Lorraine Wilson

Lorraine specialises in the provision of advice to and the legal representation of aviation insurers, reinsurers and industry stakeholders, across multiple jurisdictions.

She has over 20 years’ sector focused experience, handling instructions concerning operators, airports, the general aviation sector (both fixed and rotor wing), aviation service providers and a range of product manufacturers.

Lorraine is adept in handling the full range of aviation convention claims, subrogated recovery actions and liability defence work arising from aviation accidents and incidents. She has a track record of success in the resolution of claims through arbitration (ICC and ad hoc), mediation and the Commercial Court.

Lorraine has particular expertise in coverage advice across the main lines of aviation (hull, war, deductible, general aviation and products) and space (ground, launch and in-orbit) covers. On the regulatory front, she has experience in EU261 claims and the framework governing airport slots and secondary trading.

Relevant experience includes:

• Successful challenge to the jurisdiction of the English court for manufacturer defendants in a claim flowing from the total loss of an off-shore helicopter in Brazil. In Senior Taxi Aereo & Others v Agusta Westland S.p.A & Others [2020] EWHC 1348 (Comm) the Commercial Court confirmed the ‘Merits Test’ in the court’s evaluation of a claim against an anchor defendant before exercising ancillary jurisdiction over defendants domiciled in other EU Member States pursuant to Article 8(1) of Regulation EU 1215/2012.
• Robust representation of Insurers in a dispute before the Commercial Court, London and concerning claim for cover for damage to aircraft engines shipped off-wing from Indonesia to the United States.
• Coverage advice to aviation hull war risks insurers on presented claims arising from financial restrictions and other measures imposed by the UAE on Qatar.
• The review of cover for reinsurers on fixed and rotor wing GA losses in Kenya.
• The handling of hull claims arising from damage to aircraft occasioned by militia activity at Tripoli airport, Libya.
• The provision of advice to the Official Receiver as regards the regulatory framework governing secondary trading of airport slots consequent upon the collapse of the Thomas Cook Group (2019).