Call 1990 | Silk 2010
"Demonstrates superb judgment, meticulous preparation and second to none in advocacy."
The Legal 500
Sian Huckett
Deputy Senior Clerk
+44 (0)20 7842 3764
Click here to email
Chris Kent
Team Leader
+44 (0)20 7842 3771
Click here to email
Akhil Shah KC is an experienced trial and appellate advocate, who ‘demonstrates superb judgment, meticulous preparation and second to none advocacy.’
His broad commercial arbitration and litigation practice spans the fields of aviation, arbitration, banking and finance, conflicts of law, competition, injunctions, insurance, product liability, and travel.
Akhil, who is described in the directories as ‘the epitome of a modern leader’, is currently acting for war risk insurers in the Russian Aircraft Claims listed for trial in October 2024. He has also acted in a wide range of aviation disputes involving aircraft finance, leasing, design / manufacture of aircraft and helicopters (including coronial inquests), as well as aviation regulation including allocation of slots and the right to fly; for banks in relation to claims made under the Proceeds of Crime Act (‘POCA’) 2002; in trade finance disputes; in disputes to recover assets in the control of those alleged to be operating a “Ponzi Scheme”; and in arbitrations concerning insurance, bribery claims, joint ventures and infra-structure disputes.
Akhil provides expert evidence on English law to foreign courts (including in PRC, Malaysia, Russia and France) and accepts appointments as arbitrator in London, Singapore, DIFC and Dubai. He is admitted to the British Virgin Islands Bar.
Russian Aircraft Claims Litigation
Akhil is acting for war risks insurers in multi-billion, multi-party litigation arising out of the non-return of leased aircraft out of Russia following the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Celestial Aviation v UniCredit
Akhil is acting for lessors at first instance and on appeal in a dispute concerning the applicability of UK trade sanctions to payment obligations under letters of credit.
FWA Aviation (Holdings) Ltd v VietJet Aviation JSC
Akhil acted for the successful lessor at trial on liability in a dispute arising out of four aircraft leases, raising complex issues concerning assignment and relief from forfeiture.
Thomas Cook Plc in Liquidation
Akhil acted for the liquidator following the insolvency of Thomas Cook. Akhil represented and advised the liquidator in regulatory proceedings before the Civil Aviation Authority (‘CAA’) and in expedited judicial review proceedings threatened by an airport. He successfully assisted the liquidator to preserve the airline’s right to exchange its slots for valuable consideration. The instruction had a number of similarities to the work Akhil did in R (Monarch) v ACL regarding the exchange of Monarch’s slots.
Alpstream (& Others) v PK & GECAS
Akhil acted as lead counsel for GECAS at trial and in the Court of Appeal in a dispute arising out of the collapse of a German airline and the resulting sale by mortgagee of repossessed aircraft; successfully defeating on appeal claims in conspiracy and other economic torts. Akhil also acted as lead counsel for all defendants in post-judgment injunction proceedings.
R (on Application of Monarch Airlines (in administration)) v Airport Coordination Ltd [2017] EWHC 2896
Acting in judicial review proceedings concerning allocation of slots at Manchester and other UK airports.
R (TUI & Ohers) v CAA [2013] 1 All ER (Comm) 385
Acting for the CAA in judicial review proceedings in which the CJEU affirmed the right of passengers to claim compensation for delay under EU Regulation 261/2004.
Kibris Turk Hava Hollari v SS Transport and Republic of Cyprus [2011] 1 Lloyds 274
Representing the Republic of Cyprus as interveners in support of the UK Secretary of State’s defence of judicial review challenge by a Turkish airline to operate schedule and charter flights to northern Cyprus. The case considered the right to fly in airspace and to land in territory of a sovereign state which did not consent to the flights.
