Southampton: Aviation team at Blake Lapthorn expands

Aviation specialist Mark Turnbull has been promoted to partner by law firm Blake Lapthorn. Turnbull specialises in international aircraft finance, advising on the sale, purchase, leasing and financing of aircraft and related regulatory and commercial matters. 

As part of the banking and finance practice group based at the firm’s Southampton offices, Turnbull advises airlines, aircraft leasing companies and financial institutions on the financing of commercial aircraft, corporate and private jets/helicopters, engines and parts.

He is also experienced in advising on aircraft maintenance agreements, aviation regulatory matters (including aircraft and security registration) and commercial supply contracts within the aviation sector.

Turnbull trained with Blake Lapthorn, qualifying in 2005, and has also worked on secondment to air traffic control organisation NATS.

Last year, Blake Lapthorn was recognised as one of the top five law firms in aviation finance, in an annual legal survey by Airfinance Journal. It was the second year in a row that the firm had received the recognition and in 2011, Turnbull was also singled out in the survey’s ‘Rising Star’ category.

Ben Graham-Evans, who heads the Blake Lapthorn aircraft finance team, said: “Mark’s ability to develop strong client relationships and his wide-ranging experience in advising companies in the aircraft finance sector has made him a key member of the team. His promotion to partner reflects the contribution he has made to the expansion of our specialist practice area, as well as to the firm’s asset finance arm outside the aviation industry. The team expanded significantly last year as a result of David Daws and his team joining us, and Mark’s appointment is continuing evidence of the team’s steady growth in this challenging and competitive market.”