What we say about the firm's legal practice in London
Transport
Within Aviation, Gates and Partners is a second tier firm,
Gates and Partners continued to grow rapidly with the opening of offices in Brussels and Dubai, and the recruitment of Alison McKenzie to the London office from Qantas. A niche aviation practice, it generates just over 50% of its work from aviation insurance liability matters, and ‘for defence claims arising out of crashes is unparalleled’. The group also has a strong track record of covering aircraft finance and aviation-related commercial agreements for airlines. It now sits on the panels of China Southern and China Eastern, and picked up a growing number of instructions from Russian airlines, as well as acting for British Airways and others on matters arising out of the volcanic ash eruption. Sean Gates and Neil McGilchrist are undisputed market leaders, and Saleema Brohi and Paul Freeman are also recommended.
Within Overview,
Levels of litigation in the aviation sector remained high. In addition to the continuing impact of the economic downturn, the sector came under additional pressure due to disruptions caused by the volcanic ash eruptions, and now faces further challenges as airlines slash their profit forecasts due to rising oil prices and a potential trade war looms with the EU preparing to include foreign airlines in the emissions trading scheme. On a positive note, there is robust growth by Asia Pacific carriers and great potential for growth in Latin America and Africa, which has a number of London practices looking internationally. The biggest upset in the sector, law firm wise, has been from the announcement of the pending move of Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP’s longstanding leading aviation practice, to Holman Fenwick Willan LLP. On the boutique front, Gates and Partners continued to grow, opening offices in Brussels and Dubai.