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Aviation Lawyers

Clear, commercial and practical legal advice from aviation industry experts

Aviation law experts

Our aviation law specialists have in-depth knowledge and experience, representing airlines, manufacturers, airports, service providers and their insurers as well as business jet and light aircraft owners.

We advise across a broad range of insurance and liability, commercial and contractual related matters, including sale and purchase, finance and charter.

Commercial aviation support for a wide range of issues

Our dedicated aviation commercial team advises on a wide range of corporate, commercial, contractual and regulatory issues. 

How we can advise you

Several members of our team have worked within the industry; we know and understand your business and provide practical advice in order for you to evaluate your best options. Our expertise includes:

Commercial agreements

  • commercial contracts
  • charter and sub-charter agreements
  • code share and interline agreements
  • maintenance agreements
  • outfitting agreements
  • GDS agreements
  • frequent flyer programmes
  • supplier agreements including catering and ground handling
  • agency and commission agreements

Corporate

  • corporate structures
  • airline start-ups
  • mergers, acquisitions and disposals including joint ventures, shareholder agreements and asset transfers
  • asset protection
  • asset management

Commercial

  • website terms and conditions and compliance
  • booking terms and conditions, conditions of carriage and consumer rights
  • intellectual property rights
  • data protection
  • ATOL and package travel compliance including relevant supplier agreements
  • general company/commercial issues
  • airport operations

Aircraft finance and asset management

If you are buying or selling new or used commercial aircraft, leasing and handling complex transactions or associated financing, our asset management and aviation finance team has significant experience to help.

Our aviation lawyers have a particular focus on the sale and operation of business jets and helicopters including maintenance and operational matters. Whatever your requirements, whether you’re an airline, FBO, or aircraft operator, put your trust in our skilled legal team. 

How we can advise you

Whether you need advice on a single aircraft or a large fleet, we cover all areas relating to aircraft finance and asset management, including dealing with payment, delivery requirements, title warranties, tax and the assignment of existing or surviving manufacturers’ warranties.

With one of the largest UK practices advising high net worth individuals and commercial operators, our expertise covers:

  • aircraft sale, purchase and lease agreements
  • aircraft marketing agreements
  • asset management agreements
  • registration and operation of aircraft
  • aircraft maintenance agreements
  • aircraft operating agreements
  • corporate structures and asset protection
  • risk management
  • aircraft repossession
  • insurance
  • start-ups, licensing and regulatory advice

Aviation and aerospace insurance and liability

Our aviation lawyers boast decades of experience handling claims for the entire spectrum of the aviation community, from international airlines to balloonists, prime manufacturers to component repair shops, and from global airports to flying clubs.

How we can advise you

We deal with major losses and day-to-day claims (where we are focussed on the economical resolution of attritional losses).

Our expertise includes:

  • carriage by air liability in respect of passenger, baggage and cargo claims
  • delay, denied boarding and passenger rights
  • hull claims, property damage, subrogation and recovery
  • the liabilities for prime and component manufacturers for defects in their products
  • liabilities of fixed base operators and maintenance organisations arising out of faulty workmanship
  • liability exposure of airport operators towards users; both carrier interests and the travelling public
  • acting for business jets and light/general aircraft organisations
  • war and terrorism and hull war claims
  • risk management
  • economic attritional loss schemes
  • coverage and policy interpretation
  • drafting and reviewing policy wordings
  • insurance aspects of lease finance, including AVN67B
  • satellite reinsurance disputes
  • How our team will work with you

    We firmly believe in building long term relationships and engendering trust in the services that we provide. Our approach is always focused on providing pragmatic commercial advice, bearing in mind our clients’ specific business needs, and always protecting their brand and reputation.

    You can benefit from our unique and pragmatic insight into the needs of insureds, insurers and brokers, gained from team members’ experience working in-house in the industry.

  • Our clients

    Our aviation clients include:

    • airlines (passenger and cargo)
    • private and commercial aircraft operators
    • manufacturers of aircraft, engines and components
    • airport operators
    • ACMI/wet lease operators
    • maintenance repair organisations (MROs)
    • fixed base operators (FBOs)
    • insurers, financial institutions, corporate owners and private individuals operating, acquiring or disposing of fixed wing aircraft and helicopters.
  • Our experience

    Our work is wide-ranging and includes:

    • supporting an ACMI service provider with contractual negotiations with a client airline in the provision of a B737 for seasonal operations
    • advising the airline in respect of changes to the regulatory framework in governing the use and contracting of wet lease arrangements from third party carriers in line with EU regulation
    • providing assistance to the UK sales team of a non-EU airline regarding the potential impact of EU261 on significant flight delays/cancellations and potential third party recoveries. Providing advice in respect of potential care, assistance and compensation payable in line with EU guidance materials following case law precedent at CJEU level
    • on-going passenger and baggage claims handling for another UK-based airline and tour operator
    • reviewing and advising on medical clearance policies and procedures for a UK-based airline and tour operator
    • advising on and settling a pre-action claim for disability discrimination under the Equality Act 2010 from a person with reduced mobility (PRM) against another UK-based low cost airline and tour operator
    • advising a client on flight support agreements with clients engaging their services. This included a review of the potential insurance, liability and risk management provisions contained within the agreement
    • advice and assistance on an engine maintenance contract for an Indian carrier

Key contacts