Find Lawyers in America for Aviation Law
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Aviation Law - America
About this Practice AreaKevin Boyle specializes in resolving large, high-profile plaintiffs cases by trial or settlement and represents a number of clients in a wide range of matters — from wrongful death to catastrophic personal injuries to victims of serious fraud. The common thread of all of Kevin’s cases is that he represents people who have been severely wronged by powerful entities, and he seeks to not only hold those entities financially responsible, but to force them to change their ways. A few o...
Tracy Brammeier is no stranger to tort law, having worked as a clerk at the firm for years and then jumping into courtroom work and complex tort cases. In fact, her intelligence and legal acumen have led her to already have worked on some of the biggest lawsuits filed at the firm, led by partners directing the cases. She works closely with partner Kevin P. Durkin handling many transportation accident matters. Tracy has worked on several cases involving bicyclists struck by trucks, a man who s...
Bob Clifford is the founder of Clifford Law Offices, which concentrates its practice in helping victims of personal injury, medical malpractice, mass torts, consumer and health care fraud, product liability, and aviation and transportation disasters. Bob regularly handles complex damage cases and routinely receives multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements. Mr. Clifford has represented those injured or killed in every major commercial airline crash in the U.S. in the last three decades. C...
Morry S. Cole handles complex litigation. He has served as lead trial and appellate counsel in a wide variety of complicated cases in state and federal courts throughout Missouri and the Midwest. Mr. Cole received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Baylor University, specializing in finance. He graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law. While in law school he served as an editor of the Missouri Law Review, a research assistant for Professor Martha...
Scott Cummins is of counsel to Casey Gerry Schenk Francavilla Blatt & Penfield, LLP, a California law firm. He is an experienced product liability and insurance bad faith coverage lawyer who has handled several multi-million dollar cases against aircraft and product manufacturers and insurance companies. He successfully sued the manufacturer of a water brake cylinder (a device which stops the ram used to launch aircraft on aircraft carriers) which had seen twenty years of service on the U...
Kevin Durkin is a partner at Clifford Law Offices. Over a career that spans more than 35 years, Mr. Durkin has successfully represented clients in many practice areas, including: Aviation accident litigation and transportation liability Truck, railroad and automobile litigation Premises liability and negligent security Medical malpractice Mr. Durkin has been named a top-tier attorney by U.S. News-Best Lawyers in the areas of personal injury litigation, aviation law and product liability since...
Mr. Evangelista practices in all facets of civil litigation, focusing on cases involving professional liability, medical malpractice, medical device and drug manufacturers, pharmacies, aviation mishaps and aircraft manufacturers, airports, sports and recreation, products liability, transportation liability, and catastrophic loss. He also concentrates a major portion of his practice to health care related disputes and operational issues involving hospitals and medical providers. Represents: Pr...
Preston G. Gaddis II (Gil) is an advisory director at the firm’s Oklahoma City office, where he joined in 1965. Preston graduated from the University of Oklahoma, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in 1960 and a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1962. He served in the Office of the Army Judge Advocate General in Washington, D.C. from 1963 to 1965. He also attended Georgetown University and received a Master of Laws degree in 1965. Preston has spoken on various topics involving aircraft financing at ...
Stuart Grossman is recognized as one of America’s preeminent trial lawyers concentrating on catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death, products liability, aviation accidents, and professional negligence, including medical, legal, accounting, and engineering malpractice.His successful career is distinguished by a number of favorable verdicts that are among the largest awarded by Florida juries.Mr. Grossman was named Trial Lawyer of the Year by the American Board of Trial Advocates ...
Bill Harrison's practice is litigation-oriented in the areas of toxic tort, personal injury and insurance defense, including general aviation, litigation, premises liability, automotive and products liability. His defense clients include local and national automotive, aviation, and insurance companies. In addition to his law degree, Bill holds a degree in Respiratory Therapy, which includes instructing at The Charity School of Nursing, Tulane Medical School's Paramedic Program, LSU Medical Sc...
Born and raised in the Chicagoland area, John grew up working in his family’s restaurant and then stayed local attending both Northwestern University (B.A.) and Notre Dame Law School (J.D.). As a first generation Greek American, John witnessed the difficulties that immigrants can experience while adapting to a new culture. He also experienced the importance of community in helping people to assimilate and understand how to become part of that new culture. He is fluent in Greek and has b...