Akhil has acted in a broad spectrum of aviation related disputes. He has extensive experience with the legal, commercial and regulatory framework of the aviation industry. He has acted in and advised on disputes concerning aircraft leases, financing of aircraft, sale of aircraft, design and manufacture of aircraft, aviation insurance, air accidents often with a multi-jurisdictional considerations, carriage of passengers and of cargo under the Warsaw and Montreal Convention regimes, UK regulation, EU competition law and international regulation. He also has significant experience of public law and competition law disputes within the regulatory framework of the aviation industry.
Lipton v BA Citiflyer [2024] UKSC 24
Status under English law of accrued EU law rights following Brexit. The first Supreme Court decision on the defence of extraordinary circumstances under Regulation 261 as incorporated into English law.
FWA Aviation (Holdings) Ltd v VietJet Aviation JSC [2024] EWHC 1945
Aircraft lease dispute, concerning Japanese operating lease (JOLCO) structure, raising questions of lessor’s right to terminate, to recover possession, validity of assignment and availability of the remedy of relief from forfeiture in a JOLCO. Novel issues concerning Cape Town Convention were raised in the proceedings.
Blanche v EasyJet [2019] EWCA Civ 69, [2019] 1 Lloyds Rep 286
EU Regulation 261/2004 defence of extraordinary circumstances where delay caused by air traffic control decision.
Alpstream (& Others) v PK & GECAS [2016] 1 CLC 135
Aviation, banking and finance and commercial litigation.
R (on Application of Monarch Airlines (in administration)) v Airport Coordination Ltd [2017] EWHC 2896
Judicial review proceedings concerning allocation of slots at Manchester and other UK airports.
Rogers v Hoyle [2015] QB 265
Admissibility of air accident investigation reports in civil proceedings.
Dawson v Thomson Airways [2015] 1 WLR 883
Limitation period for EU Regulation 261/2004 claims.
Jet 2.Com v Huzar [2014] 4 All ER 581
Whether technical fault amounts extraordinary circumstance under EU Regulation 261/2004.
R (TUI & Others ) v CAA [2013] 1 All ER (Comm) 385
Acting for the CAA in judicial review proceedings in which the CJEU affirmed the right of passengers to claim compensation for delay under EU Regulation 261/2004.
Acting for easyJet (CAA decision SCAC1/12) in its successful application to the CAA for the allocation of a scarce capacity certificate to fly between London and Moscow.
Pindell v Air Asia [2011] 2 All ER (Comm) 296
Acting for airline in successfully resisting a claim by aircraft lessor to recover as damages the value of a lost future sale of the aircraft following late redelivery and the collapse in asset prices after the “credit crunch”.
R (Kibris Turk Hava Hollari) v SS Transport & Republic of Cyprus [2011] 1 Lloyds 274
Representing the Republic of Cyprus as interveners in support of the UK Secretary of State’s defence of judicial review challenge by a Turkish airline to operate schedule and charter flights to northern Cyprus. The case considered the right to fly in airspace and to land in territory of a sovereign state which did not consent to the flights.
DTVA v Bmibaby [2011] 1 Lloyds 68
Acting for low-cost airline in a dispute concerning the economic operation of low cost airlines and their contractual relationships with regional airports.
AerCap v Avia Asset Management [2010] 2 CLC 578
Acting for seller of two Boeing 757 aircraft against defaulting buyer, where default arose out of the “credit crunch” and aircraft prices were depressed by economic down turn.
Sunrock v SAS [2007] 2 Lloyds 612
Representing lessors in aircraft leasing disputes arising out breach of redelivery condition of aircraft.
IHRC v CAA (2007) ACD 5
Acting for CAA in connection with judicial review proceedings relating to carriage of weapons from the UK to Lebanon.
Amiri v BAE [2003] 2 Lloyds 767
Acting for Abu Dhabi state in a claim against BAE relating to the design of aircraft fuel tanks and their protection against corrosion.
Protea Leasing v RAC & MAS [2002] All ER (D) 224
Acting for lessor in a multi-million dollar leasing dispute with the Cambodian state airline, and advising on recovery of possession of three aircraft from Singapore.
Airbus v Patel [1999] 1 AC 119
Acting for Airbus in anti-suit injunction proceedings arising out of fatal crash landing of airline in Bangalore.
