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Transport disputes

We offer specialist sector expertise in aviation, rail, road, marine and ports, representing clients in cross-border commercial disputes, regulatory enforcement actions, and judicial reviews and inquiries.

Our transport disputes lawyers are industry leaders.

The international transport industry is highly regulated and ever-evolving through innovation, geopolitics, global events and demand.

Navigating its legal issues requires specialised and commercial advice, tailored to an individual client’s business model and needs.

Our expert team provides focused commercial advice on compliance with complex transport regulations and frameworks that impact our clients’ businesses across all three jurisdictions of the UK (England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland), the EU and internationally.

Services

Litigation and arbitration

Resolving complex, cross-border commercial disputes involving transport companies before the English courts and in arbitration.

Aircraft leasing disputes

Achieving solutions in technical commercial disputes involving aircraft leases subject to English law and English jurisdiction in litigation and arbitration.

Regulatory enforcement action and investigations

Acting for stakeholders in relation to enforcement action brought by regulators such as the CAA, the CMA and the ASA.

Judicial reviews and inquiries

Representing companies in judicial reviews brought in relation to decisions of regulators and/or governments, and in conjunction with ICAO Annex 13 aircraft accident investigations and judicial inquiries.

Aviation regulatory matters and compliance

Advising on the complex framework of UK, EU and international regulations including those derived from the Chicago Convention and ICAO Annexes.

Airline and travel commercial operations

Expert legal guidance on agreements with suppliers, MROs and airports, airport slots, passenger liability, consumer rights and the DMCCA, the PTRs, and the ATOL Regulations.

A commercial plane taking off at sunset

Aviation disputes

Our aviation disputes team consists of air law experts who use their sector focus, dynamism and commercial approach to achieve the right solution in contentious and non-contentious matters. Acting as a trusted business partner to domestic and international clients, we anticipate and propel solutions.

We regularly act for airlines, travel businesses, lessors, OEMs, maintenance providers and suppliers on a wide range of commercial disputes involving English law before the English courts or in arbitration. These include cross-border commercial litigation, aircraft leasing disputes, regulatory enforcement action, and judicial reviews and inquiries.

By working cross-practice, we can provide tailored solutions for aviation clients on all aspects of their businesses, from emerging issues like SAF, greenwashing, autonomous flight and artificial intelligence, to corporate, data protection, employment, immigration, real estate, sanctions and tax matters.

Our team

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Examples of our work

Leading European airline group

Acting on a range of commercial disputes before the English High Court including three claims relating to online travel agents and a claim concerning the NATS ATC systems outage in 2023.

Global airline catering company

Resolving a dispute for a leading global airline catering company relating to the provision of premium catering services to a European flag carrier.

US aircraft lessor

Representing an aircraft lessor in English Commercial Court proceedings regarding the redelivery of two narrow-body aircraft following UK, EU and US sanctions imposed on Russia after the invasion of Ukraine.

Major helicopter manufacturer and insurers

Advising a helicopter manufacturer and insurers in relation to the legal processes arising out of a series of Super Puma accidents in the North Sea and the Glasgow Clutha crash.

Middle Eastern flag carrier

Representing a Middle Eastern airline in a dispute regarding the storage of spare aircraft parts.

New UK airline

Advising a European airline group on the ownership and control and various regulatory aspects involved in setting up a new UK airline following the UK’s departure from the EU.

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What others say

“Chloe Challinor and Patrick Bettle handle a broad range of aviation sector disputes, including issues around slots, leasing arrangements and regulatory matters.”

Legal 500 UK 2025

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Insights

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