Firm Recruits Former RAF Pilot

Irwin Mitchell has signalled the continued growth of its Aviation Law practice by recruiting the respected lawyer and former RAF pilot Jim Morris to join the firm as a Partner.

The move – the latest in a series of prominent hires by the leading national law firm – will see aviation expert Morris move to the leading national law firm from his current role at Stewarts Law.

Morris will bring with him experience gained in working on high profile air accidents and aviation disasters worldwide involving airliners, business jets, helicopters, light aircraft and military aircraft, as well as advising and representing the families of victims killed in air disasters at inquests.

The qualified barrister, who began his career as a military pilot in the RAF before joining the air force’s legal directorate, will become the latest recruit to join Irwin Mitchell’s growing Claimant Aviation law team and will add to the established expertise already based at the firm’s offices in Holborn.

Clive Garner, who Heads the Aviation team, said: “ I am delighted that Jim is joining our growing Aviation Law Team. Over many years we have helped those injured and the families of those tragically killed in numerous domestic and international aviation accidents involving commercial, non commercial and military aircraft. 

“Jim’s arrival signals our continuing commitment to significantly grow this sector of our practice, helping both British and overseas clients and providing them with first class legal advice and assistance in what can be a highly complex area.”

Morris added: “I’m really looking forward to joining Irwin Mitchell and helping to build on their existing aviation expertise. Their reputation in this area is already impressive and I am excited to be joining a market leading practice where I can play a major part in developing its aviation law services.”

Morris, who will join Irwin Mitchell in January, built on his nine years of flying experience in the RAF by qualifying as a barrister and spending four years as a Legal Officer, before switching to acting for claimants and specialising in aviation law in 2008.

Morris will be joining an Aviation Law team at Irwin Mitchell which is already representing clients injured and the families of those killed in aviation disasters around the World. including the Kenya Airways Boeing 737 crash in Cameroon in March 2006, the XL Airways Airbus A320 crash near Perpignan in November 2008, the Ethiopian Airways Boeing 737 crash near Beirut in January 2010, the Bangkok Airways ATR 72 crash in Koh Samui in August 2009 and the Pamir Airways Antonov crash in Afghanistan in May 2010.

It also acts in a number of other fatal commercial, non-commercial and military aircraft crashes in England, France and Venezuela and just last week Irwin Mitchell won a record damages award at Trial in Scotland for the parents of a British serviceman killed when the RAF Nimrod aircraft he was travelling in exploded over Afghanistan in 2006.