Aviation
UK Guide 2025 : UK-wide
Band 2
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
(020) 7329 4422About
Provided by Stephenson Harwood LLP
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 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.
Chambers Review
Stephenson Harwood is renowned for its ability to handle aviation finance, leasing and aviation litigation matters on a global level. The team is particularly well known for its accomplished representation in international arbitration. Its lawyers maintain strong relationships with a number of key airlines, and also have experience of representing major banks and aircraft lessors. It also offers additional strength in providing regulatory advice.
Work Highlights
- Stephenson Harwood acted for Alterna Capital Partners in a dispute against SpiceJet regarding unpaid basic and maintenance rent.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Stephenson Harwood is highly aware of commercial situations and knows what might be helpful for commercial negotiations and how legal matters might influence commercial decisions."
"The team was available throughout with a high degree of commitment."
"They go above and beyond the call of duty. Their advice is very commercially focused, which enables solutions to be found in the most difficult of circumstances."
"Stephenson Harwood is highly aware of commercial situations and knows what might be helpful for commercial negotiations and how legal matters might influence commercial decisions."
"The team was available throughout with a high degree of commitment."
"They go above and beyond the call of duty. Their advice is very commercially focused, which enables solutions to be found in the most difficult of circumstances."
Notable Practitioners
Paul Phillips represents clients in the full range of aviation disputes, including lease terminations, airport slot allocations, service agreements and aircraft repossessions as well as aircraft accidents. He has experience litigating in the UK Supreme Court and is particularly active for major airlines.
"Paul Phillips always provides really high-level advice and support and assesses problems from different perspectives to give you a comprehensive understanding of the issues at hand."
"Paul has an unparalleled depth of knowledge and is insightful, astute and very commercially aware."
Chloe Challinor regularly advises on contract, leasing and repossession disputes, acting for major airlines and lessors.
"Chloe Challinor always provides quick, high-level advice and feedback."
Johnny Champion is particularly visible acting on litigious matters involving lease and regulatory aspects as well as acting in arbitrations.
"Johnny Champion is always on it, taking action to get things done and finalised while also ensuring a high level of legal accuracy of his work."
"Paul Phillips and Johnny Champion have great knowledge and provide great understanding for their clients."
Ranked Lawyers at
Stephenson Harwood LLP
UK-wide
Members
Provided by Stephenson Harwood LLP