Aviation

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DOT Proposes Consequential Changes to Air Carrier Disability Accessibility Regulations [Alert]

Jonathon Foglia and Michael Deutsch discuss the U.S. Department of Transportation's proposed changes to regulations, which would enact penalties for wheelchair mishandling, ensure safe, dignified, and prompt assistance, and improve accessibility standards for disabled passengers.

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Few law firms offer an aviation practice as skilled and far-reaching as Cozen O’Connor. Our dedicated team of experienced practitioners has deep, industry-specific knowledge of laws and norms, and provides regulatory, litigation, and business counsel to clients operating in every aviation field. Cozen O’Connor’s leadership in the aviation space has been continually recognized by its peers: our aviation regulatory team is one of only three law firms in the United States ranked Band 1 nationally in Chambers and Partners USA, and we are often solicited by the most prestigious international law firms to serve as special aviation counsel on some of the most high-profile and consequential transactions.

Cozen O’Connor’s aviation team represents major U.S. and non-U.S. passenger and cargo air carriers, airline trade associations, airports, aircraft, aviation products and component part manufacturers, aviation and aerospace insurers and reinsurers, repair facilities, and manufacturers and operators of uncrewed aircraft systems, i.e., drones. We also serve aircraft lessors, air travel distribution companies, air/ground express delivery companies, logistics specialists, and large corporations, banks, private equity funds, and other investors with aviation-related operations or transactions. With access to over 925 Cozen O'Connor attorneys in a wide variety of practice areas, we believe that aviation clients benefit from seamless, comprehensive representation through a single law firm.

The expansive range of skills, knowledge, and experience within the team includes: 

  • Regulatory
  • Litigation
  • Business Transactions

Regulatory. Cozen O’Connor attorneys advise clients on the full array of aviation laws and regulations, including those of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Department of Homeland Security (including U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA)), and the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice. We assist our clients with maintaining regulatory compliance, appear on their behalf before executive branch agencies, and advocate before policymakers and regulators in Washington, D.C., to help our clients achieve their objectives.

Litigation. Cozen O’Connor handles wrongful death and personal injury claims, product liability and recalls, property damage claims, liability claims, coverage disputes, air accidents, and other claims under the Montreal and Warsaw conventions. Cozen O’Connor has earned its reputation as a top trial firm by successfully trying multimillion dollar aviation claims to verdict and aggressively negotiating favorable settlements on behalf of aviation clients.

The firm also assists aviation clients in state and federal government investigations. Firm attorneys regularly represent subjects and third parties in federal investigations of all types, including mergers, civil antitrust, consumer protection, and criminal. The firm has a dedicated State Attorneys General practice that defends clients against state consumer protection, deceptive trade, and advertising claims.

Business Transactions. Cozen O’Connor regularly assists with major aviation-related transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, alliances, joint ventures, sale and leasing of aircraft, aviation financings, and aircraft management and ownership agreements. Our aviation team works closely with antitrust, energy, environmental, finance and tax attorneys, all of whom have experience in the aviation industry, to support innovative cross-border deals and develop innovative solutions in order to maximize value for clients.

Our aviation team includes fellows in the prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers and the American Bar Foundation, a special assistant U.S. Attorney, a former Air Force Judge Advocate, an editor of leading treatises on aviation law in the United States and Europe, the editor-in-chief of The Air & Space Lawyer, a quarterly publication of the American Bar Association, a professor of aviation law at Georgetown University, and a member of the International Association of Women in Aviation.

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Experience

Publications

Lexology Panoramic Air Transport 2025

September 02, 2024

Jonathon Foglia and Amanda Geary Losacco contributed the United States Chapter to the Lexology Panoramic Air Transport 2025 guide.

Global Governance: Goals and Lessons for AI [Microsoft]

May 17, 2024

David Heffernan and Rachel Schwartz contributed the chapter “The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) “ to the Global Governance: Goals and Lessons for AI book published by Microsoft.

