Hogan Lovells US LLP’s aviation team provides ‘creative solutions and optionality’ to industry-leading airlines, emerging aviation corporations, and commercial entities in both domestic and international clients. In Washington DC, Lisa Ellman and Arjun Garg lead a team that is well-prepared to advise on federal regulatory compliance, contentious commercial litigation, licensing, and certifications. Ellman is recognized as a leader in the unmanned aviation industry, evidenced by her contributions towards legislation in Congress focused on drone safety and the federal authorization of electric aircraft. Garg is recognized as ‘one of the best aviation regulatory attorneys in town’, building upon his experience as Chief Counsel of the FAA to advize leading airlines, air traffic control services, and investment firms. Earl Adams Jr previously worked at the DOT and has strong regulatory expertise. Mathew Clark is recognized for his broad skillset and is able to advise on any and all matters pertaining to manned and unmanned aviation. His work with Verge Aero led to a federal exemption to the rule prohibiting drones from carrying hazardous materials.

Holland & Knight LLP  ‘cover the entire gamut of legal needs in aviation’, showcasing a strong track record in handling crash investigations, passenger lawsuits, and regulatory compliance. Jointly led by Christopher Kelly and Steven Raffaele in New York and Anita Mosner in Washington DC the experienced team boasts market leaders in their clientbase such as Qatar Airways, Volaris, American Airlines, and Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation. The practice has had recent successes in the dismissal of putative class action suits, most notably in the US District Court in a case relating to ticket refunds during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mosner boasts a wealth of experience as an aviation consultant before the commencement of her tenure at the firm, contributing to her stellar reputation as a ‘knowledgeable and eloquent lawyer’ and an expert in aviation regulation, FAA regulations, and DOT compliance. Kelly receives praise for his work on complex commercial and tort litigation cases, his successful representation of Air France in a suit against Rochester County was a notable highlight. Raffaele too is a seasoned litigator who advises major domestic and international airlines alongside significant insurers in the market. Partners Benjamin Allen in Washington D.C and, Marc Antonecchia, Judy Nemsick, and Sarah Korapaty in New York are other key names that strengthen the practice.

Jones Day excels at representing airlines and manufacturing companies on the full gamut of aviation matters. The team, led by Pittsburgh’s John Goetz and Detroit’s Stephen Cowen includes American Airlines, Boeing, and Atlas Air as key clients. The practice frequently advises on high-profile contentious aircraft litigation relating to employee compensation, class certifications, and breach of contract. It also has experience working with air ambulance companies, advising on membership programs and the impact of state law on rates charged. Recently, the firm dismissed a high-profile mass action litigation against Atlas Air, pertaining to the airline’s COVID guidelines. Goetz is a respected commercial litigator who has achieved repeated success in the enforcement of provisions of the Affordable Care Act. Cowen has considerable experience in the aerospace sector and has worked on the valuations of rockets and the relevant equipment and technology. In Houston, Joshua Fuchs has a proven track record in cases involving government agencies such as the DOJ or FTC. Other key lawyers in the team include; Mathew Papez, Patrick Haney, and Bridget O’Connor.

The ‘professional, dedicated, and responsive’ aviation practice at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP has a strong presence in the European, Latin American, and Asian transport markets. Out of the firm’s Washington DC office, Charles Donley leads a team that provides ‘complete solutions’ to problems arising from antitrust matters,  regulatory compliance, federal investigations, and commercial litigation. Donley’s client-orientated approach leaves companies fully informed and assured by the solutions proposed. His advice to several Chinese airlines on operational restrictions arising out of the Russian-Ukraine war speaks to his multi-jurisdictional expertise which is prevalent in the rest of his team. The DC office is strengthened by Josh Romanow, a corporate and transactional specialist who is well-equipped to advise on FAA and TSA regulatory compliance. The team is boosted by the experience of Laura Jennings Ochoa and Edward Sauer. Ochoa has a wealth of experience dealing with foreign aviation entities, assisting them with route proceedings, regulatory compliance, and commercial licensing. The scope of Sauer’s work is broad but his involvement in the firm’s representation of MIAT Mongolian Airlines is a highlight.

Arnold & Porter‘s broad expertise in the aviation sector covers commercial litigation, discovery disputes, personal injury claims, and product liability claims, with Airbus, Daher Aerospace, and Kropp Holdings among the firm's key client. The practice is jointly led by Kenneth Chernof out of Washington DC and New York’s James Herschlein. Christopher Odell, the head of the firm’s Houston office, handles the full spectrum of the sector but has received praise for his representation of Airbus in a class action involving over 100 personal injury claims. David Weiner is a seasoned commercially focused trial litigator in Washington DC whilst Houston's Amanda Thomson is experienced at advising on complex discovery disputes. In the firm’s San Francisco office, Katie Scott covers product liability, antitrust and patent issues.

