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  1. Law
May 21, 2024

Best aviation and yacht lawyers 2024

Welcome to the Spear’s ranking of the best aviation and yacht lawyers for high-net-worth individuals in the UK

By Spear's

Owning a private aircraft or a yacht can come with a multitude of challenges. From the negotiation and arrangement on the purchase of these luxury assets, through to legal considerations of day-to-day ownership, there are a number of considerations that come with a trophy purchase.

[See also: Best yacht advisers 2024]

A specialist lawyer with experience operating within the world of private aviation and yachting is essential. These advisers help their clients to avoid pitfalls and fulfil their obligations throughout the lifecycle of these big-ticket items. This might include turning their attention to build contracts, ownership structures, registration, disputes as well as operational aspects such as insurance, management and commercial considerations.

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  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
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These are the go-to specialists for advice on the legal implications of purchasing, owning, and caring for private jets and large yachts. They can advise on jurisdictional issues, tax implications, crewing, refit and repair projects and how to protect the value of your asset over the long haul.

Ian Douglas, Spear’s head of research


Jump to:

Best aviation and yacht lawyers: names to know

There are a number of new additions to the index this year. They join established Spear’s 500 faces like Quentin Bargate, a Top Recommended adviser and founder of Bargate Murray.

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Quentin Bargate
Quentin Bargate, Bargate Murray

Firm: Bargate Murray

With over 45 years of industry experience, Bargate is a highly respected figure in super yacht and dispute resolution work who emphasises utmost discretion for his clients. He advises UHNW individuals, family offices, and international corporations on ownership, acquisition, and disposal of luxury assets. Bargate has expertise in new build yacht construction, sale and purchase, and dispute resolution and is known for his ethical and empathetic advice. 

Read Quentin Bargate’s full profile on Spears500.com

Ilona Avramenko – New Addition

Avramenko is an expert in aviation and superyacht law, with over 15 years’ experience in the maritime sector. Her practice involves advising ultra-high-net-worth individuals, family offices, companies, and banks on a range of yachting and aviation matters.

Read Ilona Avramenko’s full profile on Spears500.com

Robert Calleja – New Addition

Calleja specialises in private/corporate jet and super yacht transactions, offering advice on financings, sale and purchase agreements, charters, and operating leases. He is known as a ‘dealmaker’ in the industry and clients describe him as professional, attentive, responsive, and solution-oriented.

Read Robert Calleja’s full profile on Spears500.com

Methodology

In selecting and ranking the best aviation and yacht lawyers, the Spear’s Research Unit conducts extensive research of the market, including interviews with well-informed observers, industry insiders and of course the advisers themselves. These take place both face-to-face, and on video and telephone calls. Candidates for inclusion are asked to fill in a form to provide data and a description of their work and client base. In finalising its selections and rankings, the Spear’s Research Unit employs a proprietary methodology that includes a weighted scoring system. This takes into account factors including an adviser’s standing, reputation, client base, recommendations and testimonials, the firm they represent, their level of engagement with the process and certain industry-specific criteria.

Best aviation and yacht lawyers: the complete list

Click on the individual names to be directed to more detailed profiles of each adviser on The Spear’s 500 website. The table is ordered by ranking and then alphabetically by surname.

Find out more

To explore all the Spear’s indices, and to use our find-an-adviser tool to identify the private client adviser who is right for your specific requirements, go to the Spear’s 500 website.

To receive relevant research updates from Spear’s – and thereby give you and your firm the best chance of being included in future Spear’s indices – please register here. If you are an adviser featured in an index and would like to update your profile or provide additional information, please email research@spearswms.com. If you are not featured but would like to be, please fill out our form.

Select and enter your email address The short, sharp email newsletter from Spear’s
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy policy for more information about our services, how Progressive Media Investments may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
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