Alert
Please keep in mind that merely contacting Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP will not establish an attorney-client relationship. Nelson Mullins cannot represent you until the firm knows there would not be a conflict of interest, and the firm determines that it is otherwise able to accept the engagement. Accordingly, please do not send Nelson Mullins any information or documents until a formal attorney-client relationship has been established through an interview with an attorney and authorized in the form of an engagement letter from Nelson Mullins. Any information or documents sent prior to your receipt of an engagement letter cannot be treated as confidences, secrets or protected information of any nature. Clicking "Submit" acknowledges that you understand and agree with this notice.
Idea Exchange
Turning 125: Nelson Mullins Celebrating 125 Years of Legal Service in 2022
In January 1897, attorney P.H. Nelson left his position as solicitor of the Fifth Judicial Circuit to set up a private law practice in Columbia, S.C. The State newspaper contained a short but prescient news item on Jan. 26 about the endeavor, which noted that "the new firm should meet with great success."
And they were right. Today, Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP offers legal services in 15 states and the District of Columbia from 31 offices with 930+ attorneys, policy advisors, and professionals. It is the 71st largest law firm in the nation based on 2021 gross revenues, according to The American Lawyer’s Am Law 100, a legal news organization that tracks law firm growth.
Throughout 2022, Nelson Mullins will be sharing seminal events from its history that highlight its growth from a one-man firm in 1897 to where we are today. Click here to learn more.
The LatestView All
September 13, 2022
Continuing the FinTech University series, join the chair of Nelson Mullins FinTech and Regulation Practice, Richard Levin, commercial litigation attorney Erin Kolmansberger, civil litigation attorney Katherine Baker, and special guest Jennifer Docherty, for this one-hour session, "The Business Case for Women in FinTech." Levin will moderate. The discussion will focus on leveraging gender diversity to enhance the performance of FinTech companies.
The Business Case for Women in FinTech - FinTech University Series
Aviation
Helping clients in investigation & civil litigation
Our Aviation Team will provide substantive and detailed assistance by
- conducting pre-suit investigations to narrow issues, highlight strengths of the case, and assess the prospective litigation landscape
- engaging in efficient discovery aimed at developing defense themes and refuting theories of liability
- assessing and participating in alternate dispute resolution (ADR) to creatively engineer cost-effective outcomes
- vigorously participating in all aspects of trial
Interdisciplinary team
- Attorneys who are former pilots
- Attorneys with experience touching on fields critical to aviation clients, including contracts, environmental issues, imports/exports, bankruptcy and restructuring, insurance, intellectual property, and labor and employment
- Litigators licensed to practice at various levels of the state and federal courts
- Counselors familiar with consumer product risk prevention and regulatory counseling
- Attorneys and professionals experienced with principles of accident reconstruction, metallurgy, design, biomechanics, manufacturing processes, and warnings
Our clients range from private aircraft owners to multinational airlines to Fortune 500 conglomerates
In the complex aviation industry, our clients can face a multitude of problems and challenges. We work with you to deliver a comprehensive solution that is efficacious and cost-efficient. Our experience includes working with the following entities
- Airlines
- Air carriers
- Airports
- Airport authorities
- Original equipment manufacturers
- Fixed base operators (FBOs)
- FAA Certified Repair Stations
- Passenger and cargo service companies
The Nelson Mullins Aviation Team has the experience and knowledge base to navigate the daily challenges that aviation-related entities must face in this ever-changing industry
Attorneys on our Aviation Team are members of local, state, and national defense groups. As part of the leadership of these organizations, they frequently write articles, speak at conferences, and provide thought leadership to aviation-specific industry groups and beyond.
