XXIV Old Buildings has been praised as a ‘go-to’ and ’reliable and accessible’ set for aviation disputes. A key part of his practice, Edward Cumming KC advises on aircraft lease obligations, maintenance reserves, and aviation regulatory issues, including recent work for Saudi Arabian Airlines. Aviation disputes are also central to Steven Thompson KC‘s practice – he is currently advising VietJet on the leasing of an Airbus plane under a Japanese operating lease with call option (JOLCO) structure. Bajul Shah continues to be in demand on high-profile matters, including representing reinsurers in claims brought by aircraft lessors with exposure to Russian airlines, and is appearing as counsel to the claimants in a claim brought against manufacturer Leonardo arising from the Leicester City FC helicopter crash. Erin Hitchens’ recent work includes acting for Equatorial Congo Airlines in a claim challenging the validity of a fleet transfer while the airline was in insolvency proceedings. The set expanded in 2024 with the arrival of Max Archer from 12 King's Bench Walk, who brings deep experience in travel disputes involving the interpretation of EC Regulation 261 and large aviation loss events. Tom Stewart Coats advises on issues relating to maintenance reserves, deposits, and rent under aircraft lease agreements.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Profile
Position
Tom’s experience includes general commercial disputes (both litigation and arbitration), banking and financial services disputes, aviation, trusts and estates litigation, company and insolvency law, and public international law. Tom has a particular interest in complex multi-jurisdictional disputes, whether for companies, private clients or states, which involve multiple forums and different systems of law.
Tom appears in both court proceedings (in the UK and offshore) and in arbitration. He is happy to be instructed on his own or as part of a larger team. Tom has recently appeared unled against KCs in eight significant hearings in the English High Court and in the DIFC Courts.
Tom regularly appears in applications for urgent injunctive relief, including for pre and post-judgment freezing orders, proprietary injunctions, Norwich Pharmacal and Bankers Trust orders, and passport orders.
Prior to joining XXIV, Tom was an associate at a boutique law firm, Omnia Strategy LLP, where he specialised in arbitration (both investment treaty and commercial) and public international law.
Tom is registered to appear as an advocate before the DIFC Courts and has a busy practice before those courts. He has also recently acted or advised in relation to matters in Jersey, Guernsey, Bermuda, Gibraltar, the Isle of Man, Hong Kong, the onshore UAE courts, and in ICC, LCIA, DIFC-LCIA and ICSID arbitrations.
Career
Call: 2014
Memberships
Commercial Bar Association
Chancery Bar Association
LCIA Young International Arbitration Group
Young ICCA
Young ICSID
ICC Young Arbitrators Forum
Part II Registered Practitioner before the DIFC Courts
Education
BA Classics – Jesus College, Cambridge
GDL (Distinction, top 5 overall) – City University, London
BPTC (Outstanding) – City University, London
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Tom is a formidable advocate - he delivers time and time again.'