Greg Kugle concentrates his practice in the area of litigation. He works in the areas of commercial disputes and business litigation, construction, land use and real estate, antitrust, product liability and personal injury, aviation, bankruptcy, admiralty and insurance coverage. He has litigated cases before the Hawaii District and Circuit Courts, the Hawaii Bankruptcy Court and United States District Court, and has handled appeals before the Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals, the Hawaii S...
Chicago trial attorney Brian LaCien is a founding partner of Smith LaCien LLP. He has a broad range of experience in the areas of medical malpractice, professional negligence, wrongful death, class actions, trucking litigation, product liability, aviation negligence, civil rights violations and premises liability. LaCien and Todd A. Smith, also a founding partner, have a long track record of achieving exceptional results for clients, with more than $2 billion in verdicts and settlements and o...
Jamie R. Lebovitz is a senior partner at Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy. He practices in the areas of personal injury and wrongful death litigation with a concentration in aviation, railroad, and trucking calamities. Jamie has more than 25 years of experience as a trial attorney, and he has recovered numerous multi-million dollar settlements and jury verdicts in cases against commercial airlines, aircraft manufacturers, railroad and trucking companies, and the federal government. He&...
Timothy A. Loranger is an attorney and senior partner at the national mass disaster law firm of Wisner Baum (formerly Baum Hedlund Aristei & Goldman). A consumer attorney, pilot, and avid citizen advocate, Tim oversees our cases involving product liability law, aviation, and commercial ground transportation accidents (including truck accidents, train crashes, and military vehicle accidents), and military accidents resulting in catastrophic personal injury or wrongful death. He served as C...
Chair of the firm’s Aviation group, Cliff Maine advises on aviation-related transactions, emergency preparation and response, insurance and risk analysis, litigation and regulatory supervision. A pilot himself, Cliff’s lifetime passion for aviation is manifest in everything he does. As a result, he speaks the language of the pilots, mechanics, airlines, entrepreneurs and the business professionals in this specialized industry. Cliff serves as general counsel to numerous aviation o...
Dennis M. O’Hara joined Wicker Smith in 1974 residing in the firm’s Fort Lauderdale and Coral Gables office. In his 30+ year career, Mr. O’Hara has served as lead counsel or sole attorney in numerous civil jury trials involving aviation law, commercial litigation, complex litigation and products liability. Mr. O’Hara has been involved in Aviation Law since the late 1970’s. Over the years, he has handled both commercial and general aviation cases, representing cli...
One of the country’s leading trial attorneys, Brian Panish has obtained some of the most significant jury verdicts in United States history on behalf of plaintiffs. His courtroom victories include a $4.9 billion verdict in the landmark products liability case Anderson v. General Motors, over 100 verdicts and settlements in excess of $10 million in personal injury and wrongful death cases and six verdicts in excess of $50 million. Mr. Panish consistently serves in a leadership role in th...
Anita Porte Robb is a Cum Laude graduate of The University of Michigan Law School. Ms. Robb is a nationally respected advocate. The National Law Journal has recognized Anita as one of the Top Ten women trial lawyers in the country, and Lawyers USA has identified her as one of five " Women of Note " nationwide. Ms. Robb has appeared frequently in the media as a spokesperson for victims’ rights. She has used issues raised in her cases as a springboard for policy debates in courts and the ...
Mr. Robb has obtained numerous record-breaking results on behalf of past clients, including the two highest jury verdicts in U.S. history for helicopter crash wrongful death, $350 million and $70 million , and the largest pre-trial settlement for an injury in a helicopter crash, $100 million which is also the largest pretrial settlement in U.S. history for a single plaintiff in a personal injury case. Mr. Robb is past President of the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys (MATA). Mr. Robb h...
Clay Robbins III is an attorney and shareholder in the Los Angeles office of Wisner Baum (formerly Baum Hedlund Aristei & Goldman). A third-generation California lawyer, Clay concentrates his practice on commercial transportation accident litigation and mass disasters.For more the 35 years, Clay has championed the rights of victims and their families in personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits across the nation stemming from major accidents involving aviation, boats, buses, trains, tra...
Mr. Rodgers has always had a client-first mind set. The son of an attorney, Chris learned first-hand what it takes to create the best possible outcomes for those he defends. He witnessed the results of hard work, longer hours, and strategic planning. He learned the value of building quality relationships and the personal reward of advocating for others. When he joined the Lanier Ford law firm in 2019, Mr. Rodgers brought with him the same dedication. He concentrates his practice in the areas ...