Expect Turbulence Ahead as State AGs and DOT Join Forces to Investigate Airlines and Travel Agencies [Alert]

April 25, 2024

Ann-Marie Luciano, Meghan Stoppel, Jonathon Foglia, and Patrick Rizzi discuss the DOT's recent announcement of an Airline Passenger Protection partnership with State AGs to empower AGs to more effectively investigate complaints and enforce state laws.

DOT Proposes Consequential Changes to Air Carrier Disability Accessibility Regulations [Alert]

March 05, 2024

Jonathon Foglia and Michael Deutsch discuss the U.S. Department of Transportation's proposed changes to regulations, which would enact penalties for wheelchair mishandling, ensure safe, dignified, and prompt assistance, and improve accessibility standards for disabled passengers.

Ready for Takeoff: Introducing Powered-Lift in the Next Era of Civil Aviation Innovation [The Air & Space Lawyer]

December 03, 2023

Amanda Losacco contributed an article to The Air & Space Lawyer discussing the Federal Aviation Administration's efforts to integrate powered-lift operations into the National Airspace System.

DOT Issues Rule on Aircraft Lavatory Accessibility for Passengers with Disabilities [Alert]

July 28, 2023

Jonathon Foglia, Michael Deutsch, and Rachel Schwartz discuss the DOT's new rule requiring lavatories on most single-aisle commercial aircraft operated to, from, or within the United States to be more accessible for passengers with disabilities.

Unintended Consequences: Why the Biden Administration’s Proposed Aviation Consumer Protection Initiatives Will Worsen the Air Travel Environment [The Air & Space Lawyer]

July 27, 2023

Michael Deutsch discusses the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) new proposed aviation consumer protection regulations in The Air & Space Lawyer.

CBP Proposes Changes to APIS System to Strengthen Aviation Security [Alert]

February 21, 2023

CBP looks to strengthen security by enhancing information that commercial aircraft operators must electronically transmit to CBP through its APIS.

House Passes Bill to Create NOTAM Task Force After Significant System Failure [Alert]

January 27, 2023

The task force will study how to improve the FAA’s Notice to Air Missions system after its failure caused a nationwide ground stop earlier this month.

[+] [View All Publications]

In The News

Cozen O’Connor Announces New Group Leadership, OMPs, Other Promotions

March 11, 2025

Cozen O’Connor announced today new practice group leadership, office managing partners, and leaders of firm committees and initiatives.

Patrick Rizzi Named Lexology Client Choice Awards 2025 Winner

December 11, 2024

Patrick Rizzi, a member of the firm’s Transportation & Trade Practice, has been recognized by Lexology as a 2025 Client Choice Awards winner in the transport category.

Lexology Index Names Susan Grueneberg and David Heffernan to Its Thought Leaders Global Elite 2025 List

November 07, 2024

Lexology Index has named Susan A. Grueneberg, a member of Cozen O’Connor’s Franchising Practice, and David Heffernan, chair of the firm’s Transportation & Trade Group, to its Thought Leaders Global Elite 2025 list.

Cozen O’Connor Assists Alaska Airlines in $1.9 Billion Acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines

October 02, 2024

Cozen O'Connor advised Alaska Airlines in connection with its recent $1.9 billion acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines.

Best Lawyers Honors More Than 200 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys in its Best Lawyers in America 2025 Edition

August 15, 2024

Best Lawyers selected 242 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 24 of the firm’s U.S. offices for inclusion in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America.

Legal 500 Recognizes Seven Cozen O’Connor Practice Areas and 16 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys in its 2024 Legal Guide

July 10, 2024

The Legal 500 United States named Cozen O’Connor’s Aviation, Construction, Immigration, Insurance, Maritime, and Mergers & Acquisitions practices and Cozen O’Connor attorneys Scott Bettridge, Raymond DeLuca, Michael Deutsch, Geoffrey Ferrer, Bruce Ficken, Jonathon Foglia, David Heffernan, Matthew Howell, James Kwartnik, Robert Magovern, Jeffrey Mullen, Patrick Rizzi, Rachel Schwartz, Josh Stein, Jeff Vogel, and Rachel Welford to its 2024 Legal Guide.

