The Legal 500 > United Kingdom - The Bar > London Bar > Aviation

Coverage By Practice AreaLondon Bar

Back to United Kingdom - The Bar

Aviation

1
Fountain Court Chambers
Quadrant Chambers
2
XXIV Old Buildings

Leading Silks

1
Gavin Kealey QC - 7 King's Bench Walk ‘A true giant of the commercial Bar, with a long pedigree in commercial aviation cases.’
John Kimbell QC - Quadrant Chambers ‘Very clever and assimilates complicated technical details very quickly. Nothing is too much trouble.’
Michael McLaren QC - Fountain Court Chambers ‘Fluent and resonant, he can make even a weak case sound attractive. Particularly strong on finance-related issues.’
Akhil Shah QC - Fountain Court Chambers ‘He is super bright, super responsive, and has a complete understanding of every aspect of the complex workings of the aviation industry.’
Philip Shepherd QC - Chambers of Philip Shepherd QC ‘Direct, forceful and no-nonsense. A formidable advocate.’
Bankim Thanki QC - Fountain Court Chambers ‘Top-quality aviation practice which continues to develop. Brings to the party panache and judgement as well as outstanding intellect.’
2
Stephen Moriarty QC - Fountain Court Chambers ‘Extremely efficacious in his work, with a keen understanding of the law and an ability to quickly grasp and explain issues.’
John Taylor QC - Fountain Court Chambers ‘He is an exceptional strategist. He works collaboratively with solicitors and is highly responsive.’
3
Charles Béar QC - Fountain Court Chambers ‘He is an impressive and forceful advocate, and a formidable opponent.’
Michael McParland QC - 39 Essex Chambers ‘His knowledge is frankly unrivalled in matters of jurisdiction and applicable law. His skill as an advocate is outstanding.’
Rosalind Phelps QC - Fountain Court Chambers ‘She is a clear thinker with a profound understanding of the industry.’
John Steel QC - 39 Essex Chambers ‘As a pilot, he has practical knowledge as well a clear understanding of the issues and planning policies that affect airfields.’
4
Stephen Cogley QC - 4 Pump Court ‘Fabulous intellect and really tenacious. Great advocate. Incredibly commercial and ability to cut through complex data sets to identify the key facts.’
James Cutress QC - Fountain Court Chambers ‘He has a strong understanding of the industry and is a highly effective advocate.’
Gerard Forlin QC - Cornerstone Barristers ‘Informative and extremely knowledgeable; tenacious but always with the utmost respect. He is approachable both from a solicitor and client point of view. He is good with clients explaining processes and his way of thinking and reasoning for decisions or plans of action.’
Steven Thompson QC - XXIV Old Buildings ‘He has good aviation knowledge and is very capable on large complex cases.’

2019 Silks

Nicholas Craig QC - 3 Verulam Buildings ‘Excellent judgement. Great at simplifying things and putting clients at ease.’
Katherine Deal QC - 3 Hare Court ‘She is extremely efficient and knowledgeable about cross-border claims, jurisdictional disputes, and aviation in general. Katherine is an open book and would deal with the cases above and beyond of what she is required to. Her attention to detail is great too.’

2020 Silks

Tamara Oppenheimer QC - Fountain Court Chambers ‘Tamara is a hard-working tenacious advocate with a careful and meticulous approach to cases. She is very bright, pragmatic, and unfailingly friendly and calm.’
Richard Wald QC - 39 Essex Chambers ‘An up-and-coming new silk.’

2021 Silks

Anneli Howard QC - Monckton Chambers ‘She’s an expert in the field of competition, is approachable, and rolls her sleeves up and gets on with the job in hand.’

