Icao Legal Director

Function 1 (including expected accomplishments)Provide assistance to the Secretariat in disputes between Member States under the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention) and other aviation-related instruments; commercial disputes between the organization and public and/or private bodies; •Assists in the monitoring and administration of proceedings.•Conducts relevant jurisprudential research and prepares oral arguments.•Assists in providing legal advice on the conduct of proceedings in accordance with applicable rules (e.g. dispute resolution rules, ICAO service code). • Process relevant correspondence and other documents related to disputes.• Compile and prepare relevant documents in connection with meetings/hearings of the Council, arbitral tribunals, the United Nations Appeals Board (UNAT) and/or other bodies. Function 2 (including expected accomplishments)Assist the Secretary-General and the Organization in the performance of their depositary functions and achieve results such as:•Analysis of a large number of air law treaty instruments deposited with the Secretary-General. Verify that they are in conformity with the final provisions of the treaty concerned and with treaty law and depositary practice.•Process relevant correspondence and ensure the revision and updating of documents relating to air law treaties.•Prepares responses to a wide range of custody requests from Member States, international organizations and members of the public. •Assists in the implementation of the organization`s activities to promote the ratification of aviation-related instruments (e.g. organization of the ICAO Treaty Event, preparation of contract-related contributions to legal seminars).•Liaises with other international organizations and other depositories as appropriate. • Assists in the conduct of contracting ceremonies, including preparation of legal documents, summaries of topics, etc. Function 3 (including expected results)Conduct research and legal advice on various legal topics of international law, including diplomatic and consular relations, intellectual property law, information technology law, contract law and dispute resolution, in order to achieve outcomes such as: •Assistance in Providing accurate and up-to-date information and advice.•Analyses, as necessary, the views and positions of States, international organizations and other bodies on specific issues.•Collection of relevant data; •Supports the design and development of an internal knowledge management strategy and management system that would contribute to this and other functions.

Function 5 (incl. Output expected)Assist in the preparation or review of agreements, memorandums of understanding and other instruments to which the Organization has acceded, prepare legal documents, documentation and presentations on international aviation law and achieve results such as:•Protection of the legal interests of the Organization, including privileges and immunities.•Respect for applicable precedents and consistency with thematic frameworks.•Coordination with various • Assistance in the preparation of legal publications (circulars, manuals, rules, etc.). •Support in the preparation of presentations and conferences for legal events (e.g. Civil Aviation Legal Advisers Forum).•Provides research materials as required. Function 6 (including expected accomplishments)Performs other related duties as required. It is important to remember that ICAO instruments are not simply dry legal texts that fuel debate and discussion among lawyers. These are living documents designed to enhance ICAO`s overall objectives for the safety and sustainability of air transport. They bring real improvements to the international civil aviation industry, which is so important today. The principles set out in the preamble to the Chicago Convention are certainly at the heart of ICAO`s legal work. Our work on unmanned aerial vehicles and cyber threats is at the forefront of new developments in international civil aviation. However, we continue to work on the interpretation and implementation of some key provisions of the original agreement, such as Article 12 (Air Traffic Rules) and Article 21 (Registration Report).

And when disputes arise between states parties, it is important that a robust and effective mechanism is in place to resolve them, so our work on updating dispute settlement rules is crucial. Work on all these issues will contribute to the achievement of ICAO`s objectives set out in the preamble to the Convention. The Office of Legal Affairs and External Relations () advises and assists ICAO Member States, Governing Bodies, the President of the Council and the Secretary-General, as well as other ICAO offices and regional offices on legal and external relations issues in general and in support of ICAO`s strategic objectives. In legal matters, the Office is responsible for providing legal advice to the governing bodies and the Secretariat on all legal matters, in particular international law and air law; the general development of air law; review of all agreements and contracts; and the performance of the functions of the contractual depositary of the organization. In the field of external relations, the Office is responsible for: maintaining close and harmonious working relations with Member States; serve as the focal point for the Organization`s relations with the host Government; the execution of connection and protocol functions; Monitor and provide strategic guidance and advice on current strategic events that may impact ICAO. The incumbent reports directly to the Director and/or designated senior official of the Office of Legal Affairs and External Relations, who is responsible for oversight, including procedural advice, delegation and division of labour, and decisions on priorities. Question: Orderly development in the 21st century certainly refers to what we now call sustainable development. One of the most important agreements reached by the Assembly in recent years, particularly in the field of the environment, is the CORSIA agreement of 2016. Could you explain to us what legal instrument was used by States to adopt this agreement? It is important to note that ICAO`s Legal Affairs Committee is meeting for its 38th meeting this week and for the first time since 2018.

The Committee on Legal Affairs is composed of legal experts and is open to all States Parties and international organisations. In its statutes, the Legal Affairs Committee`s task is to advise the Council on the interpretation of the Chicago Convention and to examine questions of public and private international air law. This year we are celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Committee on Legal Affairs. Since its establishment, the Committee has developed some 24 aviation law treaties in the areas of aviation safety, liability and financing of aircraft, as well as some amendments to the Convention. I am particularly interested in the fact that the Committee on Legal Affairs continues to play a leading role in examining new and emerging legal issues affecting the sector and in identifying how the aviation legal community can provide solutions to the changing landscape of modern air transport. This week`s Legal Affairs Committee is an important opportunity to review our current work programme and to consider where we can contribute to ICAO`s overall legal work.