The primarily Washington DC-based aviation group at Baker McKenzie LLP is reputed for its depth of expertise in aircraft regulation and litigation work, serving international airlines, unmanned aircraft corporations, and leading developers. The team has longstanding experience in various commercial matters ranging from licensing and regulatory compliance to tax and operational advice.  Jennifer Trock leads the department and receives praise for her work in emerging technologies and renewable energies. Her team is also active in several financial matters relating to asset acquisition and corporate restructuring. Other key lawyers in the team include; Clyde (Skip) Rankin III  out of New York, Samuel Kramer from the firm’s Chicago office, and Michelle Shin in San Francisco.

Cooley LLP  is well regarded for its ability to handle domestic and cross-jurisdictional accident litigation and airport disputes, acting for airlines, corporations, and municipal authorities. The firm excels at handling ‘bet the company’ cases involving multiple litigants. For example, San Diego-based department head William O’Connor coordinated the firm’s representation of Texatron in a fleetwide dispute involving 700 aircraft owners in 48 states. O’Connor has built a sterling reputation as a litigator, experienced at handling, state, federal and multijurisdictional cases. Out of Washington DC, Parker Erkmann manages the regulatory arm of the practice group, utilizing his experience built in the antitrust division of the Department of Justice. His federal training aids his work with the FAA and the DOT, which helps his airline clients in merger transactions, licensing, and DOT certification.

Crowell & Moring LLP has an ‘excellent aviation regulatory and transactional practice’ which advises major international carriers and corporations on the full gamut of the sector. The team predominantly works out of Washinton D.C. and advises carriers on their route portfolios, and assists with slot acquisition, licensing, and codeshare agreements. It also helps private corporations navigate the complex regulatory landscape governing electric aircraft. Department head Amna Arshad arrived at the firm in January 2024 from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, joining the existing leadership team of Scott Winkelman, Rebecca Chaney, and Mary-Caitlin Ray. She is equipped to handle antitrust disputes, aviation litigation, and regulatory due diligence, relying upon her wealth of experience gained from her time at the Department of Transportation.  Los Angeles-based Amy Karnikian, an April 2024 arrival from White & Case LLP, has received praise for her ‘excellent service’, serving clients who are investing in emerging technologies. Antitrust specialist Ahmad Al Dajani joined from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP  in May 2024.

Greenberg Traurig LLP is praised for its ability to apply its market expertise ‘to resolve unique issues’ for its clientbase which consists of municipal authorities, domestic carriers, and international airlines. The team specializes in handling contentious matters surrounding environmental issues, customer lawsuits, and noise pollution. Most notably, it represented Boulder County in a lawsuit against the sponsor of Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport which aimed to limit the pollutive impact of the airports operations. Department heads Jacob Bundick and Ed Kammerer form the cornerstone of the practice. Bundick splits his time between Las Vegas and Houston and is equipped to advise on the full gamut of the sector. The ‘very approachable and knowledgable’ Kammerer utilizes his wealth of expertise in transactional matters to advise carriers in contentious commercial disputes out of New York and Boston.

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King & Spalding relies upon longstanding aviation experience to serve domestic and international carriers with the full gamut of the sector, ranging from commercial matters, environmental disputes, and international arbitration. Stephen Baskin and David Balser lead a team that acts as lead counsel for Delta Airlines for intellectual property disputes and class actions. Out of Atlanta, Balser attracts widespread praise for his experience representing corporations in class action lawsuits, most notably assisting Delta with a high-profile suit currently in the state court of DeKalb County Georgia, relating to the misappropriation of trade secrets. Baskin is based out of Washington DC and is an expert patent litigator. Other key lawyers in the team include Julia Barrett out of Austin,  Darla Kurlancheek in DC, David Williangham, and Arwen Johnson who both work out of the Los Angeles office.

 

Kirkland & Ellis LLP acts for international carriers and manufacturers across a wide range of complex litigation disputes and regulatory matters. Alongside handling crash investigations, the team is known to excel at handling complex shareholder and contractual disputes. These include the representation of Boeing in a putative securities class action and assisting Delta with a contentious trademark dispute. Washington DC-based Craig Primis  is an experienced litigator who has acted for key domestic and international clients. Other key lawyers in the team include Katherine Katz,  John Hartmann, and Kasdin Mitchell. Michael Slade left the firm in November 2024.

 

Nixon Peabody LLP, based out of New York, excels at handling contentious aviation matters for international aerospace corporations and aircraft manufacturers. The litigation-focused practice repeatedly assists with the entire lifecycle of an aircraft crash investigation, from the initial information gathering to advocacy in high-profile jury trials. Its representation of French corporation Daher Socata in a personal injury and wrongful death litigation following a fatal crash in Michigan and its work for Airbus following a helicopter crash in Albuquerque, evidence their experience in handling high-profile contentious matters. Long Island-based Joseph Ortego spearheads the practice, relying upon a wealth of experience arguing in federal courts, state judiciaries, and international arbitration tribunals. In Rochester, Tracey Scarpello attracts widespread praise for her expertise in handling complex commercial matters.