Paul Briggs

I offer our clients over 35 years' experience in aviation & aerospace, covering almost every aspect of the sector.

Since the start of my career in 1987, I have worked as a lawyer and commercial director negotiating thousands of aviation commercial deals. After 17 years of being Joint Head of the International Aviation & Aerospace Sector Group at Bird & Bird LLP, I am now a Consultant, enthusiastically supporting Leo Fattorini (who I recruited from Virgin Atlantic) as head.

I still enjoy working in the aviation & aerospace sector and each year I get a new "hobby" to keep me fascinated, current and relevant (I hope).

5 years ago, I had a focus on how the industry is being transformed by technology and the digital world, OEM services and the after-market. Assisting clients to embrace disruption.

I fought hard to help my clients survive these often, existential threats and how to emerge from each crisis as a winner.

I have always been interested in the 'metal', and I still love the excitement of structuring a new deal.

I am leading the firm efforts in the sector in sustainability. This covers everything from SAFa and policy to eVTOL and new business models.

Having worked in GPA, BAE and Airbus I remain well connected across the global industry and I frequently moderate panels or make presentations at Airline Economics, AfJ, Ishka, MTO Network and Royal Aeronautical Society.

I still love doing aircraft deals but now largely focus more on strategic issues with much of the detailed lawyering done by more junior lawyers.

I am well known for a friendly, no-nonsense, direct approach to business and my enthusiastic passion for the sector.

As I am no longer a partner, I am free to act as a non-executive director or strategy director of clients and projects that interest me.

• Airbus: A400M and many commercial aerospace deals
• DVB: leasing and asset management deals over many years
• easyJet: commercial and leasing matters
• Nordic Aviation Capital: commercial and leasing matters
• Virgin Atlantic Airways: advising on the purchase of a fleet of Boeing 787 aircraft and operating leases with three global lessors
• Emirates: advising on the sale-and-leaseback on the 100th Airbus A380-842 aircraft delivered into its fleet. This involved financing arranged by Investec
• Smartwings: Boeing 737MAX grounding
• Marshall Aerospace: disputes and commercial deals over many years
• Montrose: Twin Otter financings around the world