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Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)

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Charles F. Donley II
Partner, Washington, DC
T: +1.202.663.8448
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Pillsbury’s internationally renowned cross-disciplinary Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) team is composed of lawyers who are authorities on the relevant legal and regulatory issues the UAS industry face, from aviation to privacy, security to communications, and trade controls to insurance.

Pillsbury’s UAS lawyers serve as legal counsel to a number of world-class companies and universities that are actively seeking to leverage and realize the full commercial potential of UAS. Our lawyers provide up-to-the-minute guidance on UAS licensing and operation and regularly and actively engage in the discussion of policies, regulations, technologies and procedures needed for UAS integration. We also counseled businesses and associations on comments to the FAA’s proposed rules for the commercial operation and certification of sUAS, which will now shape the UAS landscape for years to come.

Our lawyers identify trends and concerns, and help clients analyze, synthesize and fully understand the applicable and evolving international, regional and national UAS laws and regulations. We help clients evaluate key UAS-related safety, privacy, environmental, security, liability and other questions that remain unresolved. From insurance issues to spectrum availability to management issues to legal compliance and liability concerns, Pillsbury is helping clients proactively identify risks, have a voice in the debate over regulatory and legislative developments and position themselves as market leaders.

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With strong industry and government relationships, our lawyers focus on helping the UAS industry develop safe, carefully considered policies and rules for both public and private UAS operations. Pillsbury’s UAS team provides guidance on the licensing and operation of UAS to clients in multiple industries, including:

  • Mining
  • Agriculture
  • Construction
  • Commercial Building Inspections
  • Electrical and Nuclear Utilities
  • Higher Education
  • Research & Development
  • Social Media
  • Media & Entertainment
  • Professional Sports Teams
  • Retail
  • Real Estate
  • Search and Rescue
  • Telecommunications
  • UAS manufacturers and Operators
  • Electrical and Nuclear Utilities

Our UAS lawyers include experienced practitioners in:

  • Aviation – Recognized by Chambers USA as a leading firm for both finance and regulatory matters in the aviation industry (2012 – 2023).
  • International Trade – Chambers and Partners consistently rates the firm’s International Trade practice highly across multiple disciplines (2012 – 2023), with Chambers Global and Chambers USA practice rankings for Export Controls & Economic Sanctions, CFIUS and Trade Remedies & Trade Policy, and a Chambers Greater China Region ranking for International Trade/WTO (2023).
  • Communications – Chambers USA has ranked the firm’s Telecom, Broadcast & Satellite team as a leading practice in Washington, D.C. (2021 – 2023) and The Legal 500 U.S. recognizes our Communications/FCC regulatory practice as one of the best in the United States (2008 – 2023).
  • Construction – Named the 2016 “Law Firm of the Year” for Construction Law by U.S. News – Best Lawyers (published by BL Rankings LLC), reflecting their preeminence in the field of Construction Law.
  • Privacy/data security – Recognized by The Legal 500 U.S. (2018 – 2020) as leading practitioners in this vitally important field.
  • Interactive Gaming – Our firm’s Internet & Social Media practice was recognized by Interactive Age (2011) as one of the United States' top three practices in this rapidly evolving area of the law.
  • Insurance Recovery & Advisory – Members of the practice are consistently ranked by Chambers USA, The Legal 500 U.S., and Best Lawyers (published by BL Rankings LLC) (2012 – 2023). The firm is a five-time honoree as a Law360 “Insurance Practice of the Year,” most recently in 2022.
  • Global Sourcing – Chambers UK and Chambers USA repeatedly recognize Pillsbury’s Outsourcing and Information Technology practices as among the best globally (2012 – 2023). For more than a decade (2010 – 2023), The Legal 500 U.S. has counted us among the handful of Tier 1 outsourcing firms. And the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals has repeatedly selected Pillsbury as one of the “World’s Best Outsourcing Advisors” (2010 – 2017, 2019).

Practice Area Highlights

  • Pillsbury’s UAS practice obtained the first-ever FAA approval for UAS nighttime operation.
  • Our lawyers regularly speak about future UAS legal framework and upcoming challenges at Royal Aeronautical Society, American Bar Association (ABA), and Leiden University conferences, and before the Aviation Assembly at the Royal Netherlands Embassy.

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