Business aviation is a soaring, international industry. Private aircraft ownership, whether owned by individuals or corporations, involves multimillion-dollar transactions subject to a myriad of regulations and compliance issues. Bell Nunnally’s experienced aviation attorneys keep our clients’ aircraft interests on the right trajectory.

Representing clients in transactions, regulatory compliance and dispute resolution, the Bell Nunnally business aviation team is comprised of lawyers and other experts in the field experienced with both the practical and technical issues facing aircraft owners, operators, brokers and adjacent service providers.

With a long history of active involvement withing the aviation community, the firm’s aviation industry team members participate in industry organizations, including the National Business Aviation Association, North Texas Business Aviation Association, Love Field Pilots Association, European Business Aviation Association and the Lawyer-Pilots Bar Association.

We frequently represent business aviation clients in:

  • Business aviation, including management, leasing and charter
  • FAA/regulatory compliance (Part 91/Part 135)
  • Tax issues
  • Import/export
  • Escrow disputes and litigation
  • Insurance claims and defense
  • Homeland Security/customs and border protection Issues
  • Pre-buy inspections

The Business of Flight

We regularly assist aviation industry clients with the purchase and sale of aircraft, as well as larger fleets, including representing clients in multimillion-dollar aircraft purchase transactions, many involving cross-border parties and always subject to regulatory and tax considerations. We negotiate and draft aircraft purchase agreements, carefully analyzing the technical requirements related to ownership, international regulation and the aircraft’s end use. We help clients record security interests via country-specific registries or the International Registry (IR) and analyze tax issues related to the end use of the aircraft.

In addition to industry-specific matters, our interdisciplinary team works together to offer a full complement of legal support for all aspects of running an aviation business, including entity formation, commercial finance, corporate and securities, employment and real estate matters.

Aviation Industry Litigation

We also represent aviation clients when a dispute arises and have deep expertise with domestic and international contract disputes. Our attorneys have represented brokers and agents who were owed commissions and both buyers and sellers in escrow disputes and interpleader actions. Based on our rich industry understanding, we are often able to find a practical solution or negotiate a favorable settlement when a dispute arises, but we are also fully prepared to go to court and vigorously pursue our client’s interests should that be the best path forward.

Our aviation attorneys have handled numerous disputes arising from aircraft purchases, including multimillion-dollar escrow disputes; international contracts; regulatory and compliance issues; tax-related issues; and all aspects related to business aircraft use, maintenance, ownership and operations.

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