Brioney Thomas Partner

Brioney is head of the firm's transport team. She is nationally recognised for her expertise as a leading specialist rail lawyer and her ability to deliver commercial and pragmatic solutions that function within the complex regulatory framework and challenging operating environment of the railway. She has extensive experience advising clients in the rail sector including passenger operators, freight operators, rolling stock manufacturers and government authorities.

Brioney has recently been named ‘Individual of the Year (London)’ in the Transport category at The Legal 500 UK Awards 2019. 

Brioney is recognised as a ‘Notable Practitioner’ in IFLR1000, a guide to the leading financial and corporate law firms.

• Advising Eurostar on the procurement of the new fleet of e320 trains from Siemens and long term maintenance arrangements. This included subsequent successful defence of a procurement challenge from a rival bidder.
• Advising Welsh Government and Translink (Northern Ireland) on a range of issues including UK and EU regulatory issues, exercise of devolved powers and management of franchise/passenger services.
• Extensive experience on rolling stock projects including manufacture agreements, maintenance and support arrangements and finance leases. Most recently fleets for Great Western and TransPennine Express, additional e320 trains for Eurostar and supporting an international rolling stock manufacturer on Crossrail.
• Advising Abellio and First on various passenger franchises issues including franchise bids, mobilisations and ongoing operational support in particular, the implementation of major projects such as interfaces with Crossrail and electrification.
• Working with ATOC, the freight operating community and other industry bodies, on nationally significant projects such as GSM-R and ERTMS.