Richard has specialised in the regulatory aspects of aviation and travel law since the Civil Aviation Authority was inaugurated in 1973.  He has seen, and been involved in, the many changes which have occurred among airlines and tour operators over the last thirty years.

Airline Licensing
In the 1980s and 1990s, Richard was the leading advocate in CAA licensing hearings in which he appeared on behalf of many British airlines, including Air UK Limited, Air Europe and Britannia Airways.

Since liberalisation occurred in 1992 with the introduction of the European Union’s Third Package, Richard has continued to advise airlines on licensing matters and is an expert on issues relating to ownership and control, financial matters affecting an airline’s fitness to hold a licence and on traffic rights.

Airports
Richard has advised several UK airports during his career as well as advising airlines on the law relating to the licensing of aerodromes.  In 1998, he represented London Luton Airport in a dispute with easyJet concerning airport charges.  More recently, he has advised Flybe in connection with the Office of Fair Trading and Competition Commission market investigation of the BAA Airports.

Richard also appeared for Air UK when the Guernsey Authorities challenged the legality of a slot swap between Air UK and British Airways.

Aviation and Competition/EU Law
Richard has been involved in a large number of dispute resolution matters which have arisen through the dominance of a certain airline or as a result of other anti-competitive behaviour.  Following the privatisation of British Airways in the 1980s, Richard acted for Air Europe in a High Court challenge of the report by the Monopolies & Mergers Commission about the merger.  More recently, Richard led a team advising Flybe on the competition law aspects of its merger with BA Connect.

Tour Operators, Seat Brokers, Travel Agents etc
Richard has, throughout his career, advised on all aspects of the law relating to Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing, the Package Travel Regulations, the Trade Descriptions Act and many other aspects of Consumer Law.  He acted for clients in matters arising respectively out of the collapse of the Court Line Group in 1974, the International Leisure Group in 1991 and XL Leisure Group in 2008.

Directory Entries
Richard has been consistently recognised by the directories  as a leader in this field and as a lawyer who is both enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the subject, and clear in the advice which he gives.  The Chambers Guide to the Legal Profession, for example, described him in 2007 as “the heavyweight of aviation regulatory work” with “a great legal understanding of the travel industry.”