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About
Provided by Akhil Shah KC
Practice Areas
General commercial disputes including aviation, re/ insurance, arbitration, banking and sanctions.
Expertise in aviation disputes including aircraft finance, aircraft leasing, product design, aviation insurance and reinsurance, regulatory work and carriage by air.
Notable cases include: Celestial v UniCredit (letter of credit and sanctions dispute); DAE v War Risks Insurers (Aircraft reinsurance dispute arising from Russian invasion of Ukraine); FWA v VietJet (Aircraft repossession dispute); Qatar Airways v Airbus (aircraft delivery / product liability dispute); Wilmington Trust v SpiceJet (frustration of aircraft lease); Airbus v Generali (jurisdiction/title to sue); Re:Thomas Cook (in liquidation) (airline licensing); Re:Monarch Airways (in administration) (judicial review of airport slot allocation); LAIL and OTS v Maroil (joint venture/shareholder dispute concerning reflective loss) Petrosaudi v Novo Banco (banking / letter of credit); Alpstream v PK and GECAS (aircraft finance); Involnert v Aprilgrange and others (insurance moral hazard); Lipton v BA CityFlyer (SC) (UK Reg 261 rights); Jet 2 v Huzar (CA) (EC Reg 261 rights); Blue Sky v Chartis & Others (insurance dispute re: theft of Boeing 747 aircraft to Iran); PK v Mahan (arrest of aircraft and enforcement of judgment); DTVA v bmibaby (low cost airline dispute with airport); Kibris v SoS and Republic of Cyprus (review of right to fly from UK); Airbus Industrie G.I.E v Patel (Jurisdiction; anti-suit injunction; product liability); acting in Bermuda Form and other international arbitration disputes.
Career
Called 1990; KC 2010; British Virgin Islands Bar 1999.
Professional Memberships
COMBAR.
Publications
Contributor to Bullen & Leak & Jacobs 'Precedents of Pleading' (19th ed) and 'Carriage by Air', editor of Halsbury’s Laws “Aviation” (2017, 5th ed).
Chambers Review
UK Bar
Akhil Shah KC is an in-demand silk who enjoys a reputation for providing clients with well-considered, first-rate legal counsel. Clients appreciate his cerebral and professional demeanour, which he applies to a multitude of aviation cases, including those relating to regulatory and commercial disputes. His expertise ranges from leasing matters to contentious insolvency-related issues.
Akhil Shah KC stands out in the market due to his expertise and proven track record in key travel cases concerning flight delay claims and passenger rights. Many of these cases have set new legal precedents. In addition, he advises on new market entries and questions arising from the Denied Boarding Regulations. He acts for airlines, tour operators and regulatory bodies.
Akhil Shah KC specialises in highly technical product liability claims, particularly in the aviation sector. He offers significant expertise in cases concerning design and manufacturing defects in aircraft and helicopters. In addition, he is experienced in actions involving defective medical devices.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Measured, thoughtful and a man with great commercial judgement, he has an unparalleled understanding of the aviation industry. His responsiveness and charisma make him a highly effective advocate."
"Akhil adopts an understated approach, but underneath that he's like a stealth bomb. He has the ability to see through a massive amount of material and be come in with a comment that matters."
"Akhil is extremely forensic and very user-friendly."
"Akhil has a great reputation and is good in aviation matters."
"Akhil's advice is always spot on. He comes up with new angles on cases and he is brilliant on paper and on his feet."
"Akhil really has the ear of the court. He's very calm and very pleasant to work with."
"Measured, thoughtful and a man with great commercial judgement, he has an unparalleled understanding of the aviation industry. His responsiveness and charisma make him a highly effective advocate."
"Akhil adopts an understated approach, but underneath that he's like a stealth bomb. He has the ability to see through a massive amount of material and be come in with a comment that matters."
"Akhil is extremely forensic and very user-friendly."
"Akhil has a great reputation and is good in aviation matters."
"Akhil's advice is always spot on. He comes up with new angles on cases and he is brilliant on paper and on his feet."
"Akhil really has the ear of the court. He's very calm and very pleasant to work with."