Robert Lawson Kc

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT ROBERT LAWSON KC

Robert Lawson KC is a barrister specialising in Aviation. He was called to the Bar of England & Wales in 1989 and was in independent practice at the Bar continually from 1990 until February 2017 when he joined Clyde & Co as a partner in its Global Aviation Practice Group. He returned to practice at the independent Bar in February 2026. Rob was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2009 (with this title converting to King\'s Counsel automatically on the change of UK Monarch in September 2022).Throughout his legal career, Rob’s practice has focussed upon the world of, and law relating to, aviation. He has broad experience in this sector with regards to: carrier liability; regulatory and licensing issues; product liability disputes; inquests; insurance coverage; finance and leasing disputes; contractual, treaty & statutory interpretation; and general commercial disputes. In addition to advisory work, undertaking litigation and advocacy, from time to time Rob also acts as an arbitrator and as a mediator (for which he holds CIArb accreditation).Rob has acted and advised in many of the most notable aviation related disputes with an English or English law nexus that have arisen over the last three decades and is widely recognised as a leading aviation practitioner. He has been named:• Hall of Fame - Aviation, Legal 500 United Kingdom for 2026• a ‘Global Elite Thought Leader’ by Lexology in both contentious aviation and aviation regulatory for 2026 & 2025 (and previously by Who\'s Who Legal - Transport in the same categories for 2024 & 2023)• a ‘Thomson Reuters Stand-out Lawyer’ for 2025• Aviation Law – London Lawyer of the Year 2023 by Best Lawyers• Transport: Individual (London) of the Year 2020 by Legal 500• Aviation – Regulatory Lawyer of the Year 2020 by Who’s Who LegalHe has also been acknowledged as a leading lawyer in aviation by Chambers & Partner\'s Guide to the UK Legal Profession, The Legal 500, Expert Guides to the World\'s Leading Aviation Lawyers, Legal Experts, Best Lawyers in United Kingdom, International Who\'s Who of Aviation Lawyers, Who’s Who Legal: Transport, The Lawyer and Airline International\'s Aviation Counsel. Whilst at his first stint at the Bar he was also recognised in independent directories as a leading practitioner in Travel, International Arbitration, Product Liability and Professional Discipline.Rob is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and was Chairman of its Air Law Group from 2010 to 2016. He is also a fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and a Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.