio Subía is a partner at Naranjo Martínez y Subía Law Firm, he holds a Doctorate in Jurisprudence from the Universidad Católica de Quito. Since 2008, he has served as President of the Ecuadorian Association of Airline Representatives (ARLAE) and provides legal counsel to over 20 airlines. Dr. Subía has been involved in drafting key legislative frameworks including the Tourism Law, Civil Aviation Law, and Air Operation Permits Regulation. He also held the position of Vice President of the Pichincha Chamber of Tourism from 2012 to 2016 and is a board member of the Ecuadorian Federation of Tourism Chambers.
Olga Lucía es Socia del área de Infraestructura, Proyectos y Derecho Público de la firma de abogados Martinez Quintero Mendoza Gonzalez Laguado & De La Rosa y presidente del Colegio de Abogados de Derecho Aeronáutico. Cuenta con 18 años de experiencia en cargos de dirección en los sectores privado y público y es experta en temas aeronáuticos, aeroportuarios, de infraestructura y en expedición de políticas públicas. Ha liderado grandes proyectos, tanto desde la empresa privada como funcionaria gubernamental, ejerciendo como directora de infraestructura y luego como viceministra de infraestructura del Ministerio de Transporte por alrededor de 3 años.
Koen Karsbergen, MSc in Aerospace Engineering, is a seasoned aviation strategist with over two decades of experience in airline business management across global markets, including Latin America. As co-founder and principal of Air52 Aviation Consultants, based in Mexico, Koen brings extensive expertise in strategic airline planning, network optimization, and business model innovation. His career, which includes experience at IATA and throughout the international aviation landscape, has been marked by successful airline expansion projects and the establishment of new operations. Koen has developed a deep understanding of the sector’s complex challenges, particularly in emerging markets and high-growth scenarios.
Milena Fajardo is an Aeronautical Engineer, Business Intelligence Specialist and Master in TIC from Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana with more than 11 years of experience in aviation. In her professional career she has held positions in maintenance, quality and operations areas. Her has extensive knowledge in fuel efficiency management, sustainability, sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), analysis and acquisition of carbon offsets, coordination with stakeholders, as well as in the management of purchases, negotiations and relationships with fuel suppliers.
Carlos Gutiérrez Laguna is a Lawyer, currently general manager of AETAI – Asociación de Empresas de Transporte Aéreo Internacional – which is the association that brings together almost all international operators in Peru. He holds a bachelor degree from the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú. He completed a Master’s Degree in Aviation Business Administration at the Autonomous University of Madrid. He has developed his professional career in the tourism and private aeronautical sector for more than twenty-one years. Likewise, he has six years of experience in the Civil Aviation Authority of Peru. His practice is focused on legal and regulatory matters in the air transport sector.
Viviana Martín is the Global Director of Institutional Relations of avianca, and the President and General Manager of avianca Costa Rica.
She has a Doctorate and Master in Commercial Law, Master of Business Administration (Executive MBA), Specialization in Marketing, Innovation and Digital Business, Specialization in Management Skills, and is graduated in Coaching and Mentoring.
She worked on eight public positions in different governments of Costa Rica and Central America, as Minister of Justice, Deputy and Head of Government Fraction, Vice Minister of Transportation, President of Civil Aviation, President of the Public Transportation Council, President of COCESNA in Central America.
Viviana is an Industry Affairs Advisory Council of IATA, for 4 years ago.
And she is a university professor for more than 20 years, in 4 different Universities.
Thiago Carvalho, partner at ASBZ Advogados specializing in aviation law, is one of the leading exponents of aeronautical law. He is a member of the Aeronautical Law Committees of OAB-RJ (Brazilian Bar Association – Rio de Janeiro Section) and OAB-Conselho Federal (Federal Council of the Brazilian Bar Association), and a council member of the Brazilian Institute of Aeronautical Law. With over 12 years of experience in aeronautical law and civil aviation, his expertise is widely recognized in the field.
Sergio Riberio Martins is a partner at Beaumont & Son / Clyde & Co working since 2011 with aviation law acting on behalf of local and international airlines as well as their insurers and reinsurers, focusing on both contentious and non-contentious matters. Versed in liability claims arising from air carriage such as passengers’ transportation, cargo matters, airport operations and accidents in general (including major accidents). Experience in various jurisdictions across South America, Central America, the Caribbean and the US. Specialised in Brazilian Procedural and Civil Law by Fluminense Federal University (UFF) and MBA in Insurance/Reinsurance by the National Insurance School (ENS).
Roberto Held is the Business Development Head for the Americas for Avion Express. Mr. Held has strong background in strategy, turnarounds, and finance in Aviation, having been CFO of Avianca Holdings, in addition to his banking and capital markets experience at Citi.
He holds an Executive M.B.A. from The Instituto de Empresa, a post-Graduate in Financial Law from the Universidad de los Andes and B.S. in Industrial Engineering from the Universidad de los Andes.