Nearly 100 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 27 Practices Earn Top Recognition in Chambers USA 2024 Guide

June 10, 2024

Chambers USA rankings are based on an “assessment of a firm’s work and opinions from external market sources, with an emphasis on client feedback.” In order to be ranked in the guide, lawyers and firms must demonstrate “sustained excellence.”

Eleven Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Recognized as Washington, D.C., Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

April 22, 2024

Seven attorneys were recognized as Super Lawyers and four were named Rising Stars, a list that recognizes attorneys under the age of 40.

Cozen O'Connor Adds Hogan Lovells Aviation Atty In DC

February 12, 2024

Patrick Rizzi was featured in a Law360 article discussing his transition to Cozen O’Connor.

[+] [View All News]

Contacts

Jonathon H. Foglia

Co-Vice Chair, Transportation & Trade

jfoglia@cozen.com

(202) 912-4871

David Heffernan

Co-Chair, Transportation & Trade

dheffernan@cozen.com

(202) 463-2537

William H. Walsh

Member

wwalsh@cozen.com

(206) 224-1296

People

Awards

Cozen O’Connor Announces New Group Leadership, OMPs, Other Promotions

March 11, 2025

Cozen O’Connor announced today new practice group leadership, office managing partners, and leaders of firm committees and initiatives.

Nearly 100 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 27 Practices Earn Top Recognition in Chambers USA 2024 Guide

June 10, 2024

Chambers USA rankings are based on an “assessment of a firm’s work and opinions from external market sources, with an emphasis on client feedback.” In order to be ranked in the guide, lawyers and firms must demonstrate “sustained excellence.”

Three Cozen O’Connor Transportation & Trade Attorneys Selected to Who’s Who Legal: Transport 2024

December 01, 2023

Cozen O’Connor is pleased to announce that David Heffernan, chair of the firm’s Transportation & Trade Group, Jeffrey F. Lawrence, co-chair of the firm’s International Practice, and Jonathon Foglia, member of the firm’s Transportation & Trade Group, have been selected to Who’s Who Legal: Transport 2024.

Business Today Names 32 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys to Its Top 10 Lists

July 28, 2023

These lists recognize lawyers “mastering,” “leading,” “revolutionizing,” and “dominating” their fields in their respective states and nationwide.

Eighty-eight Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 23 Practices Earn Top Recognition in Chambers USA 2023 Guide

June 05, 2023

Of the 88 lawyers ranked, 17 lawyers have been recognized nationally, and eighteen were recognized in Band 1. Eight of the firm's practice areas have been recognized nationally, and nine were ranked Band 1.

13 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys Named 2022 D.C. Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

July 12, 2022

Super Lawyers has named 13 Cozen O’Connor attorneys to its 2022 Washington D.C. Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists.

Chambers Ranks 86 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 22 Practice Areas in Chambers USA 2022 Guide

June 02, 2022

Chambers USA, the leading annual guide to the top lawyers and law firms in the United States, has ranked 86 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields in the guide’s 2022 edition.

Legal 500 Recognizes Six Cozen O’Connor Practice Areas and 12 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys in its 2021 Legal Guide

June 17, 2021

The Legal 500 United States named Cozen O’Connor’s Aviation, Construction, Immigration, Insurance, and Maritime practices and Cozen O’Connor attorneys Scott Bettridge, Raymond DeLuca, Geoffrey Ferrer, Bruce Ficken, David Heffernan, Jeffrey Lawrence, Robert Magovern, Anne Mickey, Jeffrey Mullen, Josh Stein, Jeff Vogel, and Rachel Welford to its 2021 Legal Guide.

57 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 16 Practices Earn Top Recognition in Chambers USA 2019 Guide

April 25, 2019

Chambers USA, the leading annual guide to the top lawyers and law firms in the USA, has ranked 57 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields in the Guide’s 2019 edition.

13 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys Recognized as Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

April 25, 2019

The 2019 Washington, D.C, edition of Super Lawyers Magazine, published by Thomson Reuters, has named 13 Cozen O’Connor attorneys to its list of Super Lawyers and Rising Stars.

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