COVID-19
Advising different stakeholders on implications and effect of COVID-19 on different agreements.
Cathay Pacific v Lufthansa Technic (2020)
Acted for maintenance organisation in dispute arising out of long-term engine maintenance agreement, concerning financial adjustment to be made at the end of the term.
Thomas Cook in Liquidation
Acting for liquidator concerning allocation of slots to Thomas Cook.
A v B
Acting for major Asian airline in arbitration concerning redelivery dispute of 737 aircraft. Dispute raised issues concerning maintenance payment adjustments at end of lease.
HSH Nordbank v Air Astra
Representing lenders, owners and lessors of a fleet of five Airbus passenger aircraft in a claim which recovered the aircraft from insolvent Spanish airline.
Acting for the CAA in judicial review proceedings relating to a takeover dispute between leading European airlines.
Acting for aircraft lessors in numerous disputes concerning recovery of commercial aircraft from defaulting airlines.
Acting for the CAA in connection with judicial review challenges relating to proposed redesign of controlled airspace over southern England.
Advising as to regulatory implications of trans-European acquisition of one airline by another airline.
Advising in relation to the economic regulation of airlines and airports.
Acting for manufacturer of aircraft in relation to a claim relating to the design of landing gear following crash landing of aircraft at Heathrow.
Celestial Aviation v UniCredit [2024] EWCA Civ 628
Effect of UK and US sanctions on payment obligation under letter of credit given as security to sanctioned party. Availability of defence of illegality under foreign law.
Petrosaudi Oil Services (Venezuela) Ltd v Novo Banco SA & PDVSA [2017] EWCA 9; [2017] 1 WLUK 450
Banking and finance and civil fraud.
Alpstream (& Others) v PK & GECAS [2016] 1 CLC 135
Aviation, banking and finance and commercial litigation.
Acting in structured finance disputes advising lenders, investors and export credit agencies as to enforcement and recovery of secured assets.
Advising in respect of enforcement of mortgage over floating production vessel in Brazil.
Acting for bank in letter of credit disputes, with allegations of fraud and illegality in underlying contracts.
Acting for banks in relation to claims made under POCA 2002.
Advising in disputes under Payment Services Regulations 2009 arising out of cyber fraud on bank accounts.
Acting in complex multi-party proceedings concerning duties of mortgagee when selling mortgaged asset.
Acting in dispute concerning a credit card affinity agreement between bank and commercial counter-party.
Acting in swaps disputes (interest rates and futures) between banks and commercial counter-parties.
Advising security trustees, investment managers and insurers as to management of investments.
Acting for lender in a dispute where borrower falsely represented it had title to asset offered as security.
HSH Nordbank v Air Astra
Representing the bank in proceedings for the recovery from the Spanish airline (Air Astra) of aircraft in Spain provided as security for a loan.
Deutsche Bank v Volare
Acting for Deutsche Bank in proceedings for the recovery of aircraft from an insolvent Italian airline – Volare.
Acting for and advising banks in connection with personal and proprietary remedies in England and abroad (including injunctive relief) against defaulting customers and third parties.
Acting for and advising both banks and others in relation to claims on bills of exchange, and promissory notes.
Acting for and advising banks in relation to letters of credit.
Acting in a dispute concerning enforcement of documentary credits.
Acting in a dispute between two banks in a civil fraud claim concerning performance bonds.
Acting for Central Bank of Yemen in a dispute arising out of the purchase by an investment fund of promissory notes issued by the bank to the Czech Republic.
Acting in dispute to enforce foreign judgment alleged to have been tainted by fraud and bias.
Latin American Investments v Maroil
Acting for shareholder in claim against fellow shareholder in a joint venture where assets belonging to the joint venture had been appropriated in breach of authority and in conflict of interest. Relief sought of freezing injunction and claim brought by innocent shareholder on behalf of defrauded company.
A v B
Acting for claimant in confidential arbitration concerning contracts procured by bribery and breach of fiduciary duty.
