Department profile
Fountain Court Chambers

Aviation

UK Bar Guide 2026 : London (Bar)


Fountain Court Chambers

Rankings

Chambers Review

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Aviation - London (Bar)

Band 1

Band 1


What the Team is Known For

Fountain Court Chambers is a pre-eminent set for aviation matters and boasts an enviable bench of leading commercial aviation litigators who offer expertise across a wide range of disputes. Members are particularly well regarded for handling airport slot mandates, as well as advising on matters pertaining to product liability, negligence and breaches of competition law. The set represents an impressive roster of major airlines, airports, manufacturers and creditors in a range of financial, contractual and regulatory compliance matters. Members here often appear in hearings before the Civil Aviation Authority. The set offers extensive international capabilities, with members acting for clients across Africa and Asia. Recent cases handled by members of the set include a matter concerning the interpretation of sanction regulations in relation to Russian aircraft leases and a compensation claim under European Commission Regulation 261/2004. Commentators say the set is a "first port of call for big-ticket commercial aviation disputes. It has real depth of knowledge at all levels of seniority". Alex Taylor is the senior clerk.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • The clerks always present a good selection of counsel at different levels of experience. They are flexible and happy to discuss client needs; they're just brilliant.

    Aviation respondentUK Bar
  • They're a brilliant clerking team, and team leader Luke Diebelius is especially good. I tell him exactly what we are looking for, and he unfailingly gives me the person most suited to the case.

    Aviation respondentUK Bar
  • Team Leader Mark O'Neill is very good – he's really sharp-witted and proactive in how he deals with clients.

    Aviation respondentUK Bar
  • Team Leader George Hack is really lovely, highly efficient and very user-friendly.

    Aviation respondentUK Bar

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Band 1Akhil Shah
    Band 1Akhil Shah

    Akhil Shah

    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 is authoritative, measured and someone whose arguments carry weight. He's truly impressive.

      Aviation respondentUK Bar
    • Akhil is the king of this area.

      Aviation respondentUK Bar
    • Akhil is still the leading silk in aviation in my view. He's very on top of the detail and uses that to great effect in cross-examination. He's a sight to behold when in full flow.

      Aviation respondentUK Bar
    • An extremely lovely and very smooth advocate who is great to work with.

      Aviation respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Bankim Thanki
    Band 1Bankim Thanki

    Bankim Thanki

    Bankim Thanki KC is a formidable, heavily in-demand barrister, who is regularly instructed in considerable transactional, commercial and regulatory matters in domestic and international jurisdictions. As well as handling heavyweight contractual disputes, he provides cutting-edge advice to airlines on a raft of regulatory matters.

    • A phenomenally clever man who gives very careful advice and is also really down to earth with clients. He has a beautiful, measured style of advocacy, and his cross-examination is devastating.

      Aviation respondentUK Bar
    • Bankim is basically in every single major aviation case going on at the moment; he's all over this space.

      Aviation respondentUK Bar
    • Bankim is an absolute master who seized the case by the horns and made a big difference in a short time. He is very charming, highly persuasive and a real joy to work with.

      Aviation respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1David Murray
    Band 1David Murray

    David Murray

    David Murray has substantial experience in aviation-related insurance, regulatory and commercial matters, and represents a wide range of clients including reinsurers, airlines and airports.

    • He's probably the best barrister I've ever worked with in terms of being succinct; he's super impressive and has it all down to an art. He's also great at thinking outside the box.

      Aviation respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Giles Robertson
    Band 2Giles Robertson

    Giles Robertson

    Giles Robertson undertakes contractual and financial disputes for prominent commercial and private airlines. His work includes cases with highly technical aspects relating to maintenance and airworthiness issues.

    • He establishes a really good connection with the judge both in and out of court and is a fine negotiator.

      Aviation respondentUK Bar
    • Extremely capable and a star of the future. He's particularly good on difficult legal issues in the aviation context, especially those surrounding the Cape Town Convention.

      Aviation respondentUK Bar
    • A brilliant lawyer, who is intellectual in his approach and excellent on technical issues.

      Aviation respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Michael McLaren
    Band 2Michael McLaren

    Michael McLaren

    Michael McLaren KC is held in high regard by clients and peers alike for his effective advocacy. His practice has a noteworthy commercial edge, with leasing disputes a specialism, but he also regularly acts in matters regarding regulatory issues. He additionally operates in cases arising from headline-grabbing air accidents, employing notable multi-jurisdictional expertise.

    • An approachable barrister who makes himself available. He understands the issues at play quickly, and provides technically sound and commercially sensible advice.

      Aviation respondentUK Bar
    • A very experienced aviation silk who has a lovely style. He's very good at reading the bench, and adept at minimising bad points and emphasising good points. He knows what will fly with the judge.

      Aviation respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Rosalind Phelps
    Band 2Rosalind Phelps

    Rosalind Phelps

    Rosalind Phelps KC is a prominent silk who has a flourishing aviation practice. She is well regarded for her proficiency in matters of particular technical complexity, and regularly handles cases in the financial, commercial and regulatory spheres. She represents airlines in high-value leasing and contractual disputes, and also acts for airports, aviation finance parties and regulatory bodies.

