John Gilfedder
Legal DirectorJohn Gilfedder is a Legal Director in our Aviation team. He is qualified in England & Wales and Northern Ireland and advises a broad spectrum of aviation, travel and wider transportation clients with a particular focus on litigation, insurance, regulatory compliance and commercial matters.
He is experienced in dealing with major aviation accidents in South America, Africa and Norway, supporting national and international air carriers and their insurers and handling multi-jurisdictional subrogation and third-party recovery actions. John has led on product liability disputes for a major European aviation manufacturer and its Reinsurers and has defended various international aviation carriers within the context of cargo and passenger litigation.
John advises our clients in the travel sector on compliance with the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangement Regulations 2018 and corresponding EU Regulations. He has supported new market entrants regarding the roll-out of their package travel operations and regularly supports the DLA Piper Corporate team on the acquisition and sale of aviation and travel businesses involving engagement with regulatory and industry bodies on the point of change of control.
John supports our UK and pan-EU clients on the UK and EU regulatory framework regarding drone, UAS and AAM operations. He also supports the firms retail, technology, e-commerce and logistics clients on UK and EU operations including contractual support, negotiation of supplier agreements. He has successfully defended claims before the Courts in England & Wales on behalf of insurers, airlines, handling agents and other transport operators.
Fluent in French and with strong professional Spanish, John uses his written and oral language skills to advise clients in a wide-range of foreign jurisdictions.
John is a go-to lawyer within our Lit & Reg practice as recognised in the Legal 500 2025: "John Gilfedder is a go-to lawyer for us due to his in-depth knowledge of transportation, legal and regulatory issues and his commercial acumen. He understands our business and is a leader in the field."
EXPERIENCE
Aviation & Regulatory Experience
John’s experience includes advising:
- London and international insurers and an EU manufacturer in relation to fatal aviation accidents in Europe.
- A major International Corporation with regulatory and commercial matters surrounding European expansion. This involves projects within Aviation, Operations & Logistics, Health & Safety and other general compliance issues.
- A UK Maintenance Organisation following a negligence and breach of contract claim.
- A UK-based MRO with the successful recovery of six figure recovery of unpaid debts.
- A US Corporation on UK and EU regulations governing commercial drone operations.
- A private aviation company on establishing its aviation operations in UK & Ireland.
- A product manufacturer in relation to claims arising following severe engine issues during 2019.
- Reinsurers on the fatal loss of LaMia flight 2933 which crashed on 28 November 2016 in Medellin, Colombia whilst carrying players and club members of Associação Chapecoense de Futebol.
- Local insurers and London Reinsurers in relation to the loss of a Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft in Kenya in June 2018 carrying ten people on board.
- A number of UK & African airlines and their Reinsurers in relation to disputes arising from the loss of cargo and precious metals in over 25 African jurisdictions.
- On subrogation and third-party actions resulting from incidents at airports causing damage to aircraft and property.
Travel and Transport
John’s experience includes advising:
- Supporting a UK Client with the in-sourcing of its package travel businesses including regulatory compliance and industry membership support;
- A European transport and tech company on the establishment of its UK travel business.
- A FTSE 100 organisation on compliance requirements with The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangement Regulations 2018.
- A number of global hotel chains on strategy, contractual and legal rights following collapse of Thomas Cook in 2019.
- A U.S. corporation on registration / establishment of UK and pan-EU operations.
- A UK Private Equity Client on the sale of a travel business within its portfolio.
- A Global client with litigation and compliance / enforcement action in relation to road transportation operations.
- English
- French
- Spanish
- Institute of Professional Legal Studies, Queen's University Belfast (2010 - 2011)
- Université Montesquieu - Bordeaux IV, French & European Law (2008-2009)
- Queen's University Belfast - Common & Civil Law with French (2006 - 2010)
Prior Experience
- 2013-2019 - Associate & Senior Associate, London Based International Law Firm
Pro bono