C v D
Acting for respondent in confidential arbitration concerning contract alleged to have been procured through fraudulent misrepresentation.
X v Y
Acting for claimant in telecommunications arbitration where agreement alleged to be tainted by corrupt practices.
PetroSaudi Oil Services (Venezuela) Ltd v Novo Banco
Acting for bank in letter of credit dispute where demand for payment alleged to have been made fraudulently by beneficiary.
Latin American Investments & Another v Maroil & Another [2017] EWHC 1254L
Joint venture / shareholder dispute, with alleged misappropriation of funds by shareholder, raising issue of reflective loss and ability of shareholder to obtain injunctive relief to freeze assets of wrongdoer on behalf of company.
Alpstream (& Others) v PK & GECAS [2016] 1 CLC 135
Aviation, banking and finance and commercial litigation.
Russian Aircraft Litigation
Leading a team for war risks insurers in a multi-party, multi-billion dispute concerning insurance claims for leased aircraft remaining in Russia.
Advising in relation to the effect of sanctions on contractual obligations, including sanctions imposed on Russia and Iran.
SDI Retail Services v The Rangers Football Club
Acting for Rangers football club in dispute concerning agreement to manufacture, distribute, market and sell replica football kit.
An asset finance dispute involving claims of conspiracy and procuring breach of duty.
An international sale of goods dispute involving allegations of bribery, conspiracy and procuring breach of contract.
Joint venture disputes in transport and telecommunications industries.
Disputes relating to share purchase agreements and warranty claims.
A dispute to recover assets of irreplaceable historical value.
Disputes to recover assets in the control of a company alleged by the United States SEC to be operating a “Ponzi scheme”.
Disputes to enforce judgment against assets of judgment debtor, including freezing injunctions and contempt proceedings.
Zephyrus Capital Aviation Partners Ltd v Fidelis and others [2024] EWHC 734
Acting for war risk insurers in jurisdiction challenge in which the English court declined to enforce jurisdiction agreement in favour of the courts in Russia.
In the matter of Ukrainian Aircraft Operator Policy Jurisdiction Applications: [2024] EWHC 1365
Acting for war risks insurers in jurisdiction challenge in which English court did enforce a jurisdiction agreement in favour of the courts in Ukraine.
Airbus v Generali [2019] EWCA Civ 805
Approach to resolve a conflict between different agreements with competing dispute resolution clauses.
Knauf v British Gypsum (No 2) [2002] 2 Lloyds 416
Acting in dispute concerning jurisdiction under Brussels Convention of contribution claim when main action dismissed.
Airbus v Patel [1999] 1 AC 119
Acting for Airbus in proceedings arising out of fatal crash landing of airline in Bangalore. Anti-suit injunction sought to restrain proceedings brought in Texas applying “long arm” jurisdiction.
Russia and Ukrainian Aircraft Operator Policy jurisdiction challenges:
Acting for war risks insurers challenging English jurisdiction on grounds the proceedings brought in breach of jurisdiction agreements.
Enforcement of foreign judgment in England where foreign court alleged not to have jurisdiction.
Interpretation and enforcement of jurisdiction agreements in connected transactions.
Acting for leading UK bank in jurisdiction dispute concerning letter of credits, with proceedings brought in India in breach of jurisdiction agreement.
Acting for lender to restrain debtor from proceeding in Brazil in breach English exclusive jurisdiction clause.
Acting for insured against whom anti-suit injunction granted for commencing proceedings in non-EU jurisdiction in alleged breach of arbitration agreement.
Acting in jurisdiction dispute concerning liability of English parent company for acts of subsidiary in non-EU jurisdiction.
Acting in dispute for anti-suit injunction against trustees alleged to have commenced proceedings in United States in breach of exclusive jurisdiction clause.
Acting in disputes for interim relief from English court in support of substantive proceedings in EU and non-EU jurisdictions.
First Security Bank v Air Gabon
Acting in proceedings resisting anti-suit injunction against proceedings commenced in breach of exclusive jurisdiction clause.
