Hugh O’Donovan

Hugh O’Donovan, Senior Associate

London, July 20, 2009: One of the international air transport industry’s leading legal authorities, Hugh O’Donovan became a Nyras Senior Associate in July, 2009.

As a barrister, he has specialised in aviation law for almost 25 years, gaining particular recognition for expertise in regulatory affairs and both United Kingdom and European Union competition law.

Hugh is currently based at London’s Quadrant Chambers, the set of barristers’ chambers specialising in commercial and industrial litigation. Before joining Quadrant in 2004, he had been Head of Aviation Regulatory and Commercial Law with two City of London-based international law firms. In these positions, Hugh advised on a wide range of industry issues including licensing, airline start-ups (notably easyJet), airport regulation, IPOs, airline mergers, slot allocation, aircraft purchase/leasing and competition law. He has acted as advocate before English courts and tribunals (including the Civil Aviation Authority and Competition Commission); the European Commission; and the European Court of Justice.

Hugh advises at the highest levels within the industry, the financial community and Government. He worked with Nyras on the 2008 sale of GB Airways to easyJet.

A member of the Regulatory Evaluation Group of the prestigious Adam Smith Institute, Hugh is also a former board member of the Airport Operators’ Association and co-author of the Aviation title of Halsbury’s Laws.

After obtaining a BA degree in Jurisprudence at Oxford University, he was called to the Bar at Gray’s Inn, London, in 1975.