Marissa’s practice encompasses all aspects of civil and commercial litigation with an emphasis on aviation-related matters.

Marissa has significant experience litigating in both federal and state court, where she has conducted trials, arbitrations, and mediations.  Marissa has represented foreign and domestic air carriers, terminal operators, manufacturers, charter brokers, and other entities in complex litigation involving mass air disasters, wrongful death and personal injury, product liability, contractual disputes, and cargo damage and loss. On behalf of the firm’s clients in the aviation industry, Marissa’s extensive experience includes litigating claims governed by the Montreal Convention, Warsaw Convention, and federal aviation statutes and regulations. Marissa also has extensive appellate experience, having been the primary author of appellate briefs and delivering oral argument in the United States Courts of Appeals and the New York Appellate Division.

With a practical approach to problem solving, Marissa counsels clients on compliance with federal regulations, responding to administrative proceedings and enforcement actions, negotiating and evaluating commercial transactions, and addressing employment and labor matters. Marissa presents seminars and writes articles on an array of legal issues affecting aviation-related entities, including preemption under the Federal Aviation Act and Airline Deregulation Act; the Montreal Convention, EU 261, and other international laws; regulations promulgated by the U.S. DOT and FAA; and the Air Carrier Access Act and its implementing regulations.

Marissa was selected as a New York Super Lawyer “Rising Star” (2015-2019) and has been recognized as a Super Lawyer in the field of Aviation & Aerospace for the New York Metro Area (2022-2023). Marissa is a member of the American Bar Association and the Aviation and Space Law Committee of the ABA Tort and Insurance Practice Section (TIPS).

While in law school, Marissa served as a judicial intern to the Honorable Kevin N. Fox, United States Magistrate Judge, Southern District of New York.  She also completed internships at the Kings County District Attorney’s Office and the American Civil Liberties Union and served as President of the Brooklyn Law School Moot Court Honor Society.

Newsletters and Bulletins

August 2, 2024 | Client Bulletins
Federal Appellate Court Pauses and Questions Legality of New DOT Rule Mandating Air Carrier Fee Disclosures

May 10, 2024 | Client Bulletins
Department of Transportation Issues New Rules Governing Refunds and Fee Disclosures

June 30, 2023 | Client Bulletins
In Landmark Case Involving Attorneys Who Submitted Fake Court Decisions Generated by ChatGPT, Federal Judge Sanctions the Attorneys and Dismisses Action as Time-Barred Under the Montreal Convention

December 8, 2021 | Client Bulletins
Second Circuit Reaffirms the Preemptive Effect of the Montreal Convention

January 7, 2021 | Client Bulletins
Massachusetts Federal Court Reaffirms that a Passenger’s Personal, Subjective Expectations Have No Bearing on Whether an “Accident” Occurred under the Montreal Convention

October 14, 2020 | Client Bulletins
Federal Court Finds Montreal Convention Does Not Provide Basis for Personal Jurisdiction

March 16, 2020 | Client Bulletins
An Overview of Federal Law Governing the Carriage of Passengers Who May Have a Communicable Disease on International Flights

January 23, 2020 | Client Bulletins
Addressing Safety and Comfort in Air Travel, the U.S. Department of Transportation Proposes Sweeping Changes to Regulations Governing Carriage of Service Animals

December 9, 2019 | Client Bulletins
California Federal Court Dismisses Claims Under EU 261

September 20, 2019 | Client Bulletins
Air Carriers Are Defeating Lawsuits Filed by a Corporation Seeking Compensation on Behalf of Passengers Under EU 261

August 12, 2019 | Client Bulletins
Department of Transportation Issues Statement Clarifying Its Enforcement Policies Relating to Transportation of Service and Emotional Support Animals

May 17, 2019 | Client Bulletins
DOT Revises Rule Governing Notice of Liability Limitations

April 5, 2019 | Client Bulletins
The National In-Flight Sexual Misconduct Task Force Convenes To Address Sexual Misconduct During Air Travel

February 25, 2019 | Client Bulletins
FAA Seeks Comments on Possible New Regulations Aimed at Enhancing Safety and Security In the Operation of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems

