About

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

Provided by Chambers

Aviation - UK-wide

2
Band 2

What the Team is Known For

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. Regulatory advice is another strength of the group.

Work Highlights

  • Stephenson Harwood acted for Jet2.com in a dispute against Mastercard and Visa regarding losses due to unlawful multilateral interchange fees.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Paul Phillips
1
Paul Phillips
1
Band 1

Paul Phillips represents clients in the full range of aviation disputes, including lease terminations, airport slot allocations, service agreements and aircraft accidents. He has experience litigating in the UK Supreme Court and is particularly active for major airlines.

Paul steers the ship. He is very approachable, incredibly competent and has years of experience. He is very easy to deal with.

He is the top aviation lawyer in the UK. He has got a life of time spent in aviation and is cool, calm and wise.

Johnny Champion
U
Johnny Champion
U
Up and Coming
Johnny Champion is particularly visible acting on litigious matters involving lease and regulatory aspects as well as acting in arbitrations.

Johnny has been responsive and truly up to speed with the industry sector issues.

Johnny helps on cases heavily based on figures. He is a very strong practitioner and is very pleasant to deal with.

Johnny really understands technically difficult cases.

Ranked Lawyers at
Stephenson Harwood LLP

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

UK-wide

Aviation: Dispute Resolution

Paul Phillips
1
Paul Phillips
1
Band 1
Johnny Champion
U
Johnny Champion
U
Up and Coming

Members

Provided by Stephenson Harwood LLP

Paul Phillips

Paul Phillips

Head of Department

Richard Parsons

Head of Department