“Philip is a very good leader, authoritative and excellent in court. He readily wins the trust of clients and the team around him”
Aviation Barrister
As the leading legal directories acknowledge Philip probably has the most in depth experience of aviation litigation and arbitration of anyone in practice born out of a lifelong passion for aircraft and flying. The directories also highlight Philip’s strong advocacy skills which sets him apart from his peers.
Philip has appeared as leading counsel in most of the aviation cases and arbitrations of significance of the past 20 years. His specialist knowledge extends not only to the legal issues but also the technical and regulatory context in which the aerospace industry operates.
He has observed at first hand airframe and engine manufacture, heavy and line maintenance, engine shop visits, flown light aircraft and had time in Boeing 737 simulators gaining valuable practical experience.
Philip’s aviation practice includes disputes relating to operating and finance leases, sale and purchase agreements, aviation related contracts, insurance, product liability, class actions, slots, and regulation. Philip was leading counsel in the landmark leasing case ACG v Olympic Airlines concerning the allocation of risk in operating leases and that defined the meaning of airworthiness in English law.
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Specialisms
Aviation Product Liability
Philip has unrivalled experience of aviation product liability litigation and arbitration. This focuses on the potential liability arising from any condition in aviation products.
Aerospace Contractual Disputes
Philip brings over 20 years of aerospace legal and technical knowledge to the full range of contracts affecting the industry with specific experience of disputes concerning the forms of contract used by aircraft manufacturers.
Arbitration of Aerospace Disputes
Philip sits as arbitrator and appears as counsel in aerospace disputes resolved by arbitration throughout the world.
Aviation Leasing and Finance Disputes
Philip has been instructed as leading counsel in most of the significant cases relating to operating and finance leases of aircraft in the last 20 years including the seminal decision on allocation of risk in ACG Acquisition v Olympic Airlines.
Aviation Insurance
Philip has over 20 years’ experience of acting for and advising insurers and insureds in aviation insurance claims.
Aviation Product Liability
Philip has unrivalled experience of aviation product liability litigation and arbitration. This focuses on the potential liability arising from any condition in aviation products.
Read more about Aviation Product LiabilityAerospace Contractual Disputes
Philip brings over 20 years of aerospace legal and technical knowledge to the full range of contracts affecting the industry with specific experience of disputes concerning the forms of contract used by aircraft manufacturers.
Read more about Aerospace Contractual DisputesArbitration of Aerospace Disputes
Philip sits as arbitrator and appears as counsel in aerospace disputes resolved by arbitration throughout the world.
Read more about Arbitration of Aerospace DisputesAviation Leasing and Finance Disputes
Philip has been instructed as leading counsel in most of the significant cases relating to operating and finance leases of aircraft in the last 20 years including the seminal decision on allocation of risk in ACG Acquisition v Olympic Airlines.
Read more about Aviation Leasing and Finance DisputesAviation Insurance
Philip has over 20 years’ experience of acting for and advising insurers and insureds in aviation insurance claims.
Read more about Aviation Insurance
“Philip is a walking encyclopaedia in terms of aviation. He’s great with the clients, as well as his lawyer teams, as he is very collaborative”
Recent & Notable Cases
Leicester City Football Club helicopter disaster Inquest
Philip Shepherd KC represented the family of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha on Thursday 9th May
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Aviation insurance claims in the US arising out of Russian sanctions
Philip is instructed by several prominent US law firms to provide expert evidence on English law in cases brought by
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Philip Shepherd acts for Claimant’s against Leonardo in claim arising from fatal helicopter crash at Leicester City Football Ground.
Philip is instructed as lead counsel by Stewarts (Peter Neenan and Sarah Stewart) in a product liability claim against Leonardo, the manufacturers of the Agusta 169 that tragically crashed in 2018 shortly after take-off killing all on board
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Genesis v Spicejet
Philip Shepherd KC leading Erin Hitchins represented the operating lessor Genesis in the latest round of its successful claims against the lessee SpiceJet in the London Commercial Court in respect of the failure by SpiceJet to return a Boeing 737-800 in the stipulated redelivery condition.
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Qatar Airways and Airbus settle high profile legal action
Qatar Airways and Airbus have settled their legal dispute which was scheduled for a 9 week trial commencing in London in June 2023.
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Philip Shepherd KC features in The Lawyer’s top 20 cases for 2023
Philip was instructed by Pinsent Masons on behalf of Qatar Airways in a claim brought against Airbus involving contracts relating to the supply of defective A350’s, experiencing rapid degradation of the outer layers of the aircraft.
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