Speakers

Themis Advisory was founded in 2018 by Joanna Kolatsis, a former partner in a City law firm, following 20 years providing legal services to the travel and aviation industries.  Following her decision to leave private practice, she founded Themis Advisory which was born out of a desire to provide current, pragmatic commercial solutions for the modern business world.

Joanna began her legal career as Group General Counsel for a vertically integrated tour operator in 1998. In 2008 she joined the boutique aviation practice, Gates and Partners, before joining Hill Dickinson as Partner and Head of Aviation and Travel in 2014 until July 2018.

Since qualification Joanna has specialised in the aviation and travel industries and her advice covers all aspects including airlines, tour operators, destination management companies, distribution and accommodation. Her expertise includes aviation and travel law, commercial and regulatory matters including the Package Travel Directive and ATOL compliance, aviation regulatory issues including passenger rights and general company commercial and contractual matters including booking terms and conditions, website compliance, charter agreements and complaints handling. She also assists companies with ABTA and ATOL licensing applications, regulatory investigations and compliance issues.

Joanna has specific expertise in risk management, crisis management and criminalisation in air and travel incidents, speaking frequently on this topic.  She has been involved in several high profile travel and aviation crises including air accidents and investigations, terrorist events and their impact, catastrophic weather incidents and high value injury claims. This particular skill set allows Joanna to provide strategic advice to assist with claims prevention, brand reputation and business resilience in an effort to reduce exposure to claims and aid efficient management of crises and claims when they do arise.

Joanna is a multi-award winning lawyer and is often in demand to speak at industry events for ABTA, IATA, Advantage Travel Partnership, Travel Weekly, Airlines UK and BARUK and contributes to a number of industry publications. She is Honorary Legal Counsel to Airlines UK and in 2017 she was appointed to the AWTE ‘Most Influential Women in Travel’ list.