    • She is very lovely to deal with, super bright and a complete expert in this area.

      Aviation respondentUK Bar
    • Rosalind is very effective in court. She has a very good manner and argues the case well for her clients.

      Aviation respondentUK Bar
  • Band 3Alexander Milner
    Band 3Alexander Milner

    Alexander Milner

    Alexander Milner KC is an experienced barrister with an excellent ability to effectively handle multi-jurisdictional matters. In his multifaceted aviation practice, he acts in claims arising from leasing and breach of contract, and has a strong client base among lessors and airlines.

    • An impressive advocate who is so clever and so good tactically. He's the kind of advocating the court really wants to listen to.

      Aviation respondentUK Bar
    • He is exceptionally bright and just brilliant to have on your side.

      Aviation respondentUK Bar
    • Extremely good at assimilating a huge amount of information and a man who presents a case clearly and persuasively.

      Aviation respondentUK Bar
  • Band 3Deborah Horowitz
    Band 3Deborah Horowitz

    Deborah Horowitz

    Deborah Horowitz is a thoroughly respected aviation junior who regularly works with leading silks in this area. Her work involves aircraft leasing disputes, finance issues and matters concerning the Cape Town Convention. Horowitz holds a doctorate in finance law from the University of Oxford and brings this knowledge to bear in aircraft finance-related matters.

    • She is excellent; very hard-working and highly tenacious.

      Aviation respondentUK Bar
  • Band 3Jacob Turner
    Band 3Jacob Turner

    Jacob Turner

    Jacob Turner is a well-regarded junior with a noted aviation practice covering a range of issues, such as consumer matters and leasing disputes. He also has extensive experience advising airlines and regulatory bodies on aviation concerns.

    • Jacob is extremely hard-working, and his written and oral advocacy is leagues above others at his level of call. He is also very adept at handling both professional and lay clients.

      Aviation respondentUK Bar
    • A real one to watch and a future star. Incredibly efficient, very user-friendly and really clever, he gets the right answer very quickly.

      Aviation respondentUK Bar
    • He's an ex-solicitor who understands what the client is expecting and how it should be achieved.

      Aviation respondentUK Bar
  • Band 3James Cutress
    Band 3James Cutress

    James Cutress

    James Cutress KC is an accomplished practitioner whose diverse caseload sees him appearing in intricate aviation cases relating to leasing, damages and financing disputes. His matters are often international in scope.

    • A smooth operator who is very effective at conveying a highly complex set of facts and technical points to a judge in a digestible manner.

      Aviation respondentUK Bar
  • Band 3John Taylor
    Band 3John Taylor

    John Taylor

    John Taylor KC operates a broad practice of which aviation represents a substantial part. He applies his vast commercial expertise to matters concerning aircraft leasing, sales and product liability. He tackles a myriad of complex issues arising out of contested lease terminations and regularly handles both high-value aviation litigation and arbitration.

    • An excellent advocate who works hard for his clients. He's tenacious and someone who always puts in a good performance.

      Aviation respondentUK Bar
  • Band 3Niamh Cleary
    Band 3Niamh Cleary

    Niamh Cleary

    Niamh Cleary is a respected junior barrister handling a range of commercial disputes. She handles leasing and travel litigation and is regularly selected by airlines and instructing solicitors to advise on insurance disputes.

    • Niamh is on top of the material and makes her points persuasively. She is extremely diligent and great at marshalling evidence and arguments. The process always goes to plan when she's involved.

      Aviation respondentUK Bar
    • Technically excellent and commercially excellent as well, she's really impressive.

      Aviation respondentUK Bar
    • Niamh is a really good, tenacious and delightful advocate. She has a disarmingly friendly style but there's real steel in her advocacy.

      Aviation respondentUK Bar
  • Band 3Nicolas Damnjanovic
    Band 3Nicolas Damnjanovic

    Nicolas Damnjanovic

    Nicolas Damnjanovic has appeared in a number of leading aviation cases. His varied practice has seen him involved in matters ranging from aircraft leasing to the regulatory framework governing air safety and maintenance. No stranger to the appeal courts, he's acted in important cases such as Lipton v BA City Flyer, a matter concerning crew member illness that was a leading case in the approach to retained EU legislation.

    • Nicolas is very thorough and diligent in his work; but more than that, he demonstrates considerable personal qualities in dealing patiently but firmly with clients.

      Aviation respondentUK Bar
    • A standout aviation junior who is extremely intelligent and down to earth.

      Aviation respondentUK Bar
  • Band 4James Duffy
    Band 4James Duffy

    James Duffy

    James Duffy is a regular in substantial commercial aviation disputes who acts for a client base composed of various industry bodies in sophisticated and high-profile cases in the regulatory and insurance spheres.

    • During trial, we were impressed with his strategic thinking and his ideas for how to present our position in a simple but effective way.

      Aviation respondentUK Bar
    • James is an excellent lawyer with great technical expertise and sound commercial sense.

      Aviation respondentUK Bar
    • James is very approachable and gets all the detail very quickly. You can trust his views.

      Aviation respondentUK Bar

Ranked Barristers at Fountain Court Chambers (14)

London (Bar)

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