Our lawyers are active listeners, innovative problem solvers, and vociferous advocates who can develop alternatives and effective outcomes
- Crisis management – when they occur and with a view toward consideration of issues regarding potential related litigation
- Expert witnesses and opinions – providing guidance and help with identifying and hiring experts who give valuable advice and can serve as consulting and/or litigation witnesses
- Integrated approach to potential issues analysis – team approach and perspectives from Nelson Mullins attorneys in related practice areas such as product liability, toxic torts, employment, real estate, environmental, and corporate
- Internal and external communications plans – with your board of directors, customers, and law enforcement
- Pre-suit investigations – conducting investigations of incidents and unexpected events to fully assess the facts and potential liability of an unexpected event
- Joint defense strategies – providing strategic guidance to clients and co-parties in joint defense
- Litigation defense – through discovery, settlement negotiations, alternative dispute resolution, and—when necessary—trial and appeal
- Litigation plans and budgets – providing strategic litigation plans and budgets to "right size" the defense of matters
- Witness depositions – preparing witnesses for and defending depositions of corporate, executive, and managerial witnesses and conducting depositions of adverse and non-party witnesses
Why Nelson Mullins?
- Diverse experience litigating an assortment of aviation-related issues in state and federal courts
- In-depth familiarity with conducting investigations of unexpected and/or catastrophic incidents to assess critical factual and damages issues that may manifest in prospective litigation
- Proficiency in developing defense themes and strategy for purposes of posturing cases for cost-efficient and early resolution
- Understanding technical issues that require demonstrative evidence and the retention of outside experts or consultants who can meaningfully impart this to the fact-finder
Why Nelson Mullins?
- Diverse experience litigating an assortment of aviation-related issues in state and federal courts
- In-depth familiarity with conducting investigations of unexpected and/or catastrophic incidents to assess critical factual and damages issues that may manifest in prospective litigation
- Proficiency in developing defense themes and strategy for purposes of posturing cases for cost-efficient and early resolution
- Understanding technical issues that require demonstrative evidence and the retention of outside experts or consultants who can meaningfully impart this to the fact-finder
Why Nelson Mullins?
- Diverse experience litigating an assortment of aviation-related issues in state and federal courts
- In-depth familiarity with conducting investigations of unexpected and/or catastrophic incidents to assess critical factual and damages issues that may manifest in prospective litigation
- Proficiency in developing defense themes and strategy for purposes of posturing cases for cost-efficient and early resolution
- Understanding technical issues that require demonstrative evidence and the retention of outside experts or consultants who can meaningfully impart this to the fact-finder
Why Nelson Mullins?
- Diverse experience litigating an assortment of aviation-related issues in state and federal courts
- In-depth familiarity with conducting investigations of unexpected and/or catastrophic incidents to assess critical factual and damages issues that may manifest in prospective litigation
- Proficiency in developing defense themes and strategy for purposes of posturing cases for cost-efficient and early resolution
- Understanding technical issues that require demonstrative evidence and the retention of outside experts or consultants who can meaningfully impart this to the fact-finder
Experience
Following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.
- Prevailed on a Motion to Dismiss in a high-profile case involving a teenaged boy who allegedly stowed away in the wheel well of an outbound flight and allegedly died en route
- Successfully defended multiple airlines in various cases litigated under the Warsaw Convention and the Montreal Convention (formally, the Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules for International Carriage by Air)
- Served as lead counsel for an international airline in a variety of cases germinating from the Air Carrier Access Act of 1986 and the federal regulations implementing it
- Defended international airline in the defense of commercial litigation that was preempted under the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978
- Served as counsel to air carriers (121/298/408), air taxis (135), FBOs and general aviation dealers, FAA Certified Repair Stations, Aircraft Modification and Maintenance companies, Aircraft DER companies, accessory/parts manufacturer and supply companies, airport authorities and private corporate aircraft owners/operators (91) and charter services
Why Nelson Mullins?
