Jetlaw LLC - Boutique Aviation Law Firm of the Year - 2023 - Washington DC, USA
Jetlaw, LLC is a comprehensive, national and international aviation law firm headquartered in Washington, DC, with offices in Kansas City and Chicago. Jetlaw’s practice includes mergers and acquisitions, airport development and compliance projects, aircraft transactions and financing, aircraft ownership and operations structuring, FAA/DOT/TSA/CBP regulatory compliance, air carrier compliance, tax planning, federal and state audit defense, securing private equity funding, government contracting, and Department of Defense-related projects. In 2022 Jetlaw celebrated its 29th anniversary, along with the 29th anniversary of the first publication of the Federal Aviation Regulations Explained, which is now Jetlaw’s FAR/AIM Explained book series, the only treatises to annotate and explain FAA regulations and case law. These books are critical to correctly interpreting the FAA regulations.
In 2019, Kent Jackson, Managing Partner, was appointed as Industry Chairman to the Part 135 Pilot Rest and Duty Aviation Rulemaking Committee. Mr. Jackson led the committee in reviewing current regulations and proposing new rules and accommodations for both large and small businesses while evaluating scientific safety data to ensure an improvement for the aviation industry.
Jetlaw’s attorneys and advisers began their careers in the aviation industry, using their knowledge to help clients. “There’s a limit to your understanding of aviation if your contact with the industry is from behind a desk,” said Mr. Jackson, a former chief pilot for an air carrier. Kali Hague, Partner, who worked for a charter operator and airport authority before joining Jetlaw, added: “I spot issues that other attorneys didn’t even know existed because I’ve actually lived in my clients’ shoes.”
The firm’s depth of experience continues to impress clients. Attorneys and advisers bring decades of experience in civil and military aviation to their practice, including experience as government regulators. Mike Kolich, Partner, was a former military crew chief and was deployed on several overseas missions where he ensured the mission readiness of military aircraft. Mr. Kolich has an MBA in addition to his J.D. and has gained a deep understanding of the business and regulatory compliance issues that intertwine in aviation contracts.
Sarah Rawlings, Attorney, enjoys working on the many aspects of aviation transactional law, including domestic and internationally registered aircraft. Sarah advises clients on operational compliance in a variety of federal and state regulatory topics.
Kent Jackson’s experience also includes representing clients on FAA aviation rulemaking committees, including the rulemaking committee that developed and drafted the fractional aircraft rules in 14 C.F.R. Part 91, Subpart K. The firm closely tracks aviation legislation and works with clients and members of Congress to introduce provisions into FAA Reauthorization Bills. “Sometimes regulations don’t adequately address a situation, and we can help clients fix that,” comments Jackson. “It’s not always a fast solution, but it provides iron-clad certainty, which many of our clients need.” Mr. Jackson is also an author, type- rated airline transport pilot, flight instructor, and repairman, as well as an active speaker throughout the aviation industry. Another major practice area for the firm is airport development and compliance. The firm represents airport authorities and tenants in multi-million-dollar infrastructure development projects, Part 16 formal complaint proceedings, and other airport matters.
C. Edward Young joined Jetlaw as Of Counsel, bringing valuable aviation experience to assist clients with a wide range of airport and emerging technology, eVOTL, and UAS matters.
The firm has a long history of supporting the aviation industry through work with the National Business Aviation Association. Kent Jackson was the Founding Chairman of the NBAA Tax Committee and the Founding Chairman of the NBAA Regulatory Issues Advisory Group. He also served on the NBAA Advisory Council and has long been a proponent of NBAA’s Political Action Committee. Kali Hague is a current member of the NBAA Board of Directors and was awarded its inaugural 40 Under 40 Award in 2018.
Jetlaw’s partners and senior advisors are accomplished pilots. Kent Jackson competes in Formula 1 Air Racing, flying a Cassutt both in the US and internationally. The firm owns and operates its own aircraft under 14 C.F.R. Part 91, logging hundreds of hours annually in its flight operations. Jetlaw understands the regulatory and operational challenges that its clients handle because Jetlaw handles those challenges too.