About Me

I offer our clients over 30 years' experience in aviation and aerospace, covering almost every aspect of the sector.

I have worked in leasing companies and aerospace companies and have advised many airlines and service providers on any kind of legal problem for any kind of aircraft. I love meeting new airlines and investors and I remain fascinated by the industry and have good industry contacts.

Over the years I have negotiated hundreds of aircraft commercial deals across the sector. I am currently very engaged in advising on how the industry is being transformed by technology and the digital world. I am interested in the 'metal' and I love to help create deals. Today I advise aircraft manufacturers and leasing companies, airlines, aviation service providers, aircraft managers and banks on the structure and strategy for deals, as well as drafting and negotiating key documents.

I started my legal career at a leading aviation law firm - then the leading insured claim and product liability firm globally. From 1989 to 1991, I worked for the legendary GPA and from 1992 to 1995 worked for a law firm in Hong Kong. I then joined British Aerospace (now BAE Systems) and became the legal lead of the Group's aircraft leasing and financing business, setting up Oasis Leasing in Abu Dhabi (now Waha Capital). Later, I led the Airbus Asset Management legal team in Toulouse.
Experience
  • 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
Education

Studied

  • Leeds Metropolitan University

Admissions

  • Law Society of England & Wales in 1989
  • Royal Aeronautical Society
  • International Society of Transport Aircraft Traders
  • ADS Group - Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space
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Testimonials

His responsiveness, commercial awareness and knowledge of the industry are unparalleled.

Chambers UK 2018

The 'very commercial' Paul Briggs is noted for his 'strong advice on the practical aspects of operating leases'.

Legal 500 UK 2017

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Bird & Bird's Aircraft Finance team again places highly in influential Airfinance Journal Legal Survey 2020

Jul 26 2020

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