Thomson Reuters names eight Keystone Law partners in its Stand-out Lawyers Guide 2026
Andrea James, Andrew Darwin & Anna McKibbin
Owen is a dispute resolution lawyer specialising in high-profile and complex disputes, primarily within the aviation industry. He is a triple-qualified solicitor in England & Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland.
Owen has 17 years’ experience dealing with international and domestic aviation accidents, including airline losses and general aviation accidents, and deals primarily with fatal accidents and serious injuries.
Additionally, Owen has a commercial disputes practice, the vast majority of which relates to aviation. He has a wealth of experience in bringing and defending claims relating to breach of contract, debt recovery, negligence, product liability, aircraft liens, and injunctions. He also assists pilots in disputes with the Civil Aviation Authority, relating to licensing issues and/or pilot prosecutions.
The vast majority of Owen’s work is within the High Court in England & Wales, although he is well versed in the use of alternative dispute resolution methods such as mediation.
More often than not his work contains an international element, and his clients have included UAE royalty, high-net-worth individuals, airlines, domestic and international aircraft operators, leasing companies, financiers, airports, maintenance companies, pilots, and families who have lost loved ones.
Expertise
Owen advises on commercial disputes concerning a broad range of travel and aviation issues. He advises on breach of contract, debt recovery, negligence, product liability, aircraft liens, and injunctions.
Experience
- Represented a prominent aircraft charter company in a successful High Court breach of contract claim concerning the management of a new Bombardier Challenger 300 aircraft.
- Defended a leading air ambulance company against High Court injunctive proceedings relating to a Learjet 45.
- Assisted an aircraft lessor in recovering debts internationally.
- Acted for a prominent domestic aircraft component manufacturer in a breach of contract claim against a European airline.
- Advised on a high-value High Court claim involving a disputed aircraft buy-back agreement.
- Assisted in defending an action in the High Court related to a disputed Emivest SJ30 business jet purchase.
- Pursued claims against a major helicopter manufacturer for defects in a newly delivered VIP helicopter.
- Acted for UAE royalty in repossessing a £30 million jet from a major maintenance company asserting a lien.
- Assisted a foreign claimant in enforcing a US judgment in the UK through High Court proceedings.
- Represented a domestic aircraft maintenance company in a Cessna Citation business jet repossession.
- Brought High Court proceedings against a European airline for breach of contract relating to Boeing 737-800 maintenance.
Owen is a highly experienced claimant lawyer in aviation accident and disaster litigation, representing clients in numerous high-profile international cases. He has extensive expertise in general aviation accidents involving light aircraft, business jets, and helicopters.
Experience
- Advised the families of victims of Air India Flight AI171, Malaysia Airlines MH370, Malaysia Airlines MH17, Singapore Airlines SQ321, and Air France Flight AF447.
- Pursued claims against major airlines such as British Airways, easyJet, Virgin Atlantic, Lufthansa, Qantas, and many others.
- Advised on the Hawker Hunter T7 Shoreham Airshow disaster.
- Advised on a Leonardo M346 fast jet fatality.
- Advised on the Airbus EC130 Papillon Grand Canyon accident.
Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.
Recognition
Recognised by Chambers UK for Aviation 2023–2026
Recognised by The Legal 500 for Aviation 2022, 2024–2026
Recognised by The Legal 500 for Travel 2024–2026
“Owen helped me immensely.”
Chambers UK 2026
“Working with Owen Hanna was a real asset.”
The Legal 500 2026
“Owen Hanna and James Healy-Pratt are both brilliant with buckets of experience.”
The Legal 500 2026
“An excellent lawyer who is very professional and very understanding of the impact of our situation.”
Chambers UK 2025
“Owen always gave an air of certainty, which was of great comfort.”
Chambers UK 2025
“Owen helped us through very difficult times with great compassion and kindness.”
Chambers UK 2025
“Owen Hanna is first rate. Knowledgeable, straight-talking and very sensitive to a client’s issues. I am dealing with a terrible personal tragedy, and Owen’s approach from the first call to the last has been tremendous. He is head and shoulders above the others I have had to deal with.”
The Legal 500 2025
“Owen Hanna, who handled my case, was very kind understanding and professional and kept me informed at all stages.”
The Legal 500 2025
“Owen Hanna is one to watch.”
The Legal 500 2025
“I have worked with Owen Hanna, what can I say Owen’s understanding and commitment to me has been without question superb. He has helped me with my case, but more than that, he has supported me through difficult and emotional times.”
The Legal 500 2024
“Owen always went the extra mile to make sure my case was handled professionally and with integrity. Superb.”
Chambers UK 2024
“Owen Hanna’s work is very thorough and he is client-focused.”
Chambers UK 2023
Owen qualified as a solicitor in 2012. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2019, he worked at the following firms:
- Stewarts Law
- Clark Ricketts LLP (now Holland & Knight)