Pictured above: Jim Morris
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. He is the newest recruit to add Irwin Mitchell's
know-how and expertise in 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's
Temple Street, Birmingham office, 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.