Expertise

Sean specialises in aerospace insurance, reinsurance and liability issues including disaster management and preparedness, and insurance coverage and policy issues. He has acted for airlines and their insurers as lead counsel in respect of a significant number of aviation disasters over the last 30 years.

In order to provide support for its clients; Sean established Gates Aviation in 2005 which provides non legal support for a wide range of experts from industry including risk management, safety, security and Emergency Response Planning.  The firm also has an exclusive partnership with Kenyon International Emergency Services; the leading supplier of these services to the aviation industry.

Since 1998, Sean has been the Legal Adviser to the International Union of Aviation Insurers (IUAI), an organisation comprised of the world’s leading aviation insurers.  Sean represented the IUAI at the diplomatic conference in Montreal for the Conventions on Surface Damage and was the principal observer on behalf of the IUAI at the diplomatic conference resulting in the Montreal Convention of 1999 on carrier liability to passengers.  In 2003 Gates and Partners was formed; initially with 3 partners.  The firm has grown rapidly and now has offices in London, Paris, Brussels, Singapore and Dubai with a total of 60 lawyers, focused on aviation with particular regard for liability, insurance, finance, regulatory, competition, corporate and commercial areas.

Special Distinctions:

• Euromoney Best of the Best Expert Guides for 2011, 2009, 2005, 2004 and 2003:  “Sean Gates received more individual nominations than any other aviation lawyer worldwide” and in 2011 received the accolade  “Sean Gates knows everyone and everything, he is a leading aviation solicitor for more than 30 years.  He has enormous intellect and advocacy skills.  He is the world’s No. 1 aviation lawyer and combines a strong commercial outlook with unparalleled experience.  He leaves the opposition in his wake.  He is a guru”.
• Chambers Guide to the UK Legal Profession 2009 edition - ranked in the ”star individual” category for aviation insurance and litigation, which is “given to lawyers with exceptional recommendations in their field.” (Ranked “leading individual” in every edition from 1996).
• Named by Who’s Who Legal 2011 as one of the most highly nominated individuals.  The publication in 2009 comments that “The ‘pre-eminent’ founder Sean Gates is…considered to be ‘one of the key people around the globe’.
• The International Who’s Who of Aviation Lawyers 2005 announced that “Sean Gates of Gates and Partners is the world’s most highly nominated practitioner” for aviation legal expertise.

Career

• Established Gates and Partners, London, 2003.
• Senior Partner, Beaumont and Son, London, 1997-2003.
• Head of the Aviation Department, Beaumont and Son, London, 1991-1997; Partner, 1978-1997; Solicitor, 1974-1978.
• Solicitor, admitted in England and Wales, 1972.

Professional Affiliations

• Legal Adviser to the International Union of Aviation Insurers (IUAI).
• IUAI representative at the Rome Convention for Surface Damage.
• IUAI Observer at the Montreal Convention.
• Arbitrator for the Cour International d’Arbitrage Aerien et Special.
• Member and past Chairman of the Air Law Group of the Royal Aeronautical Society.

Languages

German

Interests

Sean enjoys hiking, boating, reading and the cinema. He is an avid collector of first-edition and rare books.