Aerospace & Transportation
Driving Innovation in Aerospace and Transportation
From smart cars to uncrewed aircraft, Perkins Coie represents several key players in the sector. Our clients include established technology companies, original equipment manufacturers, suppliers and emerging growth companies.
Recognized worldwide as a powerhouse in aeronautical product liability containment and lawsuit defense. Our practice team's experience spans fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, autonomous vehicle systems, space vehicles, engines, navigation systems and their component parts.
Our practice team’s background includes fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, uncrewed vehicle systems, space vehicles, engines, navigation systems and component parts.
Perkins Coie provides comprehensive counsel, ranging from finance for startups to governmental approval for new technologies and protection of intellectual property and proprietary inventions.
Our transportation clients operate in a highly regulated environment. We advise clients on risk management, represent them before the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and other federal agencies and international organizations.
In addition, a multidisciplinary team of attorneys advises and counsels companies, their investors and other affiliates in all aspects of satellite, aerospace and launch services.
Influence in Aviation, Aerospace and Transportation Industry
We bring in-depth resources to strengthen our counsel. Team members include the former Chief Counsel of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), who has worked on such cutting-edge transportation regulatory issues as vehicle-to-infrastructure and vehicle-to-vehicle communication issues.
Several attorneys serve as members of the Transportation Research Board (TRB), and Perkins Coie is a strategic member of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), which supports innovation and industry standards for technical, safety, application and policy.
How we help clients
- Aviation & Transportation Defense
- NewSpace
- Autonomous & Uncrewed Vehicle Systems (AUVS)
We frequently represent
- Established technology companies
- Original equipment manufacturers
- Suppliers
- Emerging growth companies
Aerospace & Transportation Industry
Aviation & Transportation Defense
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Overview: Aviation & Transportation Defense
Perkins Coie has one of the longest-standing product liability practices in the nation and the largest practice with a focus in aviation and satellite litigation. We advise and defend manufacturers in commercial, general and military aviation accidents and satellite cases.
Our practice includes fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, uncrewed vehicle systems, space vehicles, engines, navigation systems and component parts. We advise clients on risk management, represent clients in NTSB and foreign investigations, and defend claims in all phases of litigation throughout the world.
Perkins Coie’s global aviation practice has been ranked in national Band 1 by Chambers USA and The Legal 500 since 2009. In the most recent 2018 ranking of law firms for Transportation: Aviation: Litigation, Perkins Coie is the only firm in the nation ranked in Chambers’ highest Band 1 category. Chambers reports that Perkins Coie is “the go-to shop for high-profile aviation disputes.” In reaching this assessment, Chambers quoted from clients who have found that Perkins Coie “knows what we need to do to defend the company. They have an incredibly deep bench and lots of very experienced lawyers.” Other clients summarized our skills by saying, “They understand the technical side of [aviation claims] and the products involved – they give good, sound advice and strategy.” We have been at the forefront of advancing defenses that significantly reduce liability exposure, such as the government contractor defense and forum non conveniens. Similarly, we have successfully defended cases using the political question doctrine and the combatant activities exception to the Federal Tort Claims Act.
Global Practice
Our practice spans the globe. We have tried cases in many states, as well as conducted international arbitrations in Europe and Canada. Our lawyers have defended manufacturers in investigations and litigation in other countries, including Indonesia, France, Korea, Australia, Greece, India, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Nigeria, Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Risk Management and Litigation Prevention
Our experience extends beyond dispute resolution to risk management and lawsuit prevention. We counsel manufacturers on contractual risk allocation, warnings and instructions, service bulletins and internal risk management processes. As part of our work keeping clients and their employees informed, we provide educational product liability seminars in which we present steps a company and its employees should take to ensure product safety and protect against liability.
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Professional Experience
Aerospace & Transportation Representative Experience
Summary Judgment Dismissals for Accidents
Represented an aircraft manufacturer in claims arising from several U.S. and foreign accidents, including Comair flight 5191 in Lexington, Kentucky and the crash of a commuter aircraft in Queensland, Australia. All claims against the manufacturer relating to those accidents were dismissed on summary judgment.
Successful International Arbitration in Helicopter Accident
A heli-ski operator and pilot filed suit in British Columbia against the engine manufacturer, claiming a defect in the fuel control unit caused the helicopter to lose rotor speed and crash in a remote mountain valley.
Satellite Manufacturer
Defended a satellite manufacturer in international arbitrations in Paris and Toronto. The Paris arbitration resulted in an award for the client after a full evidentiary hearing. The adverse party in the Toronto arbitration abandoned its claims for a walk-away settlement before trial.
Military Accidents
Litigation involving military accidents is complex because many of the accidents occur during operations in war zones and involve sensitive aircraft systems and strict export controls. These cases involve unique defenses such as the government contractor defense, political question doctrine, combatant activities and state secrets privilege. They present unusual challenges, such as obtaining investigation information from the military and evidence from inhospitable places.
Defend Ejection Seat Maker
Represent a manufacturer of ejection seats in claims arising out of military accidents in the United States and abroad.
Commercial Aircraft Manufacturer
Represent an aircraft manufacturer in commercial aircraft accidents around the world, including Asiana flight 214 (San Francisco), Flash Air flight 604 (Red Sea), Helios flight 522 (Greece), SilkAir flight 185 (Indonesia), Garuda flight 299 (Indonesia) and AdamAir flight 5503 (Indonesia).
Aviation Manufacturer Defense
Defend a manufacturer of general aviation engines and related systems in litigation in the United States and abroad.
Arbitration Victory for Helicopter Engine Maker
Defended a manufacturer of helicopter engines in an international arbitration in Montreal. After a two-week trial, the arbitrator ruled for the manufacturer on the helicopter operator’s product defect claims and awarded the manufacturer all fees and costs, as well as damages on the engine loss claims against the operator.