Mike Slack focuses on the most challenging and demanding areas of civil litigation, including aviation law and products liability cases against major corporations. A licensed pilot and former NASA aerospace engineer, Mike combines his technical knowledge and skills with his extensive litigation and trial experience for the benefit of his clients. Mike's legal experience includes more than 36 years and litigating hundreds of lawsuits arising from catastrophic injuries and deaths due to unsafe ...
Biography: Todd A. Smith, Founding Partner, Smith LaCien LLP Making Access to Justice a Personal Crusade A native of Evanston, Ill., and with a law degree from Loyola University Chicago School of Law, Todd A. Smith, a founding partner with Brian LaCien of Smith LaCien LLP, has practiced law for over 40 years. He has won some of the largest multi-million dollar jury awards and settlements in serious personal injury, product liability, wrongful death, and medical malpractice cases in Illinois. ...
As founding partner, CEO, and President at Spohrer Dodd, Attorney Robert Spohrer has received both local and national news coverage for his high-profile cases, including interviews with 60 Minutes, The Washington Post, NPR, the BBC, and 20/20. Board-certified in both Civil Trial and Aviation Law, he has been awarded many times over for his tireless work in the practice areas of aircraft disasters, defective products, medical malpractice, and insurance law. Since starting out as a personal inj...
Since 2009, Mark Worischeck has served as the firm's President and Managing Shareholder. Mr. Worischeck has earned Martindale-Hubbell's highest AV® Preeminent™ rating. He has been recognized as one of Arizona's Finest Lawyers and selected to be included in Best Lawyers in America for 2013-2022 for his work in aviation law, commercial and construction litigation, insurance law, insurance litigation, personal injury and product liability litigation. He was also named by Best Lawyers a...
Aviation Law Definition
An Aviation Law attorney provides counsel and planning in all segments of the aviation industry. The attorneys in this practice area focus their practice on flight, air travel, associated legal and business concerns, the operation of aircraft, and the maintenance of aviation facilities. This highly specialized field requires a comprehensive knowledge of FAA regulations, specific laws regarding flight, and an in-depth understanding of aviation.
Throughout history, Congress has enacted several federal laws pertaining to air navigation. Congress passed the Federal Aviation Act in 1958, establishing the Federal Aviation Administration. Since then, several subsequent federal acts, including the Airport and Airway Development Act of 1970 and the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978, have further regulated aviation.
In the wake of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Congress enacted the Aviation and Transportation Security Act of 2001, which established a Transportation Security Administration in the Department of Transportation (TSA). The TSA now resides in the Department of Homeland Security.
While state governments have created administrative agencies and enacted statutes and regulations in effort to regulate air traffic, register aircraft, and regulate pilots, aviation is, for the most part, governed by federal law. Accordingly, states are prohibited from regulating rates, routes, or services of any air carrier authorized under the Federal Aviation Act to provide interstate air transportation. States are not prohibited, however, from enacting their own laws consistent with federal laws, or from altering existing remedies under state law. Additionally, Federal law does not preempt state products liability law, and in many defective product cases, aviation manufacturers may be held strictly liable.
Aviation attorneys must be prepared to represent airmen and operators and provide solutions and legal advice in areas including:
- Advising airport authorities and airport operators
- Aircraft Accidents and incidents
- Aircraft use policies to cover personal use, carriage of political candidates, SEC reporting, and related matters
- Airman enforcement matters
- Airmen medial matters
- Compliance issues with existing federal and state laws
- Maintenance and airworthiness issues
- FAA matters
- FAA legal interpretations and FAR interpretations
- Insurance coverage and risk management
- Part 91 Operations
- Part 135 Operations, Certification, and training issues
- Personal use of company aircraft, and related income recognition, deduction limitation, and SEC disclosure issues
- Purchasing, selling, and leasing fractional shares of aircraft
- Repair station issues
- Security Plan Preparation and Review and Security related issues
- State tax matters and audits regarding sales and use tax, and county property tax
- Tax aspects of buying, selling, and financing aircraft, like kind exchanges and state sales and use tax planning
- TSA compliance issues
The practice of Aviation law also can include representation at both the federal and state court levels on behalf of persons who are suffering from loss or injury due to an aircraft tragedy.
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.
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