Aviation

Our team of acknowledged leading practitioners and highly talented aviation lawyers bring to the table a genuine in-depth knowledge and understanding of the aviation industry, which, when combined with a practical hands-on approach and high levels of legal expertise, enables us to deliver the commercial outcome our clients are looking for, effectively and cost efficiently.

Visit our aviation hub.
  • Profile
  • Experience
  • Key contacts

In our team, we have decades of accumulated experience acting for:

  • airlines
  • lessors
  • financiers and the major transportation banks
  • insurers
  • maintenance repair and overhaul organisations
  • airports
  • airline associations.

This experience means our aviation specialist lawyers have a 360 degree understanding of how the aviation industry works, and can leverage that knowledge and experience to the benefit of clients without any re-invention of wheels or cost inefficiencies. Our approach is driven by listening to our clients’ commercial objectives, making sure we understand what it is that they want to achieve, within what timeframe, at what cost, and resourcing the job with the right team.

We are ranked amongst the top firms by leading legal directories for aviation finance and leasing. Our award-winning team has a well-established reputation for excellence. We have extensive experience in all areas of aviation finance and leasing, regularly advising international financiers and lessors on financing and leasing transactions and portfolio management activities.

We also have extensive experience of aviation litigation including all forms of dispute resolution, disputes arising out of operating and finance leases and disputes arising out of termination of leases. We provide regulatory advice and compliance, competition and state aid investigations, merger advice and act on all forms of accidents and incidents.

As well as our core team of aviation specialist lawyers, we offer wider services to our aviation clients through our corporate and commercial, restructuring, IP, employment, pensions, tax, and real estate specialist teams.

"Stephenson Harwood have an outstanding aviation team, led by a brilliant partner supported by committed and highly competent associates. They are highly responsive to client needs, have an excellent knowledge of the aviation sector, and are great to work with."

The Legal 500 UK 2022

 

Deucalion Limited and CLSA Capital Partners

Advised on purchase and financing of two B787-800 aircraft on lease to Qatar Airways. The aircraft were purchased by a joint-venture vehicle set up by Deucalion Limited and CLSA Capital Partners.

DVB Bank

Advised on the refinancing of nine Asiana aircraft through finance leases.

Landmark Commercial Court case - loss of onward sale contract

Acted in the landmark Commercial Court case of Pindell and BBAM v Air Asia concerning claims brought by lessor for the loss of an onward sale contract arising from the late redelivery of the aircraft.

Deep vein thrombosis - worldwide litigation

Acted for airlines in the worldwide deep vein thrombosis litigation brought by claimants in the UK, US and Australia.

Major air disaster investigations

Acted on numerous accident investigations, major air disasters including the Lockerbie investigation and trial, and other high profile accidents and incidents.

Acted for numerous lessors and airlines in redelivery disputes litigated in the High Court in London and in international arbitrations and acted for both lessors and airlines on repossessions, restructuring and insolvency claims.

Aviation regulation

Acted for numerous airlines advising them on regulatory issues, and claims of both regulatory and commercial nature including EC 261 claims, advice on compliance with various EU Regulations including ETS, EC Reg 1008/2008, the PRM Regulation, state aid, consumer protection legislation, competition cartel and alliance issues, price fixing investigations, disputes with bairports, slots advice and transfers, EU blacklist work and regulatory safety compliance, ground handling disputes, and commercial disputes acting for airlines against all manner of suppliers and manufacturers.

Altavair

Advising Altavair on the acquisition, financing and leasing of more than 110 new and used aircraft. 

Aircraft portfolio disposal

Advising a major operating lessor on the sale of a portfolio of 37 aircraft. 

Transportation Partners

Advising Transportation Partners on the ECA-supported financing of 10 ATR 72-600 aircraft with a capital markets take-out option. 

Financing of new and used aircraft

Advising DVB, BNP Paribas, MUFG and other leading financial institutions on multiple financings of new and used aircraft for large operating leasing companies. 

PDP aircraft financing

Advising a leading bank on the PDP financing of multiple A320neo and A330 aircraft.

Indigo

Advised on multiple operating leases and sale and leaseback transactions.

Restructurings

Advised various banks and operating lessors in relation to matters arising from the restructurings of Virgin Atlantic and Malaysia Airlines and the insolvencies of Thomas Cook and Flybe.