Mr. Held has been nominated as one of the TOP100 most influential individuals in the aviation industry on Linkedin (2022) and currently analyzes the aviation sector at one of the financial journals in Colombia.
Richard Galindo, Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel at Avianca since November 2020. Previously, he served in various senior legal roles at AGIL from 2017 to November 2020. In his role as the Chief Legal Officer, Mr. Galindo was integral to the Company’s successful out-of-court restructuring in 2019 and Chapter 11 reorganization and emergence during the COVID-19 pandemic. He holds a law degree and a post-graduate degree in corporate law from the law school of Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá, Colombia, a post-graduate degree in tax law from Universidad del Rosario in Colombia and Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree in business law from UCLA. Prior to joining the Avianca Group, Mr. Galindo served as director of the corporate/M&A practice group at Brigard Urrutia and worked in other law firms, including Withers (New York) and other Colombian law firms. Mr. Galindo is admitted to the practice of law both in Colombia and in the State of New York.
Ricardo Maluf is a Lawyer and founding partner of “Maluf e Rodrigues Advogados”, graduate at Mackenzie University in 1982 (São Paulo – Brazil) with specialization in International Aviation Law is a legal advisor and legal representative in Brazil of international airlines from Latin America, Europe, Africa and Asia, with over 30 years of experience in aviation law and legal advice in corporate law, President of KANOUN Institute of Compared International Law, Counselor of IBAER – Brazilian Institute of Aeronautical Law, Consultant Member of ALTA – Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association.
Constantly participates in research committees and aeronautical studies in several associations related to Civil Aviation in Brazil and other countries.
Ricardo B. Catanant is currently Director of ANAC – Brazil – Brazilian National Civil Aviation Agency and holds Bachelor´s Degree in Law from PUC-SP.
He has previously served as Head of Air Services Department, Manager of Air Services, Manager of Regulations and Projects within the Agency. Former legal advisor at Infraero and advisor at Superior Court of Justice.
He has served on ICAO Air Transport Regulation Panel and working groups.
María Eugenia Torres Luraschi , lawyer at Romero Zapiola, Clusellas & Sluga Abogados. Specialist in Aeronautical, Space, and Airport Law. Member of the Regulatory Commission for the Aeronautical Code. Legal advisor to international and Argentine regular and non-regular airlines. Professor of Transportation Law at the Universidad del Salvador. Speaker and lecturer on aeronautical and airport law.
Marcelo Guaranys, partner at Demarest Attorneys, has been a public officer of Treasury Secretariat of the Ministry of Economy. He holds a university degree in Economics from University of Brasilia and in Law from the University Center of Brasília. He also holds a Master of Science degree in Public Law from University of Brasilia. During his career, he worked with regulation of public services and infrastructure in the Finance Ministry and at the Civil Cabinet of the Presidency of the Republic. From 2007 to 2010 he acted as Director of Economic Regulation of the Brazilian Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC), and in 2011 he was appointed as Director-President of the Agency for the next 5 years. From 2016 to 2018 he was the Deputy Minister for Public Policies at the Office of the Chief of Staff of the Presidency of the Republic of Brazil. Since January 2019 he is the Deputy Minister of Economy.
Marcelo was the President of the Latin America Civil Aviation Commission from 2011 to 2013 and has acted as delegate and head delegate for many meetings of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
Hernán Adrián Gómez, currently serving as the Subsecretary of Aerial Transport of Argentina. Dr. Gómez has held several key positions, including Director of the National Aircraft Registry and Director of National Air Transport in Argentina. His significant contributions to the aviation industry are marked by his role in negotiating over a dozen international treaties and his involvement in legislative reforms, such as the creation of EANA and the 2023 amendment to the Argentine Aeronautical Code.
Academically, Dr. Gómez is a respected professor, holding a Full Professorship at the Universidad del Salvador where he teaches Aeronautical and Space Law, and an adjunct position at the University of Buenos Aires. He has been instrumental in shaping the next generation of legal professionals through his roles as the creator and Co-Academic Director of the postgraduate program in Interdisciplinary Aeronautical Law at Pontificia Universidad Católica Santa María de Buenos Aires.
Beyond his administrative and teaching roles, Dr. Gómez is an acclaimed author with over 50 publications on transport law, primarily focusing on aviation and maritime sectors. He has shared his expertise globally, lecturing in more than 15 countries, and is an active member of several international aeronautical organizations across the Americas, USA, and Europe. Dr. Gómez’s extensive experience and deep commitment to aviation law make him a valued panelist at our conference.
