Contact details

Johnny Champion

T: +44 20 7809 2358 Email Johnny | vCard Office: London

Awards

Aviation

Aviation

Transport law firm of the year

Transport law firm of the year

Aviation: Dispute resolution

Aviation: Dispute resolution

Johnny Champion Managing associate

Contact details

Johnny Champion

Johnny Champion
Managing associate

T: +44 20 7809 2358 Email Johnny | vCard Office: London

Johnny is a commercial litigation managing associate who advises on disputes across a number of sectors, with particular expertise in aviation litigation and regulation.
  • Profile
  • Services
  • Sectors

He has advised airlines and operators, banks and financial institutions on contentious matters arising in the aviation sector, including in respect of the financing and leasing of aircraft, repossessions and redeliveries. Johnny has in-depth experience working on disputes concerning the return conditions of engines and works frequently with powerplant engineers, MROs, and engine experts. In addition, he has experience in advising airlines on regulatory developments at an international, EU and domestic level, including in relation to airport slots, passenger rights and state aid.

Johnny also advises and represents banks, corporates and high net worth individuals in relation to a range of matters involving arbitration and litigation.

Johnny is a fluent Cantonese speaker, and comprehends Mandarin, and written Chinese.

"Johnny Champion: A rising star who is able to master the most complex of problems so as to allow the client to achieve its objectives."

The Legal 500 UK 2021

  • Aviation finance
  • Aviation litigation and regulation
  • Commercial litigation

Lease and redelivery disputes

Represented a number of airlines and lessors on high-value disputes arising out of the operation of wet and dry leases, maintenance, redelivery or repossession of leased aircraft and engines over a range of issues including compliance with return conditions, AOGs, C-Checks, airframe structural repairs, engine shop visits, engine thrust increases, APUs, and whether maintenance events qualify for release from accrued maintenance reserves.

Regulatory advice

Advised airlines on a variety of commercial and regulatory aspects, including the setting up of a new UK airline, new cabin baggage policies, initial and continuing airworthiness requirements, air operations, flight and cabin crew and maintenance personnel licences, and the ability to continue the uninterrupted operation of air services following Brexit.

Dispute with maintenance repair and overhaul organisation (MRO)

Advised a client in relation to a lien (or a right of retention) asserted by the MRO for alleged outstanding amounts owed by the operator, and the MRO's threat to part-out / sell the aircraft.

Disputes with air navigation service providers

Represented Ryanair in challenging the interpretation of EC Regulation 391/2013 concerning the common charging scheme for air navigation charges in light of the Chicago Convention, ICAO Annex 8, and ICAO's policies and guidance.

Disputes with airport slots coordinator

Represented a number of airlines in defending / appealing substantial financial sanctions proposed / issued by airport slots coordinator related to those airlines' alleged operation at slot-coordinated (capacity constrained) airports at times significantly different from the allocated slots.

Disputes with airports

Represented several carriers on disputes with airports over airport fees and charges, ground handling services, discriminatory pricing, and state aid.

Dispute with operational partners

Advised airlines on agreements with suppliers and codeshare agreements with other airlines.

Repossessions

Advised a bank on steps to repossess two Boeing 777 aircraft following the borrower's threat of non-payment and flying the aircraft to another jurisdiction for unapproved cabin reconfiguration works.

Restructuring and insolvency

Advised trustee in bankruptcy on contractual rights following the bankruptcy of AS Estonia Air.

More: Aviation finance

Lease and redelivery disputes

Represented a number of airlines and lessors on high-value disputes arising out of the operation of wet and dry leases, maintenance, redelivery or repossession of leased aircraft and engines over a range of issues including compliance with return conditions, AOGs, C-Checks, airframe structural repairs, engine shop visits, engine thrust increases, APUs, and whether maintenance events qualify for release from accrued maintenance reserves.

Regulatory advice

Advised airlines on a variety of commercial and regulatory aspects, including the setting up of a new UK airline, new cabin baggage policies, initial and continuing airworthiness requirements, air operations, flight and cabin crew and maintenance personnel licences, and the ability to continue the uninterrupted operation of air services following Brexit.

Dispute with maintenance repair and overhaul organisation (MRO)

Advised a client in relation to a lien (or a right of retention) asserted by the MRO for alleged outstanding amounts owed by the operator, and the MRO's threat to part-out / sell the aircraft.