Lawyer

James Collins Partner

T:  +44 20 7809 2687
M:  Email James | Vcard Office:  London

Lawyer

Rebecca Garner Partner

T:  +44 20 7809 2125
M:  +44 7747 212 960 Email Rebecca Office:  London

Lawyer

Saugata Mukherjee Partner

T:  +65 6622 9695
M:  Email Saugata | Vcard Office:  Singapore

Lawyer

Richard Parsons Partner

T:  +44 20 7809 2651
M:  +44 7825 625 906 Email Richard | Vcard Office:  London

Lawyer

Paul Phillips Partner

T:  +44 20 7809 2302
M:  +44 7734 135 401 Email Paul | Vcard Office:  London

Lawyer

Simon Wong Partner

T:  +852 2533 2885
M:  +852 6102 0511 Email Simon | Vcard Office:  Hong Kong

Latest news & insights

06 Jun 2023

From Insights

Digitalising borders: ETIAS and ETA

The European Union's (the "EU") long-standing ambition to strengthen the security of the Schengen area has been delayed once again.

More

25 May 2023

From News

Four lawyers featured in Spear's Magazine's 2023 rankings

Stephenson Harwood senior partner Roland Foord, partners Kiersten Lucas and Ezio Dal Maso, and consultant Neil Noble have been included in Spear's Magazine's 2023 'Emp..

More

07 Mar 2023

From Insights

UK aviation and competition authorities publish joint warning letter to airport operators following concerns of suspected anti-competitive practices

On 26 January 2023, the Competition & Markets Authority ("CMA") and the Civil Aviation Authority ("CAA") published a joint open 'warning' letter reminding UK airport o..

More

13 Feb 2023

From News

Stephenson Harwood advises on two award-winning deals

Law firm Stephenson Harwood LLP has advised on two separate deals which have been recognised at the China Business Law Journal (CBLJ) Deals of the Year Awards 2022. Bo..

More

30 Jan 2023

From Insights

Aviation regulatory update 2022/2023

Developments in aviation regulation

More

25 Nov 2022

From Insights

COP27 and the flight path to Net Zero: progress made by the aviation industry since COP26

Following the conclusion of COP27 in Egypt last week, we examine the progress made by the aviation industry over the last year since COP26, with a particular focus on ..

More

21 Nov 2022

From News

Stephenson Harwood advises Transportation Partners on Lion Air Group restructuring

Law firm Stephenson Harwood LLP has advised Singapore-based Transportation Partners on the restructuring of the Indonesian airline group, Lion Air.

More

29 Jul 2022

From News

Lawyers featured in Spear's Magazine's 2022 aviation and yacht rankings

Stephenson Harwood consultant Neil Noble and of counsel Ezio Dal Maso have been included in Spear's Magazine's 2022 list of the best aviation and yacht lawyers for hig..

More

16 Feb 2022

From News

Stephenson Harwood advises Air France on its first sustainability-linked financing of a new Airbus A350-900 aircraft

Law firm Stephenson Harwood LLP has advised Air France on the structuring and negotiation of the terms of its first sustainability-linked financing for its twelfth Air..

More

07 Feb 2022

From Insights

UK Department for Transport proposes post-Brexit shake up of airline passenger compensation and greater powers to enforce breaches of consumer law

On 31 January 2022, the UK Department for Transport ("DfT") announced the launch of its consultation on Aviation Consumer Policy Reform, building on themes set out in ..

More

04 Jan 2022

From Insights

Getting the Deal Through's edition of 'Aviation Liability 2022' UK chapter

Members of Stephenson Harwood’s aviation team – of counsel Chloe Challinor and associate Patrick Bettle – have written the chapter on aviation liability in the UK for ..

More

31 Aug 2021

From News

Stephenson Harwood advises ICBC Aviation Leasing on aviation restructuring deals

Law firm Stephenson Harwood LLP has advised ICBC Aviation Leasing on a range of aircraft repossession and airline reorganisation deals, involving more than 17 airlines..

More

02 Jun 2021

From News

Stephenson Harwood advises Air France on sale-leaseback transaction

Law firm Stephenson Harwood LLP has advised Air France, part of the Air France-KLM Group and one of the world’s leading airlines, in the context of the sale and leaseb..

More

22 Feb 2021

From News

James Collins wins at Rising Stars Europe Awards 2020

Stephenson Harwood partner James Collins has been named a rising star in both the ‘aviation’ and ‘UK’ categories at the Rising Stars Awards Europe 2020.

More

22 Dec 2020

From Insights

Brexit has landed

On 23 June 2016, the people of the United Kingdom (UK) made history by becoming the first Member State to vote to leave the membership of the European Union (EU).

More

28 Oct 2020

From News

Stephenson Harwood (Singapore) Alliance advises on US$120 million JOL financings

Stephenson Harwood (Singapore) Alliance has advised a specialist in international transport finance on two separate Japanese Operating Lease (JOL) financings of four A..

More

print-footer
logo
© Stephenson Harwood LLP 2016. Any reference to Stephenson Harwood in this document means Stephenson Harwood LLP and/or its affiliated undertakings. Any reference to a partner is used to refer to a member of Stephenson Harwood LLP.