Thomson Reuters names eight Keystone Law partners in its Stand-out Lawyers Guide 2026
Andrea James, Andrew Darwin & Anna McKibbin
“A big thank you to my lawyer, Trevor Sears, who I am incredibly grateful to, as he has been, and still is, a rock in the middle of a business and life "ocean". He has put be straight where I wandered off course and his character, which I once described as a mixture of Robin Hood and the Terminator, has been, and still is, a tremendous pillar in my life”
- Astrid Schmitt-Bylandt
“Trevor Sears' knowledge of IATA and airline contracts is excellent”
- Legal 500 2020
“Trevor has been instrumental in giving me excellent advice throughout my career. Whether it be assistance with name registration, or guidance generally, he has always provided an excellent service”
- Edward Sexton
“Trevor has supported our corporate travel business for over 10 years now, throughout that time he has never faltered on delivering a highly professional, informed, yet personalised service. There is never a hesitation to pick up the phone to Trevor as you know you will receive sound advice time and time again. A solicitor with a conscience who genuinely has your best interest at heart and is supremely well versed in his field”
- Blue Cube Travel
Trevor has over 50 years’ experience in the fields of dispute resolution, travel and aviation, and insolvency, and acted for many years as an external legal counsel to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) dealing with issues between airlines and travel agents.
Trevor is recognised by the UK legal directories as an expert in travel law and described as being a “visible force for his astute handling of work in this sector”. His eminent position and knowledge of this area of law has made him ‘a person to go to’ for those fighting fraud when they need an authoritative perspective on fraud issues within their businesses.
Expertise
Trevor advises travel businesses on fraud-related risks, regulatory obligations, and commercial disputes, with particular experience handling cross-border travel fraud investigations and litigation involving tour operators and booking platforms.
Experience
- Successfully acting for a business travel agency with substantial claims against an international oil group both UK and offshore.
- Acting for a leading travel organisation in recovering substantial monies taken by in-house legal advisor.
- Successfully acting for a consortium of over 30 airlines in substantial claims against a major travel agency group.
- Acting for IATA member airlines against major banks in trust monies claims.
- Acting for major travel groups and advising with requirements imposed by regulatory bodies.
Trevor advises on complex restructurings and insolvency matters with a particular focus on civil fraud, tracing assets, and acting in high-value recovery actions arising out of financial distress or misconduct.
Experience
- Successfully acting for a leading UK liquidator in Ponzi-type claims against former directors and others.
- Acting for a leading trustee in bankruptcy in high-profile UK bankruptcies with international effect.
- Advising a commercial lender on substantial claims against various borrowers including investigations into hidden assets.
Trevor specialises in dispute resolution, advising on shareholder conflicts, fraudulent debt recovery, investor claims, and asset recovery for companies facing internal misappropriation.
Experience
- Trevor advises on issues arising between shareholders of companies as well as recovery of fraudulent debt.
- Successfully acting for commercial investors in a claim against debtors.
- Advising a company on recovery of assets wrongly taken by others within the company.
Trevor represents directors, shareholders, and partners in contentious matters including unfair prejudice claims, breach of fiduciary duty, and disputes arising from joint ventures, exits, and governance breakdowns.
Experience
- Advising companies and partnerships on shareholder and partner disputes.
- Advising on complex unfair prejudice issues in company disputes.
- Successfully acting for partners of a failed legal firm in recovery of monies due to them.
Trevor advises clients across the aviation and travel sectors on complex regulatory issues, including IATA and ATOL matters, airline disposals, and consumer claims, with extensive experience in international frameworks.
Experience
- Supported the client with specific Travel and Aviation Regulatory advice to divest themselves of a number of travel companies within their international group. The structure of disposals was diverse and challenging specifically concerning airline and IATA relationships and resultant financial backing and securities underlying the substantial transaction as well as CAA issues arising from ATOL bonding levels.
