Simon Balls
Simon.Balls@kennedyslaw.com
+44 20 7667 9777
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Profile
Simon leads our London aviation practice. He qualified in 1997 and specialises in aviation-related liability issues. He has extensive experience in advising airlines and insurers on a wide variety of claims including baggage, cargo, personal injury and major catastrophes.
Simon is notable for his expertise in handling and coordinating claims worldwide, and is regularly instructed to advise on matters in the Middle East and Asia Pacific regions. Simon has spent three years working in Singapore, from 2001 to 2004.
He has been instructed to advise on major matters including a Pakistani air crash in Istanbul and a significant claim made in the Canadian Human Rights court for denied boarding. He has successfully defended Malaysia Airlines in the Court of Appeal on the most significant recent claim concerning the definition of ‘accident’ in a personal injury claim governed by the Montreal Convention.
Simon regularly lectures on aviation and insurance topics and writes for trade press and Kennedys publications. He is also a member of the Forum of Insurance Lawyers.
Simon Balls is very professional and solution-oriented. His reporting is excellent and his relationship with clients is brilliant.
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Qualifications and admissions
- Qualified as a Solicitor in England and Wales in 1997
Market recognition
- Recognised in Best Lawyers UK for ‘Aviation Law'
Best Lawyers UK 2024 -
Leading Individual and recommended lawyer for 'Aviation (London)'"Simon Balls leads the team in a way that gets the best out of people."The Legal 500 UK 2024
- Nominated by respondents for delivering outstanding service in the last 12 months
The Gracechurch London Market Insurance Law Monitor 2023 - Notable practitioner for 'Aviation: Insurance (UK-wide)'
"Simon Balls is approachable and flexible in his handling of all matters whether they be sensitive in nature or require a bespoke approach.
"Simon Balls is very professional and solution-oriented. His reporting is excellent and his relationship with clients is brilliant".
Chambers UK 2023 - Leading Individual and recommended lawyer for 'Aviation (London)'
"Simon Balls and the team are extremely approachable and very responsive to our needs, very thorough and have a wide range of knowledge right across the world".
The Legal 500 UK 2023 - Notable practitioner for 'Aviation: Insurance (UK-wide)'
"He's user-friendly and understands the bigger-picture stuff. He knows global cultures and local laws." "He sees the bigger picture and his strategy is well thought out."
Chambers UK 2022 - Leading Individual and recommended lawyer for 'Aviation (London)'
"Simon Balls is an expert in liability and insurance issues regarding major catastrophes involving an international element."
The Legal 500 UK 2022 - Global Leader for ‘Aviation Contentious’ (UK)
Who’s Who Legal Transport 2021 - Notable practitioner for 'Aviation: Insurance (UK-wide)'
"Clients praise his 'approachability and ability to think outside of the box'."
Chambers UK 2021 - Leading Individual and recommended lawyer for 'Aviation (London)'
The Legal 500 UK 2021 - Notable practitioner for 'Aviation: Insurance (UK-wide)'
"He has a wealth of experience acting for airlines and their insurers in passenger claims"
Chambers UK 2020 - Leading individual and Recommended Lawyer for 'Aviation (London)'
The Legal 500 UK 2019/20 - Recommended Lawyer for 'Aviation (London)'
The Legal 500 UK 2018/19 - Notable practitioner for 'Aviation: Insurance (UK-wide)'
"Clients love him. He's very hands-on in the way he works."
Chambers UK 2019
Awards
Work highlights
- Successfully defended a claim in the Court of Appeal against Malaysian Airlines for bodily injury as a result of an alleged ‘accident’ which occurred to a passenger on board an aircraft.
- Handled a significant claim being made in the Canadian Human Rights court for the denied boarding of passenger who was on the US ‘no fly’ list. Kennedys remain the only UK law firm written in to the policy for this airline, the second largest in the UAE.
- Represented a Pakistani airline in relation to all issues arising from a crash in Islamabad in April 2012. This was a major incident resulting in over 100 fatalities, with proceedings issued and being defended in Islamabad.
- Dealt with various third party claims following the crash of a large cargo aircraft at Stansted in Essex, including a claim pursued by the National Trust for the destruction of a number of significant and historic trees.
- Assisted a major airline in the handling of over 350 claims from passengers whose tickets had been cancelled, after they had purchased first class tickets for free due to an error on the airline’s website.
Aviation
Insurance and reinsurance