Aviation
We Make Other Firms Seem a Little Too Big.
Commercial Aviation:
At FMJ, we offer the expertise and resources of a much larger firm with the nimbleness and agility of a small firm.
AirFinance Journal, one of the most respected aviation journals in the world honored FMJ as one of the top commercial aviation law firms in the world and described us as a Minneapolis office with “a New York pedigree.”Regardless of size, few firms can match the experience and insider knowledge of our Commercial Aviation Group. Members of FMJ’s commercial aviation group have experience as in-house counsel to some of the world’s largest airlines and have represented airlines and leasing companies as outside counsel for many years.
That’s why our commercial aviation group has been selected as trusted advisors to numerous airlines, leasing companies, financial institutions and investors active in the purchase, sale, financing and leasing of aircraft. And it’s why we have been entrusted with hundreds of transactions collectively worth millions of dollars.
All of which is proof you don’t have to be big to think big.
Aircraft Finance and Leasing:
Since FMJ’s founding in 1999, our experienced aviation team has successfully negotiated and closed hundreds of commercial aviation lease, sale and financing transactions involving some of the largest carriers in the world. Our client base ranges from investors with a portfolio of one aircraft to large international leasing companies with over 400 aircraft in their fleet.
Aviation Litigation:
Aviation is a complex and specialized area. You want experienced experts on your side. FMJ's aviation litigation team has extensive experience ranging from general aviation to commercial transport aircraft cases. FMJ's attorneys have represented clients in courtrooms across the country. The veteran counsel at FMJ have tried many highly recognized cases, including the landmark TWA #841 rollover case.Our elite team has decades of experience as litigators, handling air carrier cases, general aviation cases, product liability cases and FAA enforcement actions. Well-respected in both national and international aviation circles, FMJ attorneys’ diverse backgrounds, coupled with their lifelong passion for aviation, make them a unique and powerful team in the industry.
Business Aviation:
Whether you are purchasing your first plane or adding another jet to a corporate fleet, business aviation is full of pitfalls for the unwary aircraft owner or operator. FMJ attorneys advise corporate flight departments and individuals who wish to acquire, lease or share in the use of privately owned aircraft and corporate jets. We also advise aviation management companies, charter companies and fractional ownership programs.Proceed with caution. Businesses that decide to place the company's aircraft in an LLC may find themselves operating an illegal air taxi service. Owners who try to incorporate out of state to avoid sales tax find themselves paying the taxes anyway, with penalties and interest. Erroneous decisions may have real consequences, whether under the rules of the FAA or IRS, or through the loss of a limited liability shield against aviation disasters. Our attorneys are experts in the field of aviation and can guide you through safely.
FMJ also represents commercial and private pilots, mechanics, and their employers before the Department of Transportation, the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board. We handle certificate actions and civil penalties locally, regionally and nationwide.
Let the FMJ aviation experts handle the worries so you can relax and enjoy blue skies.
FMJ Professionals:
Commercial and Business Aviation:
Robert Fafinski, Jr.
Kevin Johnson
Howard Wu
Heather Halverson
James Gladen, III
Daniel Ventura
Tara Anderson
Beth Scanlon
Lorrie Green
Aviation Litigation:
Donald Chance Mark, Jr.
Shannon McDonough
Alyson Palmer
Peter Carlson
Kelly Schroeder