Acting in proceedings governed by foreign law and in particular, Mexican, Cambodian, Libyan, Iranian, Saudi and French law.
Thomas Cook Plc in Liquidation
Acting for the liquidator following the insolvency of Thomas Cook. Akhil represented and advised the liquidator in regulatory proceedings before the Civil Aviation Authority (‘CAA’) and in expedited judicial review proceedings threatened by an airport. He successfully assisted the liquidator to preserve the airline’s right to exchange its slots for valuable consideration. The instruction had a number of similarities to the work Akhil did in R (Monarch) v ACL regarding the exchange of Monarch’s slots.
Goshawk v Lion Air
Acting in a matter concerning the restructuring of Indonesian carrier following financial strains imposed by the impact of COVID-19.
X v Y
Confidential arbitration dispute between airport operator and airline concerning long term agreement for the use of an airport. Claim raised issues of state aid and also abuse of dominant position, where it was necessary to identify the relevant market for airport use and establish whether the airport had a dominant position which had been abused.
Laudamotion v Deutsche Lufthansa
Dispute in which issues arose concerning: (a) meaning and effect of undertakings given to the European Commission under its merger legislation; and (b) whether there was a dominant position which was being abused.
Acting for major airline group in relation to remedial undertakings given to regulatory authorities to avoid creation of a dominant position following merger of airlines.
Involnert v Aprilgrange & AIS Insurance & OAMPS Special Risks [2015] 2 Lloyds Rep 289
Proceedings regarding total loss of vessel: issues of moral hazard, innocent non-disclosure and broker’s negligence.
Russian Aircraft Litigation
Leading a team for war risks insurers in a multi-party, multi-billion dispute concerning insurance claims for leased aircraft remaining in Russia.
A v B
Acting for insurers of space satellite concerning coverage and fair presentation in respect of an in orbit policy.
Bermuda Form
Acting/advising in Bermuda Form claims arising out of:
Coverage Disputes
Acting for owner of a yacht in relation to a claim for total loss caused by imposition of sanctions.
Airbus v Generali
Ability of contract party to enforce equitable right to obtain declaratory relief against insurers acting by way of subrogation.
Acting in coverage disputes with claims of non-disclosure and misrepresentation, and failure to comply with conditions precedent.
Acting for insured in property insurance dispute in the US on hybrid Bermuda Form, including proceedings for anti-suit injunction.
Advising insurers in relation to cyber fraud effected on bank accounts of policy holders.
Blue Sky v Chartis & 17 Others
Representing the insured owner of three Boeing 747 aircraft in a dispute for $150 million against eighteen insurers in connection with the theft and removal of the aircraft to Iran. The claim raised issues of the effect of US sanctions against Iran on imports of assets into Iran and insurance of those assets in the international insurance market.
Acting for a syndicate of investors and owners of a fleet of fourteen passenger aircraft in proceedings against insurers arising out of the theft of the aircraft in Mexico. The claim raised issues about the ability of one co-insured to recover under a composite policy for loss caused by wrongful conduct of another co-insured.
Acting for the insured in ARIAS arbitration proceedings in a dispute concerning viatical and contingent cost insurance.
Representing Excess Insurers in international arbitration on the Bermuda Form in relation to liability policies including in liability for fuel contamination in the US, and liability for pharmaceutical claims arising in the US.
Acting in disputes concerning political risk insurance, including claims of appropriation of assets by governments in Venezuela, Iran and Sudan.
Acting in disputes concerning export credit insurance, trade insurance and credit insurance.
Acting in arbitration proceedings between all risk and war risk reinsurers relating to hi-jacking in Columbia.
Acting in property insurance disputes arising out of the loss of “The MV Reina 1”.
Acting for professional indemnity insurers in a dispute arising out of fraudulent conduct in a partnership.
Acting in disputes concerning coverage under professional indemnity insurance.
Acting in disputes arising out business interruption insurance.
