Transport law
Carriers, forwarders, freight agents, logistics operators and insurers: the group supports transport players, in advice and litigation.
The Asterias Avocats group offers a complete service to all players of the land and air transport world: road carriers, freight forwarders, transit agents, authorised economic operators, logistics providers, rail carriers, wagon lessors, shippers, insurers and cargo interests.
The group builds lasting relationships answering their full legal needs: drafting of contracts and general terms, advice, assistance and representation in commercial matters, in national or international transport law, and in criminal matters. It also offers tailored training for transport professionals.
The legal framework
International carriage of goods by road is governed by the 1956 Geneva Convention (CMR); carriage by air by the 1999 Montreal Convention. Domestically, the French Transport Code and the standard contracts frame the relations between principals, carriers and forwarders. These texts set the liability regimes, the compensation ceilings and the — short — claim and limitation periods, on which the outcome of a dispute often depends.
The situations we handle
- Drafting and audit of transport contracts and general terms
- Disputes over loss of, damage to or delay of goods
- Indemnity actions between carrier, forwarder and subcontractors
- Multimodal transport and logistics operations
- Commercial and criminal litigation arising from transport activity
How we work
The group analyses the contractual chain and the transport documents (consignment note, CMR, air waybill), determines the applicable regime and secures the claim deadlines. In advice, it tightens the general terms and the allocation of liability; in litigation, it brings or defends the action, taking care to preserve indemnity claims against the other links in the chain.
Issues of insurance cover and, upstream or downstream, of maritime transport are often intertwined. Tell the group about your situation.