Disputes with air navigation service providers

Represented Ryanair in challenging the interpretation of EC Regulation 391/2013 concerning the common charging scheme for air navigation charges in light of the Chicago Convention, ICAO Annex 8, and ICAO's policies and guidance.

Disputes with airport slots coordinator

Represented a number of airlines in defending / appealing substantial financial sanctions proposed / issued by airport slots coordinator related to those airlines' alleged operation at slot-coordinated (capacity constrained) airports at times significantly different from the allocated slots.

Disputes with airports

Represented several carriers on disputes with airports over airport fees and charges, ground handling services, discriminatory pricing, and state aid.

Dispute with operational partners

Advised airlines on agreements with suppliers and codeshare agreements with other airlines.

Repossessions

Advised a bank on steps to repossess two Boeing 777 aircraft following the borrower's threat of non-payment and flying the aircraft to another jurisdiction for unapproved cabin reconfiguration works.

Restructuring and insolvency

Advised trustee in bankruptcy on contractual rights following the bankruptcy of AS Estonia Air.

More: Aviation litigation and regulation

Laudamotion GmbH v Deutsche Lufthansa AG

Acted for LaudaMotion (the Austrian airline set up in 2018 and founded by Formula 1 driving legend Niki Lauda) in a highly publicised aircraft leasing dispute with Lufthansa in the Commercial Court. LaudaMotion's success in the case was critical to its ability to continue to operate, as the dispute related to whether Lufthansa could terminate leases on the majority of the aircraft in LaudaMotion's fleet during the height of the summer season.

Chinese airline

Represented a Chinese airline in a US$22 million ICC arbitration arising out of the redelivery of two leased aircraft.

Middle Eastern airline

Represented a Middle Eastern airline in US$16 million ICC arbitration in relation to alleged breach of a joint venture agreement.

Cypriot banks

Acted for a number of Cypriot banks in defending allegations of mis-selling of foreign currency loans, and managing recovery proceedings against debtors.

Motorsport

Advised a circuit owner and a motorcycle chassis manufacturer on issues arising out of their respective contracts with suppliers.

More: Commercial litigation
  • Aviation

Lease and redelivery disputes

Represented a number of airlines and lessors on high-value disputes arising out of the operation of wet and dry leases, maintenance, redelivery or repossession of leased aircraft and engines over a range of issues including compliance with return conditions, AOGs, C-Checks, airframe structural repairs, engine shop visits, engine thrust increases, APUs, and whether maintenance events qualify for release from accrued maintenance reserves.

Regulatory advice

Advised airlines on a variety of commercial and regulatory aspects, including the setting up of a new UK airline, new cabin baggage policies, initial and continuing airworthiness requirements, air operations, flight and cabin crew and maintenance personnel licences, and the ability to continue the uninterrupted operation of air services following Brexit.

Dispute with maintenance repair and overhaul organisation (MRO)

Advised a client in relation to a lien (or a right of retention) asserted by the MRO for alleged outstanding amounts owed by the operator, and the MRO's threat to part-out / sell the aircraft.

Disputes with air navigation service providers

Represented Ryanair in challenging the interpretation of EC Regulation 391/2013 concerning the common charging scheme for air navigation charges in light of the Chicago Convention, ICAO Annex 8, and ICAO's policies and guidance.

Disputes with airport slots coordinator

Represented a number of airlines in defending / appealing substantial financial sanctions proposed / issued by airport slots coordinator related to those airlines' alleged operation at slot-coordinated (capacity constrained) airports at times significantly different from the allocated slots.

Disputes with airports

Represented several carriers on disputes with airports over airport fees and charges, ground handling services, discriminatory pricing, and state aid.

Dispute with operational partners

Advised airlines on agreements with suppliers and codeshare agreements with other airlines.

Repossessions

Advised a bank on steps to repossess two Boeing 777 aircraft following the borrower's threat of non-payment and flying the aircraft to another jurisdiction for unapproved cabin reconfiguration works.

Restructuring and insolvency

Advised trustee in bankruptcy on contractual rights following the bankruptcy of AS Estonia Air.

More: Aviation

Awards

Aviation

Aviation

Transport law firm of the year

Transport law firm of the year

Aviation: Dispute resolution

Aviation: Dispute resolution

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