Clyde & Co strengthens global aviation practice with Dubai partner hire
Clyde & Co announced the further expansion of its global aviation practice with the partner hire of Nick Humphrey. Humphrey will be based in Dubai with a practice spanning the Middle East, Africa, Central Asia and Asia Pacific.
Humphrey represents international airlines, aircraft operators and owners, airports, ports, aviation service providers, maintenance and repair organisations and trade credit providers, their brokers and insurers. His practice covers regulatory, commercial, project, and contentious matters, including complex cross-border arbitrations under LCIA, DIAC and ICC rules.
He has a strong understanding of regional aviation policy and investment frameworks, advising clients on regulatory structuring, concession agreements, and cross-border aviation transactions. He regularly handles matters across the Middle East, Africa, Central Asia and Asia Pacific including some of the most austere and challenging jurisdictions in the world.
Humphrey previously led the aviation practice in the Middle East at another international firm, and held senior in-house roles at Emirates Group and at multimodal logistics provider Supreme Group. Humphrey returns to the firm, having worked at Clyde & Co from 2014-2016.
He has been consistently recognised by legal directories including Lexology Client Choice Award – Aviation (UAE), Best of the Best Global Expert Guide – Top 30 Aviation Practitioners, as well as in Chambers Asia-Pacific, Legal500, Doyles Guide, and Who’s Who Legal.
Humphrey’s hire is a strategic investment in the firm’s global aviation practice, strongly positioning it to support clients through a period of significant industry transformation, with the sector responding to challenges around aircraft availability and supply‑chain pressure, and increasingly fragmented regulatory and airspace frameworks.
Humphrey said, “I look forward to working with the firm’s global practice and leverage its Middle East presence to assist local and regional clients as they capitalise on the expanding aviation markets while navigating the complex, and rapidly evolving, global environment.”
Kevin Sutherland, partner and chair of the global aviation practice group, commented, “This hire reflects the firm’s longer term growth strategy in the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific, where aviation market expansion is forecast to outpace more mature regions such as Europe and North America. Alongside with our global and regional practice, Nick is ideally placed to unlock significant potential, assisting global and local clients as they take advantage of this market growth.”
Peter Hodgins, partner and chair of Clyde & Co’s Middle East and Africa Board, said, “I am delighted to welcome Nick to the team. The region continues to attract significant investment in airlines and airport infrastructure, driving demand for sophisticated legal advice across the sector
Regionally, the aviation practice has most recently been strengthened with the partner hire of aviation liability specialist Bushra Abu Tayeh in April 2026, and the relocation from London to Singapore of aviation finance partner Jahnavi Ramachandran.
Clyde & Co is one of few firms able to provide an end-to-end aviation legal service, covering all sectors of the aviation industry with specialist knowledge, and operating through a single global practice group.
The firm recently marked 100 years of advising clients on aviation law, through its earlier merger with Beaumont & Son.
With over 35 years of experience across the Middle East and Africa, Clyde & Co’s on-the-ground team comprises 94 partners and more than 270 legal professionals. The addition of 14 new partners since the start of 2025 reflects the firm’s continued investment in the region, further enhancing its ability to deliver market-leading advice to clients as they pursue growth opportunities and navigate an evolving business and regulatory environment.