- Provided advice in a class action concerning the recovery of monies by consumers from an airline where they have purchased flight tickets from the airline, have not used those tickets, but have not been refunded monies paid by them in respect of Departure taxes.
- Advising IATA internationally on diverse legal issues over many years.
- Advising leading US airline on contract claims against online travel agencies, in international jurisdictions.
- Acted for multiple airlines in claims for trust monies against leading banks over many years.
Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.
Recognition
Recognised by Best Lawyers UK for Aviation 2025
Recognised by Best Lawyers UK for Travel 2009 – 2025
Recognised by The Legal 500 for Travel 2023 – 2026
Recognised by The Legal 500 for Travel: Regulatory and Commercial 2022
Recognised by The Legal 500 for Aviation 2013 – 2022
Recognised by Chambers UK for Travel 2014 – 2019
Recognised by Chambers UK for Aviation 2014 – 2019
Recognised in the 2014 edition of Super Lawyers for Bankruptcy and Insolvency
Winner of the Aviation category in the 2014 Client Choice Awards
Aviation: Regulatory – Leading Individual Aviation: Shortlisted for excellence in aviation at the International Law Office and Lexology Client Choice awards 2013
Recognised in the Third Edition of Best Lawyers in the United Kingdom in the practice area of Travel Law
“Trevor Sears is exceptional with his experience and knowledge of the travel regulatory sector. He is very practical and commercial too”
The Legal 500 2023
“Trevor Sears of Keystone Law is a very well-respected figure in the travel industry, with long-standing experience across a range of commercial and regulatory matters. He is particularly noted for his expertise regarding securities issues”
Chambers UK 2019
“Trevor Sears of Keystone Law is an experienced practitioner who is recognised for his activity in commercial matters and travel regulations. Interviewees particularly highlight his handling of insolvencies in the travel sector”
Chambers UK 2018
“Trevor Sears of Keystone Law enjoys a very good reputation, based on both the longevity and the quality of his regulatory practice in the aviation sector. His market standing is reflected in his long-standing position as legal counsel to the International Air Transport Association”
Chambers UK 2017 (Aviation)
“Trevor Sears of Keystone Law is experienced in advising clients on fraud-related matters and travel regulations”
Chambers UK 2017 (Travel)
“Trevor Sears is recognised as very experienced”
Legal 500 2017
“Peers highlight Trevor Sears of Keystone Law for his long experience in the travel sector and his specialisation in commercial and insolvency disputes between travel agents and key aviation authorities”
Chambers UK 2016
“Keystone Law's client-focused [travel] team advises on a range of commercial and regulatory matters, and is particularly active in the aviation sector. Blue Cube Travel and Airline Handling International are clients. Consultant solicitors Trevor Sears and the outstanding Alex Ferrari are key contacts”
Legal 500 2016
“Keystone Law attracts praise for its extremely focused, hands-on and personalised service. Highlights included acting for Athena Services in a claim against Hawkeye Engines. Consultant solicitor Trevor Sears is recommended”
Legal 500 2016
“Keystone Law's Trevor Sears maintains a strong connection with the IATA and frequently advises it on a wide array of matters, including fund management and liquidation. He also assists airlines on regulatory issues arising from the closure of internet-based travel agencies, and elicits particular praise for his responsiveness”
Chambers UK 2015
“Trevor Sears of Keystone Law is an established regulatory and commercial travel lawyer”
Chambers UK 2015
“Trevor Sears is very client-focused and noted for fast response times and a client friendly approach”
Legal 500 2014
“Trevor Sears recently joined Keystone Law from Davenport Lyons. He focuses on aviation and travel fraud, and has 40 years' experience in advising airlines”
Chambers UK 2014
“Trevor is outstanding and has attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement”
Super Lawyers 2013
Trevor qualified as a solicitor in 1972. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2013, he worked at the following firms:
- Davenport Lyons
- Kingsford Stacey Blackwell
- Booth & Blackwell