- Diverse experience litigating an assortment of aviation-related issues in state and federal courts
- In-depth familiarity with conducting investigations of unexpected and/or catastrophic incidents to assess critical factual and damages issues that may manifest in prospective litigation
- Proficiency in developing defense themes and strategy for purposes of posturing cases for cost-efficient and early resolution
- Understanding technical issues that require demonstrative evidence and the retention of outside experts or consultants who can meaningfully impart this to the fact-finder
Interdisciplinary team
- Attorneys who are former pilots
- Attorneys with experience touching on fields critical to aviation clients, including contracts, environmental issues, imports/exports, bankruptcy and restructuring, insurance, intellectual property, and labor and employment
- Litigators licensed to practice at various levels of the state and federal courts
- Counselors familiar with consumer product risk prevention and regulatory counseling
- Attorneys and professionals experienced with principles of accident reconstruction, metallurgy, design, biomechanics, manufacturing processes, and warnings
Our clients range from private aircraft owners to multinational airlines to Fortune 500 conglomerates
In the complex aviation industry, our clients can face a multitude of problems and challenges. We work with you to deliver a comprehensive solution that is efficacious and cost-efficient. Our experience includes working with the following entities
- Airlines
- Air carriers
- Airports
- Airport authorities
- Original equipment manufacturers
- Fixed base operators (FBOs)
- FAA Certified Repair Stations
- Passenger and cargo service companies
The Nelson Mullins Aviation Team has the experience and knowledge base to navigate the daily challenges that aviation-related entities must face in this ever-changing industry
Attorneys on our Aviation Team are members of local, state, and national defense groups. As part of the leadership of these organizations, they frequently write articles, speak at conferences, and provide thought leadership to aviation-specific industry groups and beyond.
Our lawyers are active listeners, innovative problem solvers, and vociferous advocates who can develop alternatives and effective outcomes
- Crisis management – when they occur and with a view toward consideration of issues regarding potential related litigation
- Expert witnesses and opinions – providing guidance and help with identifying and hiring experts who give valuable advice and can serve as consulting and/or litigation witnesses
- Integrated approach to potential issues analysis – team approach and perspectives from Nelson Mullins attorneys in related practice areas such as product liability, toxic torts, employment, real estate, environmental, and corporate
- Internal and external communications plans – with your board of directors, customers, and law enforcement
- Pre-suit investigations – conducting investigations of incidents and unexpected events to fully assess the facts and potential liability of an unexpected event
- Joint defense strategies – providing strategic guidance to clients and co-parties in joint defense
- Litigation defense – through discovery, settlement negotiations, alternative dispute resolution, and—when necessary—trial and appeal
- Litigation plans and budgets – providing strategic litigation plans and budgets to "right size" the defense of matters
- Witness depositions – preparing witnesses for and defending depositions of corporate, executive, and managerial witnesses and conducting depositions of adverse and non-party witnesses
Following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.
- Prevailed on a Motion to Dismiss in a high-profile case involving a teenaged boy who allegedly stowed away in the wheel well of an outbound flight and allegedly died en route
- Successfully defended multiple airlines in various cases litigated under the Warsaw Convention and the Montreal Convention (formally, the Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules for International Carriage by Air)
- Served as lead counsel for an international airline in a variety of cases germinating from the Air Carrier Access Act of 1986 and the federal regulations implementing it
- Defended international airline in the defense of commercial litigation that was preempted under the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978
- Served as counsel to air carriers (121/298/408), air taxis (135), FBOs and general aviation dealers, FAA Certified Repair Stations, Aircraft Modification and Maintenance companies, Aircraft DER companies, accessory/parts manufacturer and supply companies, airport authorities and private corporate aircraft owners/operators (91) and charter services
- Diverse experience litigating an assortment of aviation-related issues in state and federal courts
- In-depth familiarity with conducting investigations of unexpected and/or catastrophic incidents to assess critical factual and damages issues that may manifest in prospective litigation
- Proficiency in developing defense themes and strategy for purposes of posturing cases for cost-efficient and early resolution
- Understanding technical issues that require demonstrative evidence and the retention of outside experts or consultants who can meaningfully impart this to the fact-finder
