Aviation & Aerospace

Adams & Reese attorneys deliver solutions to mission-critical challenges across all aspects of the aviation and aerospace sectors. We know the industry, the regulators, the public policy context, and the technologies that drive innovation and growth, and apply our deep and broad industry knowledge to successfully navigate the risks, challenges, and opportunities specific to aviation and aerospace. Our team understands the unique workings of all levels of the value chain, as well as the details, nuances, and pitfalls inherent in the governing international regulatory frameworks. Advising leading industry stakeholders in air transportation, manufacturing, finance, and technology, we deliver timely, pragmatic counseling and representation that is steeped in decades of industry experience.

Our team includes a former FAA Acting Chief Counsel, a former senior counsel at a major aircraft manufacturer, and a former counsel at a major international airline. Their in-house and regulatory experience affords direct insight into complex legal, operational, and commercial issues, which they apply to help clients navigate risks, solve problems, and capitalize on opportunities. Amid a dynamic business and regulatory landscape – and in an industry pulsing with innovations such as drone package delivery, novel propulsion systems, autonomous piloting technology, alternative fuels, commercial space travel, and advanced air mobility – we bring our unique perspective and vigorous approach to problem solving to anticipate evolving demands, apply creative thinking, and redefine the cutting edge.

INDUSTRY CLIENTS

We are proud to serve as trusted advisors to clients whose vital businesses are highly valued, heavily regulated, and closely scrutinized, including:

• International and regional airlines
• Aircraft and component manufacturers
• Advanced air mobility (AAM) companies
• Air ambulance and aerial work companies
• Aviation joint ventures
• Aviation trade associations
• Business aviation operators
• Corporate flight departments
• Drone (UAS) manufacturers and operators
• Fractional ownership program managers
• Logistics companies
• Maintenance and repair organizations
• Commercial space launch and satellite companies
• Technology companies

INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE 

Adams & Reese provides full-service advice and representation to all types of industry stakeholders. We help aviation and aerospace clients obtain and maintain government authorizations, navigate threats and risks to their authorizations, and regain compliance when departures take place. We also advise on operations, safety management, risk mitigation, commercial relationships, policy development, and strategy. We perform sensitive internal investigations and compliance reviews, and help companies develop comprehensive improvements to quality, operations, and procurement systems. As industry newcomers enter the sectors, we advise on system development, certification, governance, and strategy, as well as complex legal, regulatory, and policy concerns regarding their operations. When formal rulemaking processes lag innovation, we help clients figure out alternative means of overcoming regulatory hurdles.

We also represent clients in front of regulatory bodies, including the Federal Aviation Administration, European Union Aviation Safety Agency, U.S. Department of Transportation, Transportation Security Administration, U.S. Department of Justice, National Transportation Safety Board, Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense, the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority, and other local, national and international agencies. When companies face allegations from whistleblowers, regulators, or prosecutors, we offer tenacious and insightful representation. Our track record includes the defense of aviation and aerospace clients in agency investigations, grand jury cases, and disputes ranging from commercial arbitration to high-stakes international air crash litigation.

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