Leading Juniors

1
Tom Bird - Quadrant Chambers ‘A fine mind and a convincing advocate. A reliable pair of hands for even the most complicated of issues.’
Tim Marland - Quadrant Chambers ‘A silk in all but name. A real all-rounder who understands the industry, and an opponent who should be feared.’
Alexander Milner - Fountain Court Chambers ‘Surely destined to take Silk, he has the ability to cut through the nonsense and get to the crux of a matter.’
Matthew Reeve - Quadrant Chambers ‘He is a well-known, experienced and highly regarded junior who is go-to counsel for a number of solicitors handling contentious aviation matters.’
Bajul Shah - XXIV Old Buildings ‘A very strong, sensible and calm advocate. He is a pleasure to deal with and always very clear in his advice.’
2
James Duffy - Fountain Court Chambers ‘He is very commercial and approachable.’
Arshad Ghaffar - XXIV Old Buildings ‘Has excellent knowledge of aviation matters.’
Katherine Howells - Old Square Chambers ‘Very good attention to detail and has the ability to digest technical detail. Strong knowledge and understanding of international personal injury claims issues.’
3
Koye Akoni - Quadrant Chambers ‘A formidable presence and an agile mind - on track to greatness.’
Navjot Atwal - 3 Hare Court ‘He is exceptionally thorough, very commercially minded, and always fights his client’s corner. ’
Stephanie Barrett - Quadrant Chambers ‘She is a first-rate and fierce advocate.’
Emma Hilliard - 7 King's Bench Walk ‘She has a quick mind, is enthusiastic and is hardworking.’
Erin Hitchens  - XXIV Old Buildings 'Tenacious, hard-working, user-friendly and good intellect, allied to sound legal judgement and commerciality.'
Emily McWilliams - Quadrant Chambers ‘She is considered and erudite in her advice. Her advocacy is composed and quick-witted.’
David Murray - Fountain Court Chambers ‘A hugely talented junior with great attention-to-detail and he displays sober, sensible judgement at all times.’
4
Cleon Catsambis - 3 Verulam Buildings ‘An expert in his field who is able to deliver advice pragmatically in uncomplicated language.’
Max Davidson - Quadrant Chambers ‘He knows clients’ strengths and weaknesses, always making them feel more knowledgeable.’
Elizabeth Lindesay - 7 King's Bench Walk ‘She is hardworking, imaginative, persistent and thoughtful.’
Mark Stiggelbout - Quadrant Chambers ‘He has impressive drafting skills.’
Harry Wright - 7 King's Bench Walk ‘An excellent advocate, very smart and a delight to work with.’

Rising Stars

Max Archer - 12 King's Bench Walk ‘He is an excellent junior. He is approachable, clear, and pragmatic.’
Tom Stewart Coats - XXIV Old Buildings ‘He has exceptional knowledge of the law, and is a very effective advocate.’
Nicolas Damnjanovic - Fountain Court Chambers ‘Outstanding talent, with a deep understanding of the regulatory framework of the aviation and travel industries.’

Aviation in London Bar

Fountain Court Chambers

Described by clients as a ‘brilliant set’ which is ‘full of stars’, Fountain Court Chambers displays expertise across commercial disputes and regulation cases, as well as aviation claims involving disaster and catastrophic losses and damage. Akhil Shah QC was instructed by the liquidators of Thomas Cook Airlines to assist in securing its slots at leading airports; in 2019, he led an expedited judicial review application brought by Manchester Airport against the CAA and Thomas Cook in which Shah represented the airline’s interests. Elsewhere, John Taylor QC led Ben Lynch in Blanche v Easyjet, a Court of Appeal test case concerning the interpretation of common rules on compensation and assistance to airline passengers in the event of delayed or cancelled flights.

Quadrant Chambers

'With considerable strength, depth and experience’, Quadrant Chambers ‘remains the go-to counsel for aviation accident disputes for claimants and defendants alike'. John Ashley Kimbell QC is acting for the claimants in Tonkinson v Cavaciuti, a compensation claim brought against the designer, manufacturer, and engine supplier of the aircraft involved in a fatal crash by dependents of the deceased. Members' work also ranges from arbitrations and inquests through to commercial disputes hinging on leases and aviation regulations. Mark Stiggelbout was instructed by British Airways in Ms Pamela Greene and Mr Marcus Greene-Christie v British Airways PLC, a sensitive claim concerning the disability and discrimination rights of autistic passengers.

XXIV Old Buildings

Increasingly viewed as an ‘impressive' set in the aviation space, XXIV Old Buildings acts for airlines, lessors, and manufacturers, among other aviation stakeholders, mostly in commercial disputes. Steven Thompson QC is praised for sector knowledge, while at the junior end Bajul Shah and Arshad Ghaffar are the names to note; Tom Stewart Coat is a rising star in the field.