Webinar 12.17.24
12.17
DC Disrupted: Emerging Aviation Technologies Under the Trump Administration
12:00PM - 12:30PM EST
Clients say Laura ‘provides sound legal opinions. I would be lost without her ’ and she ‘works very collaboratively in the space.’
Laura Jennings Ochoa, a member of the firm’s Aviation, Aerospace and Transportation group and formerly with the U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration, has extensive aviation, aerospace and airline experience working with U.S. agencies in civil and administrative matters.
Laura advises U.S. and foreign airlines, ticket agents, aerospace manufacturers, aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) businesses, investment and private equity firms, business aviation entities, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and emerging technology companies on a broad range of regulatory, commercial, transactional and compliance matters.
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Prior to joining Pillsbury, Laura was a litigation and dispute resolution counsel at another U.S. AM Law 100 firm specializing in aviation matters and an attorney with both the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). She also was appointed for a six-month term as special assistant U.S. attorney for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. During her tenure with the DOT, Laura led investigations, audits and enforcement actions related to aviation consumer protection regulations, civil rights requirements and unauthorized operations against U.S. and international carriers.
At the FAA, Laura was responsible for enforcing Federal Aviation Regulation certificate action and civil penalty cases. Laura also first-chaired administrative law hearings, briefed cases on appeal before the NTSB, and briefed and argued cases before the U.S. Courts of Appeals.
Laura is a board member of the Aero Club of Washington, DC, and serves on the Advisory Committee of the ABA Air & Space Law Forum.
Representative Experience
- Counsels and represents U.S. and major international airlines on aviation matters, including licensing, route proceedings, antirust applications, joint ventures, enforcement matters, restructuring, commercial and transactional matters.
- Counseled and represented several major international airlines before the DOT, FAA, CBP and TSA in significant enforcement proceedings.
- Counsels airlines on internal audits, training and compliance programs in connection with DOT passenger disability and aviation consumer protection requirements.
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- Counseled international airlines through all phases of the startup process, including obtaining all approvals to operate to the United States.
- Represents investors in connection with investments in and ownership/control of U.S. air carriers under DOT air carrier citizenship laws.
- Represents investors in connection with acquisitions of aviation-related companies, including MROs, FBOs and OEM companies.
- Counsels unmanned aircraft system companies on certification and operational issues.
Professional Highlights
- Recognized in Chambers USA, Aviation: Regulatory–Nationwide (2020 – 2024).
- Recognized by The Legal 500 U.S., Transport: Aviation and Air Travel Regulation (2019) and as a Rising Star (2021 – 2024).
- In addition to her regular practice, she also advises on various pro bono matters on behalf of the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project, DC Legal Aid, and Children’s Law Center.
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- Capital Pro Bono High Honor Roll (2018)
- Associations
- American Bar Association, Forum on Air and Space Law
- Aero Club of Washington, Board Member
- International Aviation Womens Association
- International Aviation Club
- Speaking Engagements
- “Regulating New Technologies?” Revolution.Aero Global 2021, June 30, 2021. Moderator.
- International Aviation Club, June 16, 2020. Virtual Event.
- “Current, Short-Term and Longer-Term Financial Prospects for the Airline Industry in the Wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic,” Webinar, International Aviation Club, June 16, 2020. Moderator.
- “Regulatory Update: DOT, FAA and TSA: Regulatory Reform Update and Enforcement Philosophies,” American Bar Association Forum on Air & Space Law, February 22, 2019. Washington, DC. Moderator.
- External Publications
- “The International Comparative Legal Guide to: Aviation Law 2016," Chapter 31 – USA, Authors: Laura Jennings Ochoa, Winter 2016
- “DOT Consumer Protection: Regulations and Enforcement,” Chapter 12 of Aviation Regulation in the Unites States, Authors: Laura Jennings Ochoa, July 2014
- Firm Publications
- Texas: State and Local COVID-19 Social Distancing Measures, Authors: Amanda G. Halter, Laura Jennings Ochoa, Elin I. Isenhower, Julie M. Moeller, 04/07/2020
- Airline Stimulus Plans in the U.S. and Europe in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Authors: Rakhi Savjani, Graham Tyler, Laura Jennings Ochoa, 03/30/2020
- Pillsbury’s Post-Election Outlook, Authors: Deborah S. Thoren-Peden, Stephan E. Becker, The Honorable Gregory H. Laughlin, Elizabeth Vella Moeller, Emily B. Erlingsson, Craig J. Saperstein, Gerry Hinkley (Unpublished), Brian E. Finch, Aimee P. Ghosh, Jeffrey S. Merrifield, Matthew Oresman, Charles F. Donley II, Edward W. Sauer, Laura Jennings Ochoa, Meghan Claire Hammond, 11/07/2018
Education
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J.D., Widener University School of Law, 2007
cum laude, Manuscript Editor, Widener Law ReviewB.A., The George Washington University, 2003
magna cum laude
Admissions
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District of Columbia
Pennsylvania
Ohio
Courts
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U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit