Zayba Drabu

Partner Norton Rose Fulbright LLP

London +44 (20) 74445129

Zayba Drabu

Zayba is a litigation and dispute resolution lawyer. She has a varied aviation practice and primarily represents lessors and banks in asset finance-related disputes and other matters including the delivery and delay of aircraft, contractual terms, maintenance obligations, defaults, redelivery obligations under aircraft leases and termination.

Zayba also has experience of international arbitration matters and cross-border contractual disputes. She has advised on claims and defences under the arbitration rules of the major arbitrational institutions, including the LCIA, ICC and other ad hoc arbitrations. She also has experience of non-contentious matters, including coordinating and advising on multijurisdictional legal regulatory reviews, advising on aviation regulatory issues and drafting and negotiating various contracts. Zayba is recognised as Lawdragon’s “500 Leading litigators guide” and has been recognised in Chambers and Partners as “not only an effective trial lawyer, but she also has great business acumen and provides strategic counselling. It is best to have her on your side.

Professional experience

Representative experience

Advising / acting for:

Currently advising a client in respect of two different defaulting airlines, including in respect of the strategic steps to be taken for repossession and access to aircraft records, advising on Cape Town Convention rights and the exercise of the IDERAs.
Advising a client on the enforcement of rights under a JOLCO leasing structure, including the enforceability of a liquidated damages clause, the assignment of rights under the security package, Cape Town Convention remedies and other ongoing advice in respect of the enforcement of the client’s commercial court judgment in its favour.
Providing legal due diligence advice to a client on regulatory matters in over 80 different jurisdictions. Liaising with local counsel and keeping the client up to date on legal and regulatory changes which impact on its operations.
Acting for the claimant in an ICC arbitration in respect of its claim for liquidated damages as a result of non-excusable delay in the delivery of two aircraft under an aircraft purchase agreement. Successfully overcoming a jurisdictional challenge from the defendant in the Court of Appeal and reaching an amicable settlement.
Advising a cargo airline client in respect of its rights to terminate orders under an aircraft purchase agreement with a manufacturer.
Advised a client in respect of its rights pursuant to two separate aircraft purchase agreements (with two different aircraft manufacturers) as a result of delays due to technical issues (including claims for liquidated damages and force majeure).
Advised a client on its rights in respect of an engine purchase agreement and the ongoing technical issues it was encountering (including its rights under the warranty and potential rights outside the scope of the warranty).
Advising an airline in respect of contractual disputes with its OEM including advising on potential force majeure and frustration claims.
Advising an aircraft simulator manufacturer on contractual claims in respect of claims with both military customers and commercial customers.

Rankings and recognitions

Zayba is recognised by Legal 500 2021 as "superb litigator, who masters the most difficult problems to gain optimal results for clients. A rising star."

Chambers and Partners 2021 described Zayba as an Associate to watch and that "She takes a pragmatic view and ensures the responses she provides are clear and useful" and "She inspires great confidence and is very approachable."