Former Pilot Settles Into New Role

The latest Partner to join Irwin Mitchell's Aviation Law team has signalled his intention to help the leading national firm build on its existing expertise in the area following his first few weeks in the role.

Respected lawyer and former pilot Jim Morris has joined Irwin Mitchell from Stewarts Law, bringing with him a wealth of experience which takes in work on high-profile air accident cases and aviation disasters worldwide involving all kinds of aircraft, as well as much-needed advice and representation for the families of those tragically killed in such incidents.

The qualified barrister began his career as a military pilot in the RAF where he flew a number of aircraft, ranging from high performance piston, turbo-prop and fast jet aircraft to heavy strategic aircraft.  His last tour was spent flying the Boeing E-3D AWACS on operations and exercises around the world.

After a rewarding flying career, he joined the air force’s legal directorate where he specialised as trial counsel in Court Martial jury trials. Working out of Irwin Mitchell’s London office in Holborn, he is the newest recruit to add their know-how and expertise to the firm’s growing Claimant Aviation Law team.

Discussing his appointment, Morris said: “It is an exciting time for me, joining a market-leading firm which already has a wealth of aviation expertise but remains keen to push forward in the area.

“Taking into account the existing reputation that Irwin Mitchell boasts in the field, I am looking forward to helping to continue the firm’s good work and am keen to play a major part in developing their aviation law services even further.”

Clive Garner, who heads the Aviation team at the law firm, said: “I am delighted that our team has been boosted with the arrival of Jim. Over a number of years we have played a part in ensuring so many of those injured or the families of those tragically killed in aviation accidents have received the vital support they need.

“Jim will undoubtedly play a major part in growing our practice further, meaning that even more British and overseas clients can gain access to first class advice in this often complex area.”

Building on his eleven years of professional flying experience and four years as a Legal Officer in the RAF, Morris switched to acting for claimants and specialising in aviation law in 2008.

He has joined an Aviation Law team at Irwin Mitchell which already represents 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.

The team also acts in a number of other fatal commercial, non-commercial and military aircraft crashes in England, France and Venezuela. Towards the end of last year, 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.