Paul has worked in the aviation industry since 1987 in a career covering almost every aspect of the sector. During his training Paul worked for the world leading law firm in aviation liabilities litigation but moved, on qualification, to work on closing and financing aircraft operating lease deals for GPA (then the world’s largest aircraft leasing group). Paul worked in the banking team of a leading London-based law firm in Hong Kong from 1992 to 1995 during which time his work included giving legal advice to a local cargo airline, tax based financing of Hong Kong based aircraft and new deliveries of mainly Boeing aircraft in China.
In 1995 Paul joined British Aerospace and became the legal lead of the Group aircraft leasing / financing business. As part of this business Paul helped set up Oasis Leasing in Abu Dhabi and subsequently led the Airbus asset management legal team in Toulouse. These roles covered all aspects of manufacturing, selling, leasing, financing, insuring, maintaining and supporting commercial aircraft and relationships with airlines.
From 2000, Paul worked in the centre of BAE SYSTEMS and became Group Legal Director - Finance & Treasury in 2002. In these roles, Paul was responsible for some of the largest ever aviation projects including satellite financing, a bid to run all air flying training for the MoD, a bid to set up and run an innovative military and civil airline to supply tanking services to the RAF and Airbus and Regional Aircraft risk.
Paul joined Bird & Bird in the Summer of 2004 and is Joint Head of the firm’s International Aviation & Aerospace Group.
Paul is recognised as an expert in his field by IFLR's Guide to the World's Leading Aviation Lawyers 2008. This recognition is based on nominations from in-house counsel and peers.
