Commercial litigation
Honda Motor Europe Ltd & another v Powell & another
Acted for the sponsoring employer in an application to rectify scheme documentation to record the agreed benefits to be provided to a category of pension scheme members.
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.
Insolvency Act proceedings
Acted for an insolvency practitioner investigating accounting irregularities concerning an insolvent company and advised in relation to a wrongful trading claim against the directors.
Joint venture dispute
Acted for a major listed European company in relation to a complicated joint venture dispute concerning the activities of the joint venture company’s board of directors and several alleged breaches of the governing joint venture agreement.
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.
Contractual disputes
Advised a major European airline in relation to contractual disputes with its ground handling contractors based at various airports around Europe.
Disputes with airports
Acted for a major European airline in relation to a dispute with a European airport regarding the classification of routes under an airport services agreement.
Aviation regulatory and commercial advice
Advised airlines on a variety of commercial and regulatory aspects, including enforcement proceedings, 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.
Judicial review
Representing Ryanair DAC in judicial review proceedings brought against the UK Civil Aviation Authority in the English Administrative Court relating to the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) scheme administered by the CAA relating to passenger claims.
Part 8 Enterprise Act enforcement proceedings
Defending Ryanair DAC in Part 8 Enterprise Act 2002 enforcement proceedings brought by the UK Civil Aviation Authority in the English High Court concerning EC Regulation 261/2004 and the union-led strikes that affected Ryanair’s operations in 2017 and 2018.
Transport Act proceedings
Advising a European airline in relation to Transport Act 2000 proceedings involving NATS’s air traffic control services provided at Stansted Airport.
More: Aviation litigation and regulation
Professional and management liability
Negligent drafting of pension scheme documents
Acting for a major UK professional body in relation to claims against its former professional advisers concerning negligent advice given in respect of pension scheme documentation.
Negligent pensions advice and administration
Acting for a global consultancy firm in relation to claims made against it in connection with the provision of allegedly negligent pensions advice and professional services.
More: Professional and management liability