One more leaves 5 Bell Yard

Leading aviation barrister Giles Kavanagh has quit top aviation set 5 Bell Yard to join Barlow Lyde & Gilbert, bringing the number of departures from the set's aviation group this year to six.

Kavanagh, who has been with 5 Bell Yard for all of his 14 years at the Bar, will retrain as a solicitor and join Barlow Lyde's four-partner aviation team as an equity partner.

He was unavailable for comment last week, but, in a statement, said: "Joining Barlow Lyde will enable me to build my aviation practice. My aircraft leasing and finance experience provides an opportunity to develop the asset finance side of the firm's practice."

His departure leaves 5 Bell Yard with only five aviation specialists. Last month Andrew Lydiard joined rival set Brick Court Chambers, Phillip Reed joined Norton Rose's commercial litigation team and head of chambers

Robert Webb QC announced he would be leaving to head up British Airways' legal and regulatory activities. In February, Michael Crane QC and Akhil Shah quit to go to Fountain Court.

5 Bell Yard clerk Adrian Hawes said the set would issue a statement shortly.