CARLOS CAMPILLO, partner at Alegre, Calderón y Márquez Abogados, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de México, School of Law, Participated in international conferences as coordinator and speaker; rendered services related to the aviation industry including mayor carriers, lessors, owners and related companies; founder Partner of Alegre, Calderon y Marquez Abogados. Author: Published articles on Mexican aviation law; collaborator of the Mexican Chapter for Getting the Deal Through – Air Transport for 2006, 2012 to 2015 and Aviation Finance & Leasing 2014 and 2015, member of the board of the Mexican Air Transport Chamber as representative of the Cargo Airlines (2012-2013) and U.S. Airlines (2014-2016) and President of the Legal Committee; ranked by Chambers Latin America and Who’s is Who Mexico and Best Lawyers as leading lawyer in Aviation practice. . Pro bono activity: member of the consulting board of the Canales de Ayuda Foundation and member of the board of the Non-Governmental Organization Documenta , Análisis y Acción para la Justicia Social A.C., LANGUAGES: Spanish and English. PRACTICE AREAS: Aviation Law, Aircraft Finance and Leasing and Corporate Law.
Ivette Franco Koroneos is a Panama-based attorney and the Senior Legal Director and General Counsel of Copa Airlines for over 25 years. She has served several positions in the public sector. Ivette worked in the Embassy of Panama to the Organization of American States in Washington, D.C. and was appointed several representations to the OAS such as alternate Representative to the OAS and Representative of Panama to the Inter-American Commission of Women. Ivette also worked as General Director of Legal Affairs and Treaties and Chief of Staff for the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Panama. She is an active member of the International Aviation Womens Association (IAWA), and of the Panamanian Association of Business Executives (APEDE), where she was President of The Tourism Commission and a member of the Board of Directors in the 2017-2018 period. Ivette is also a member of the board of directors of Fundación Despega con Copa Airlines.
Flávio Igel is a Lawyer at Nantes Mello Advogados, with prior experience in leading law firms, Flavio Igel heads the Dispute Resolution practice area, assisting national and international clients from the pre-litigation phase to judicial and arbitral proceedings. Flavio handles high complexity disputes arising from corporate, business and financial matters, as well as manages the strategic high-volume of low or medium complexity claims in the consumer area. His experience includes matters involving civil aviation, cash collection claims, entertainment, commercial distribution, corporate disputes (including valuation of shares), management liability and disputes related to intellectual property, unfair competition and insolvency matters. Flavio’s approach is focused on adding value to the client, conducting the legal work in a strategic and personalized manner, combining the best of what technology has to offer with innovative measures based on his extensive legal experience.
Diego Fargosi Bond, founding partner at Fargosi Abogados
LL.B., Universidad Católica Argentina
Postgraduate Specialist in Aviation Law, I.N.D.A.E.
Partner, Fargosi Abogados
Executive Director, Aerolíneas Argentinas (2006-2009)
President, C.L.A.R.A. (Argentine Chamber of Airlines) (2007-2009)
Alumni, Holland & Knight
Advisor to Airlines and Travel Agencies in legal and regulatory matters. Assisted airlines, leasing companies and financial institutions in more than 150 transactions regarding aircraft and engines.
Regularly consulted by national newspapers and specialized media in matters related to airlines and tourism.
Luisa Medina is a partner at Di Ciero Advogados, responsible for consulting and litigation in the areas of Aeronautical, Customs, Tax, Regulatory and Corporate Law.
She holds a degree in Law from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio) and a member of the Brazilian Bar Association (RJ and SP).
Carlos Proto is a Public Accountant, serving at Ministry of Finance of Argentina. Graduated at Universidad de Buenos Aires. Master’s in Tax Administration, Université Libre de Bruxelles. Director of International Tax Relations, National Tax Directorate of the Ministry of Economy (Argentina). Negotiator for Argentina of Double Taxation Agreements and the Multilateral Instrument for the Implementation of BEPS Project Recommendations. Argentine representative to the OECD Committee on Fiscal Affairs, with roles including member of the Steering Group of the Inclusive Framework on BEPS Implementation, vice-chair of the Action Group on the Digitalization of the Economy within the Inclusive Framework, and vice-chair of Working Party No. 1 on Tax Treaties and Related Issues. Member of the United Nations Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters (2017-2021 and 2021-2025), serving as coordinator of the Drafting Group for Article 12B of the UN Model on Taxation of the Digital Economy, coordinator of the Subcommittee on Updating the UN Model Tax Convention, coordinator of the Subcommittee on Updating the UN Manual on Tax Treaty Negotiations, coordinator of the Subcommittee on Rules and Procedures of the Committee of Experts, and coordinator of the Subgroup on Dispute Resolution. Representative of Argentina to the Tax Specialists Group of MERCOSUR. Professor of International Taxation at various universities
Bruna Chimenti Porto is a Lawyer and Head of Legal Department of TAP Portugal for South America since 2015.
She is also Executive Director of TAP Maintenance & Engineering Brazil.
Prior to joining TAP, Bruna worked in big law firms for 12 years.
Bruna has a specialization in costumer law and a master’s degree in Contract Law. Bruna also has an Executive MBA.