Acting for aircraft manufacturer in a dispute arising out of the sale of multiple aircraft to a regional airline.
Acting for an international airline in ICC arbitration concerning redelivery of commercial passenger aircraft.
Acting for a telecoms company in a successful ICC arbitration relating to the supply of telecommunications infrastructure in Kosovo.
Acting for a counter-party to an international sales contract in LCIA arbitration proceedings relating to software applications in the automobile industry in Saudi Arabia.
Acting for a state in a joint venture dispute relating to the design of a transport project (ad hoc arbitration).
Acting for a counter-party in international supply contract to Libya in ICC arbitration proceedings, including jurisdiction challenge as to application of arbitration agreement to third party respondents.
Acting for a party to a joint venture in Saudi Arabia in LCIA arbitration proceedings.
Acting for a party to a joint venture investment in the cellular telecoms industry in India in ICC arbitration proceedings.
Acting for a counter-party to an international sale of goods contract to India in LCIA arbitration proceedings.
Acting for a syndicate of investors and owners of a fleet of passenger aircraft in international arbitration proceedings against insurers arising out of the theft of the aircraft in Mexico.
Acting for the insured in ARIAS arbitration proceedings in a dispute arising out of the insurance into Lloyds of viatical policies issued in the US.
Acting in international arbitration on the Bermuda Form on liability and property insurance policies.
Acting for a national airline in international arbitration proceedings arising out of an agreement to establish and support commercial airline services in Afghanistan.
Acting for an appellant in arbitration proceedings brought under International Cotton Trade Association, in relation to sale of cotton to the People’s Republic of China.
Acting for a major oil company in LCIA arbitration proceedings in a dispute arising out of the take-over of a major oil company and its effect on a joint venture agreement for the oil exploration in Kuwait.
Amiri v BAE & Crossair [2003] 2 Lloyds 767
Acting for Abu Dhabi state in a claim against BAE relating to the design of aircraft fuel tanks and their protection against corrosion.
Acting in arbitration proceedings concerning alleged manufacturing defects in aircraft engine.
Acting in relation to alleged design and manufacturing defects in commercial helicopters.
Acting in relation to design and manufacture of hip replacement systems.
Advising in respect of European regulatory requirements for the design, manufacture and certification of automotive parts.
Acting against manufacturer of plastic seals in a dispute concerning the chemical contamination of a well known brand of alcohol.
Acting for the manufacturer of aircraft in disputes concerning the design and manufacture of aircraft landing gear following separate failures of landing gear on aircraft at Heathrow and Brussels.
Acting for supplier in a dispute concerning the delamination of plasterboard.
Acting in a dispute concerning the design and manufacture of jet engines following engine failure on landing at Munich airport.
Acting for the manufacturer of aircraft windows in a dispute concerning the spontaneous failure of toughened glass caused by the alleged presence of sulphide impurities.
Celestial Aviation v UniCredt [2024] EWCA 628
Acting for beneficiary on the effect of trade sanction on payment obligations of letters of credit, given in relation to an arrangement said to be the subject of trade sanctions.
Advising on effect of trade sanctions on the supply of finance and related services to Russian insurers and airlines.
Advising in relation to the effect of sanctions on contractual obligations, including sanctions imposed on Russia and Iran.
Blue Sky v Chartis & 17 Others
Acting for the insured owner of several aircraft in a $150 million dispute in connection with the theft and removal of the aircraft to Iran, raising issues around the effect of US sanctions against Iran on imports of assets and insurance of those assets in the international insurance market.
SDIR v Rangers Football Club
Acting in a dispute which resulted in various judgments concerning retail and marketing rights of football replica kit.
The trial of multi-billion dollar aviation insurance claims commenced today in the…
We are pleased to announce that Fountain Court won three awards at…
We were pleased to host a double celebration at our annual party…
Sian Huckett
Deputy Senior Clerk
+44 (0)20 7842 3764
Click here to email
Chris Kent
Team Leader
+44 (0)20 7842 3771
Click here to email
Search
Menu
