According to clients, Hogan Lovells US LLP has ‘the most knowledgeable, well-informed practice around’. In addition to its traditional aviation work, the Washington DC-based practice stands out for its drone-related credentials: Recent highlights include assisting drone manufacturer Pyka with securing approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to operate (commercially nationwide) its zero-emission, highly-automated Pelican Spray uncrewed aircraft. The team also routinely works with American Airlines’ regulatory affairs team on FAA and US Department of Transportation (DOT) issues. Consistently mandated by airlines and aerospace companies, Robert Cohn is highly rated for his aviation-related regulatory, transactional, litigation and government relations advice. As chair of the firm’s global uncrewed aircraft systems practice, Lisa Ellman further serves as executive director of the Commercial Drone Alliance (an independent non-profit industry organization). Also integral to the group are Patrick Rizzi, who regularly acts before the DOT and FAA, and former FAA chief counsel (and acting deputy administrator) Arjun Garg, whose ‘experience is extremely valuable to clients’ and who recently advised the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County (Tennessee) on FAA policy in relation to an airport’s change in control. The next line of active practitioners includes Matthew Clark, an expert in federal regulatory issues.

The transportation practice at Arnold & Porter is consistently sought out to act in high-stakes aviation disputes, including complex contentious issues that arise from major aviation events such as groundings and aircraft crashes. In recent highlights, the practice represented Airbus in product liability litigation across the US, which arose from alleged toxic fume contamination of its jetliners’ cabin air. Heading up the firm’s Houston office, Christopher Odell‘s track record includes significant transportation-related mass tort cases; Washington DC-based David Weiner‘s workload includes acting for multiple clients in relation to foreign mass torts, including major aviation accidents; and Katie Scott in Silicon Valley is an IP and technology-related disputes expert. Other key names include Amanda Thomson, whose track record includes cases arising out of aircraft incidents; and DC’s Megan Pieper, who is particularly experienced in representing aviation clients in complex litigation. Other names to note are Kenneth Chernof in Washington DC, who co-chairs the firm’s litigation group alongside New York-based James Herschlein. All the attorneys listed are based in Houston unless otherwise mentioned.

Offering ’excellent expertise in all matters of aviation law’, Holland & Knight‘s aviation practice is based predominantly in New York, Washington DC, Florida, Illinois, and California. The group consistently acts for both US and foreign airlines in major litigation arising out of high-profile airline crashes. It also handles disputes over aircraft leases, passenger claims, and class actions involving US and international law. On the regulatory side, the team assists with licensing issues, regulatory compliance, competition analysis, and defense-side enforcement matters. The department additionally handles aviation trade work (including high-profile disputes over traffic rights) and the regulatory aspects of airline commercial alliances and mergers. Firm-wide litigation section leader Christopher Kelly defends airlines and manufacturers (and their insurers) against suits brought throughout the US; and Steven Raffaele and Judy Nemsick are also experienced aviation litigators. Over in DC, Anita Mosner is ‘a true expert in her field’, while Benjamin Allen is a June 2023 hire from the  US National Transportation Safety Board, where he spent over a decade. All attorneys listed are in New York unless otherwise stated.

Jones Day is home to civilian and former military pilots, as well as former senior Federal Aviation Administration and Department of Justice officers. The firm also fields former in-house aviation manufacturer lawyers. The practice’s track record ranges from defending mass-disaster commercial airliner crash litigation in the US and international courts, to defense-side aviation accident litigation. The team additionally acts in National Transportation Safety Board investigations; litigates disputes involving regional air service agreements, maintenance services, and engine, aircraft and spacecraft supply contracts; and defends airlines against passenger claims and ground-handling disputes. Other notable areas include the representation of aircraft owners and lessors in insurance coverage disputes following aviation accidents; and assisting corporate flight departments with risk-avoidance strategies. Pittsburgh-based John Goetz defends companies against business and tort litigation, while Stephen Cowen in Detroit is a former senior legal counsel from The Boeing Company. Over in Washington DC, Matthew Papez‘s experience includes representing an aerospace company in a government contract-related lawsuit alleging misappropriation of confidential information; and litigation and trial lawyer Patrick Haney is also experienced in aviation cases.