October 9, 2018 | Client Bulletins
The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 Makes Wide-Ranging Reforms, Including Consumer Protection Enhancements

September 6, 2017 | Client Bulletins
Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals Expands the Ability of Plaintiffs to Recover Damages for Mental or Emotional Injuries Under the Montreal Convention

December 10, 2015 | Client Alerts
U.S. Department of Transportation Considering New Rules under the Air Carrier Access Act

August 21, 2015 | Client Alerts
Recent Revisions to U.S. Regulations Concerning Oversales, Domestic Baggage Liability Limits, and Mistaken Fares

December 17, 2014 | Client Bulletins
US Supreme Court Rules that Class Action Defendants Need Not Submit Evidence of Amount in Controversy When Removing Under the Class Action Fairness Act

April 4, 2014 | Client Alerts
U.S. Supreme Court Rules that the Airline Deregulation Act Preempts Common Law Claims

January 31, 2014 | Client Alerts
New Rules Issued By the U.S. Department of Transportation Pursuant to the Air Carrier Access Act Take Effect

July 1, 2012 | Client Bulletins
Federal Appellate Court Upholds DOT “Passenger Protection” Regulations

Published Works and Presentations

Contributor, The Liability Reporter, published jointly by Condon & Forsyth LLP and the International Air Transport Association (25th ed., 2024).

Co-Author, Chapter 36, “Successive Carriage.” Chapter 39, “Contracting Carrier – Actual Carrier.” The Montreal Convention – A Commentary. (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2023). (co-authored with Bart J. Banino and Damara L. Carousis).

Contributor, The Liability Reporter, published jointly by Condon & Forsyth LLP and the International Air Transport Association (24th ed., October 2022).

Panel Speaker, “Operator & Broker Jeopardy!” National Business Aviation Association, NBAA-BACE, Las Vegas, NV (October 23, 2019).

“In-Flight Sexual Misconduct: Congressional Action and Air Carrier Liability,” 2019 ABA Forum on Air & Space Law Annual Conference (Seattle, Washington, September 13, 2019). (co-authors Jonathan E. DeMay and Constantine J. Petallides).

Contributor, The Liability Reporter, published jointly by Condon & Forsyth LLP and the International Air Transport Association (IATA), (22nd ed., March 2019).

Contributor, The Liability Reporter, published jointly by IATA and Condon & Forsyth LLP (21th ed., February 2018).

Co-author, Recent Developments in Aviation and Space Law, 52 Tort Trial & Ins. Prac. L.J. 265 (2017).

Contributor, The Liability Reporter, published jointly by IATA and Condon & Forsyth LLP (20th ed., February 2017).

Speaker, “Recent Developments in Aviation and Space Law,” at the annual conference of the American Bar Association, Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section, Aviation and Space Law Committee, Washington, D.C. (November 3-4, 2016).

Contributor, The Liability Reporter, published jointly by IATA and Condon & Forsyth LLP (19th ed., February 2016).

Contributor, The Liability Reporter, published jointly by IATA and Condon & Forsyth LLP (18th ed., February 2015).

Contributor, Margo on Aviation Insurance (4th ed., 2014).

Contributor, The Liability Reporter, published jointly by IATA and Condon & Forsyth LLP (17th ed., February 2014).

Contributor, The Liability Reporter, published jointly by IATA and Condon & Forsyth LLP (16th ed., February 2013).

Contributor, The Liability Reporter, published jointly by IATA and Condon & Forsyth LLP (15th ed., February 2012).

DOT Tarmac Delay Regulations Extended to Foreign Carriers. Condon & Forsyth LLP Client Alert (April 2011).

U.S. Litigation Arising Out of the TAM Linhas Areas Flight 3054 Accident: Another Significant Forum Non Conveniens Setback for Plaintiffs in Federal Court. Condon & Forsyth LLP Alert (February 2011).

IATA Establishes Uniform Limit of Liability for Transportation of Cargo Across All Routes (January 2011).

Contributor, The Liability Reporter, published jointly by IATA and Condon & Forsyth LLP (14th ed., February 2011).

Contributor, The Liability Reporter, published jointly by IATA and Condon & Forsyth LLP (13th ed., February 2010).