Most Highly Regarded Firms: Texas 2008 - Aviation
The aviation industry is encountering difficult times. Instability in the financial markets, increasing fuel costs and a dip in consumer spending have seen a number of carriers go out of business this year.
Bankruptcies and work-outs may well increase in the coming 12 months. It is against this backdrop that the demand for lawyers with specific industry knowledge remains high. In total we identify 22 individuals from 14 firms, all of whom have been consistently recommended by both clients and peers. While they are all held in the highest regard within industry circles, their areas of expertise differ. Leading commercial and aircraft finance lawyers rub shoulders with major names for contentious matters arising out of major aircraft accidents.
Hogan & Hartson LLP remains the best-represented firm in the chapter with three highly rated partners making the grade. The "exceptional" Thad Dameris has over 20 years' experience in the sector and comes recommended as a "first-rate trial lawyer". His reputation in the field led one corporate source to note, "I consider [him] to be the world's leading aviation lawyer. Whether measured by track record or approach to problems, he is the best we know." Sources were similarly generous in their praise for partners Trevor Jefferies and Bruce Oakley. Jefferies has a background in the US Air Force and holds an FAA Airline Transport Pilot certificate. His general and commercial litigation practice has a focus on aviation, insurance and e-discovery, and he "produces results" according to one prominent source. Oakley is a former judge of the 234th District Court in Harris County and comes recommended for both litigation and arbitration across a number of industries, including aviation.
Rachel Giesber Clingman joined Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP from Fulbright & Jaworski LLP in August 2007. Clingman is partner in charge of the firm's Houston office and heads the national business litigation group. Rated as "an extremely capable litigator", Clingman's practice encompasses both the transportation and energy sectors. Among other matters, she represented Part 121 air carriers in national litigation relating to deep vein thrombosis (DVT). This included appellate cases before the Fifth and Ninth Circuit Courts of Appeal. Tom Stilwell, Clingman's former partner at Fulbright, was also brought in to expand the litigation and aviation capabilities of Sutherland Asbill's Houston office. Stilwell's practice also spans the energy and aviation sectors and his work on arbitrations was mentioned on a number of occasions.
Winstol Carter is another Fulbright alumnus and he now practises in the litigation group at Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP. Praised by sources as "an absolutely first-rate trial lawyer", Carter's practice incorporates patent litigation as well as disputes related to air carriers and products manufacturers. Representative matters include acting as lead counsel to a domestic carrier in claims arising from the crash on takeoff of one of its DC-9 aircraft.
Katherine Staton practises out of the Dallas office of Jackson Walker LLP, the hub for the firm's five-partner aviation group. Staton has worked on a variety of matters both within Texas and in other states and counts carriers, fixed-base operators, smaller operators and manufacturers among her clients. She is currently undertaking work for a number of airlines and highlights include defending American Airlines in a class action case governed by the Warsaw Convention. Robert Ruckman once again puts in a strong performance in the chapter. Ruckman's practice focuses on aviation negligence and products liability and sources rate him as a "top-tier litigator". His work on behalf of aviation insurance carriers and manufacturers was noted on more than one occasion.
William Maynard is one of a two-strong team from Beirne Maynard & Parsons LLP on the following pages. Boasting an "exceptional reputation" he is said to display "excellent skills" according to one prominent source. Pamela Hicks is similarly well regarded, particularly for product liability matters on behalf of manufacturers and airlines. Representative matters include defending a helicopter operator in a case that involved the death of three people. Stepp & Sullivan PC once again features prominently in the chapter with both Jadd Stepp and Dennis Sullivan consistently recommended by both clients and peers. Stepp is a "big name in the industry" whom sources "would happily refer work to". He has been active in the industry for over 25 years during which time he has served as lead trial lawyer for owners and operators involved in incidents in the US, Mexico, South and Central America. His work on behalf of product manufacturers was also said to be particularly noteworthy. Sullivan has a strong trial practice and has represented clients in matters arising from incidents in Texas, Mexico, the Caribbean and South and Central America. He draws his clients from airlines, operators, owners, manufacturers and maintenance facilities.
Litigator Stephen Howell represents Brown Dean Wiseman Liser Proctor & Hart LLP in the chapter. Howell is "ever-present in aviation circles" according to a source while another noted, "I often refer work to Stephen and have been happy with the results". Howell focuses on litigation, products liability and personal injury matters and emerges as one of Texas' most nominated individuals. John Easton at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP is a former US Air Force F-16 pilot and his litigation experience spans a number of sectors. On the aviation front he represents aircraft and component manufacturers, airlines, leasing companies and defence contractors. Charles Smith at Smith & Moore LLP is a new entry into the chapter this year and a certified pilot. Smith litigates in both state and federal courts and also boasts a strong transactional practice for dealers, brokers and general business clients. Fred Meier at Winstead PC has been active in the sector for 30 years and comes recommended as "vastly experienced". Meier boasts a broad-based practice encompassing product liability, aircraft sales and lease transactions, FAA regulatory matters and insurance coverage issues. John Martin at Thompson & Knight LLP puts in another strong performance and comes recommended as "very well known, the real deal". Martin draws his clients from carriers, product manufacturers and general aviation interests, representing them in litigation, coverage disputes and general commercial litigation. Highlights include representing a number of leading US carriers in federal multi-district litigation and state court cases that arose out of incidents involving fatalities and other injuries. Michael Bean is a founding partner of Maloney Bean Horn & Hull PC and his insurance defence work was once again brought to our attention.
Slack & Davis LLP appeared in the previous edition thanks to the strength of its plaintiff practice; two lawyers from the firm repeat their performance in this year's edition. Ladd Sanger concentrates on products liability and litigation arising out of aircraft crashes in the US and other countries such as Brazil, France, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala and Mexico to name but a few. Michael Slack has over 23 years' experience of complex aviation-related litigation and among other matters he worked on the litigation arising out of the crash of American Connection Flight 5966. Doyle Raizner LLP is another leading plaintiff firm, with two new entries in this edition. Jeffrey Raizner comes recommended as an "outstanding personal injury lawyer" while Michael Doyle is said to be "first-rate".