Nixon Peabody LLP has longstanding experience in representing airplane and helicopter manufacturers, aircraft component manufacturers, and aircraft and equipment sales, leasing, and financing companies. The client list also comprises domestic and international airlines, including cargo airlines and freight forwarders, airports, fixed base operators, parachuting and balloon operators, and aviation maintenance and repair facilities. The team is consistently sought out to act in National Transportation Safety Board, Federal Aviation Administration, and foreign accident investigations. It also assists with regulatory matters and the establishment of risk-management procedures that avoid litigation. From the firm’s New York and Long Island offices, Joseph Ortego routinely handles aviation industry-related litigation, regulatory and compliance issues, while in San Francisco, Brian Dalrymple represents corporations, airlines, type certificate holders, drone manufacturers, and airports in defense-side class actions. The practice additionally includes Rochester-based Tracey Scarpello, who assists with aviation-related business disputes; Erik Goergen, an expert in commercial litigation involving aviation and product liability issues, and Santo Borruso in Long Island, who is experienced in defending aviation industry-related product liability cases that allege defects in manufacturing, design and failure to warn.

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP‘s longstanding aviation practice acts for major airlines both in the US and around the world, as well as original equipment manufacturers, suppliers, lessors, purchasers, investors and financiers. On the regulatory side, the team assists with administrative adjudications, enforcements, litigation and air service negotiations, along with antitrust, aircraft leasing, environmental issues, export licensing, and customs and tax matters. The firm also houses specialists in airline safety, regulatory and aircraft certifications, accident investigations, and employment. It additionally advises airlines on licensing applications for new routes. Charles Donley‘s track record includes acting before the Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of State, Department of Justice, and National Transportation Safety Board; and Josh Romanow represents several international airlines, along with travel and hospitality companies. The next line of active practitioners includes Thomas Liu in Los Angeles, who acts for aviation clients in cross-border labor and employment litigation; and Laura Jennings Ochoa, who also has extensive aviation and airline experience. The attorneys mentioned are based in the firm’s Washington DC office unless otherwise mentioned.

Routinely mandated by aerospace manufacturers, Cooley LLP‘s aviation litigation practice acts in major accident litigation cases, such as fatal air crashes and wrongful death claims; and the group’s caseload is frequently multi-jurisdictional cases when clients’ aircraft are involved in major accidents across the world. ‘With very good knowledge of the aviation industry’, the team also assists air carriers (as their liability and emergency response counsel); represents airports and fixed-base operators in high-stakes airport disputes; and acts in cases involving unmanned flights. The litigation practice further benefits from the firm’s experience in both National Transportation Safety Board investigations and contested matters against the US Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Authority, which involve regulatory compliance and international air authority issues. William O’Connor acts across the full range of aviation litigation from San Diego; and in Washington DC, Parker Erkmann‘s aviation disputes practice focuses on antitrust, competition and regulatory work.

Greenberg Traurig‘s aviation litigators act for national and global airlines, airline services companies, and airport owners and operators in litigation involving commercial disputes, product liability, IP, environmental issues, and personal injury and property damage claims. The team also assists with securities class actions, derivative actions, employment matters, data privacy, advertising, real estate, and regulatory law.  Co-chair of the firm’s aviation group, Jacob Bundick, whose commercial litigation practice focuses on aviation, works across the firm’s Las Vegas, Houston and Dallas offices. Bundick is supported by pilot and aviation disputes specialist Andrew Barr in Denver, whose track record includes acting for several aircraft manufacturers, aircraft operators, and airport sponsors before the civil aviation authorities, as well as in private litigation and arbitration. Barr is a July 2023 recruit from Cooley LLP.