Transport: aviation in Australia

The powerhouse transport and logistics team at Clayton Utz remains a market leader, advising major airports, airlines, and governmental agencies on large-scale transportation projects. Led by aviation and airports law authority Andrew Leece, the group’s work extends to acting for Hobart International Airport, Brisbane Airport, Transport for New South Wales, and Rail Projects Victoria. The team offers a broad range of services, including advising on regulatory compliance, environmental matters, governmental interactions, strategic planning, airline pricing agreements, and corporate restructuring. The group is supported by newly promoted partner James Kendal, whose recent experience includes advising Deloitte on the administration of Virgin Australia, and senior associate Sarah Jones, who is an airport infrastructure specialist. All named lawyers are based in the Canberra office.

The transport team at HWL Ebsworth remains a market leader in aviation, advising Australian airports and major local, domestic, and international airlines involved in high-value cross-border disputes and infrastructure projects. In the Sydney office, an experienced group led by national transport group head Joe Hurley and head of aviation Simon Liddy advises such clients as Sydney Airport, Melbourne Airport, Cathay Pacific Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Fiji Airways on a diverse spectrum of matters. These include commercial agreements, airspace protection, civil aviation regulatory compliance, recovery actions, and emergency response. The team is supported by airport construction authority Richard Davis, airline liability expert Matthew Brooks, and senior associate Kristin Hibbard, who specialises in aviation litigation.

The experienced team at Allens advises major Australian airports and investors on commercial transactions. In the Melbourne office, Emma Warren, who has assisted such clients as Melbourne Airport and Sydney Airport on terminal redevelopment arrangements and aeronautical services agreements, is a key contact.

The aviation team at Clyde & Co LLP counts government agencies, major international airlines, flight schools, and insurers among its clients, advising on a broad spectrum of matters, including regulatory compliance, high-value liability claims, commercial transactions, and risk issues surrounding the usage of drones on a global scale. Led by aviation industry expert Maurice Thompson, who also chairs the firm’s global drones group, the team’s client portfolio includes high-profile names such as Emirates and Qatar Airways. The team is backed by special counsel James Cooper, who specialises in airline insurance litigation. All solicitors mentioned are based in the Melbourne office.

The experienced lawyers at Mills Oakley Lawyers advise on a wide span of aviation industry issues, including M&A, aircraft finance and leasing, construction contracts, competitive tenders, dispute resolution, maintenance arrangements, and regulatory compliance for a client list which features major airports and operators. The team is led by aviation service expert Gavin Douglas in the Sydney office, and Rechelle Brost, who specialises in construction transactions, in Brisbane. The team represents such key industry players as Qantas Airways, Cobham Aviation Services Australia, and the Brisbane Airport Corporation.

The aviation industry group at Minter Ellison advises major airlines, airports, and government agencies involved in regulatory matters, infrastructure projects, and high-value disputes. Led by commercial litigation expert Beverley Newbold from the Sydney office, the team represents such clients as Qantas Airways, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, Gold Coast Airport, and Brisbane Airport, on a diverse array of issues. These include procurement, corporate governance structures, financing, airport operations, leasing, and public sector requirements. The group is backed by aviation regulatory specialists Russell Miller in Canberra and Haydn Flack in Sydney.

The transport and logistics team at Colin Biggers & Paisley advises airlines, airport operators, regulators, and insurers on a diverse range of aviation matters. These include loss of licence, accident liability and cargo damage claims, class action property disputes, the delivery of supplies to offshore oil platforms and warzones, and aircraft leasing and finance. Headed by trade and transport law expert Andrew Tulloch, the group’s portfolio includes QBE Insurance, HDI Global Specialty, and Stratos Aviation Group. The team is backed by transport insurance specialist Marcus Saw and special counsel Alistair Boughton. The practice was honoured with a Gold ranking in the 2021 Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) for its commitment to LGBTQ workplace inclusion. All lawyers mentioned are at the Melbourne office.

The team at King & Wood Mallesons specialises in aviation finance, advising operators, arrangers, and financial institutions on building tax-conscious structures for the funding of aircraft. The group coordinates its offices in Australia, Hong Kong, the People’s Republic of China (PRC), and Europe to advise a client base that includes key players such as Qantas and Virgin. John Canning in Sydney is a key contact.