Robert Courts

Robert Courts KC FRAeS is a former UK Solicitor General, Minister for Aviation, Maritime and Security, and Chair of the House of Commons Defence Select Committee. He advises on policy and strategy, alongside political, legal, regulatory and reputational risk, with particular experience in maritime, ports, cruise, aviation, defence and other highly regulated markets.

As Maritime Minister, Robert oversaw the UK’s maritime recovery work during COVID-19, including the phased restart of the multi-million-pound cruise sector. He worked closely with industry and across government to rebuild confidence, test restart protocols, support the safe return of passenger operations, and help establish clearer, lasting channels of engagement between the cruise sector and government. His wider maritime work included port strategy, maritime decarbonisation and UKSHORE, the UK Shipping Concierge Service, and seafarer welfare, alongside representing the UK at COP26, London International Shipping Week, the IMO and Posidonia.

Robert brings senior legal authority as a King’s Counsel and former Law Officer, alongside first-hand experience of ministerial decision-making, policy development, Parliamentary scrutiny and public communications under pressure. He is Vice President of the Society for Maritime Industries, a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and a graduate of the Royal College of Defence Studies.