Robin Springthorpe
Head of Aviation Disputes
Norton Rose Fulbright LLP
Related services and key industries
Biography
Robin Springthorpe is a litigation and disputes resolution lawyer based in London. He focuses on disputes across the aviation industry.
Robin has conducted some of the largest and most significant aviation cases in the sector, advising on aircraft and engine leasing, financing and redelivery disputes, particularly those involving technical issues; disputes with airframe, engine and component OEMs under purchase contracts, including in relation to future deliveries and claims under warranties; commercial disputes against a wide variety of contractual counterparties such as MROs, engine shops, airports, fuel suppliers and insurers; and disputes with aviation regulators and a wide range of aviation and travel regulatory issues including claims under EC261, consumer rights, ATOLS and the package travel regulations.
He conducts cases at all levels in the English courts and in domestic and international arbitration. He has dealt with disputes in most of the major – and many of the less prominent – jurisdictions in the world.
Robin is one of a few lawyers ranked in Band 1 by Chambers and Partners in the Aviation: Dispute Resolution category. He is also ranked by Legal 500 in its "Hall of Fame".
Professional experience
Collapse all- Solicitor, qualified in England & Wales
Robin has conducted several hundred cases for aviation clients, of which these are examples:
- Saudi Arabian Airlines v Various Lessors: dispute over rent escalation clauses and maintenance obligations in relation to a fleet of 50 A330 and A320 aircraft (Commercial Court)
- Flynas v Genesis: claim by an airline for payment of qualifying maintenance reserves and redelivery issues (Commercial Court)
- Jet2.com v Smartlynx: claim for losses arising from alleged breaches of the wet lease of a number of aircraft (Commercial Court)
- National Air Services v Genesis: claim by an airline for payment of qualifying maintenance reserves and redelivery issues (Commercial Court)
- Alpstream v PK AirFinance & GECAS: leading case on breach of mortgagee's duty involving allegations of conspiracy and breach of duty (Commercial Court and Court of Appeal)
- Jet2.com v Civil Aviation Authority: judicial review of the UK CAA's decision to publish critical press releases which has become the leading English law authority on legal advice privilege (Administrative Court and Court of Appeal)
- British Airways v Lipton: whether crew sickness is an extraordinary circumstance for flight delay claims (Court of Appeal and Supreme Court)
Chambers and Partners
Aviation: Dispute Resolution – Band 1
"outstanding - very clever, very easy to deal with and very good in acting for airlines"
"one of the best litigators in the field"
"very robust, strong litigator who provides good client care"
"his judgment on points to push was superb"
"a highly experienced litigator, acting on maintenance, lease and repossession disputes. He is also recognised for his experience handling EC261 passenger claims".
The Legal 500
'Hall of Fame' – Transport: Aviation
"very tough litigator, pushes for the best results"