Leading Aviation Lawyer Joins Pillsbury's Preeminent Global Team

WASHINGTON, DC – Pillsbury today announced aviation lawyer Charles Donley will join the firm’s highly ranked Aviation practice as a partner in its Washington, DC office. He comes to Pillsbury from Squire Patton Boggs, where he was the leader of the Aviation practice, and has considerable experience across all aspects of aviation law, including regulatory, transactional and litigation matters.

“We are thrilled to have Charles join our squadron,” said Aviation partner Ken Quinn. “He brings a depth of knowledge and experience in the complex and changing legal framework in international aviation that is invaluable to clients. It will be a huge boon to our rapidly expanding global aviation services.”

“Charles is a significant addition to Pillsbury’s DC office and to our preeminent Aviation team,” said partner Jim Rishwain, Jr. “The distinctive range of skills he developed working with businesses across the air transportation sector will deepen our collaborative and cross-practice offerings for clients in this space."

“Pillsbury’s global reach and outstanding reputation in Aviation law provide a strong platform of valuable offerings to meet the wide-ranging needs of clients in the air travel business,” Donley said. “I look forward to joining this highly regarded team.”

A Chambers-ranked lawyer with nearly 30 years’ experience, Donley represents domestic and internationally based cargo and passenger airlines, aviation industry manufacturers and service providers and various other aviation-industry clients, including tour operators, airports, aircraft brokers, trade groups and industry associations. He advises clients on licensing, enforcement, safety and security matters; international operating issues such as codesharing, international route authority and foreign investments; and the regulatory aspects of aircraft registration, ownership and leasing as well as on strategic alliance and joint venture arrangements, crew/personnel leasing issues, vendor and facility use agreements, equipment maintenance contracts, advertising and publicity issues, charter programs and cooperative sales arrangements.

Considered one of the leading aviation lawyers in the United States, Donley also has considerable regulatory experience and has appeared before many federal, state and local agencies, including the Department of Transportation, the FAA, the Department of State, the NTSB, the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Homeland Security. He is well-versed in cases involving government regulatory actions, cargo loss or damage, tariff application, Warsaw/Montreal Convention claims and commercial disputes.

In addition to his extensive experience representing U.S. domestic aviation clients, Donley has worked with new and existing airlines in Asia, Latin America and the Middle East on operating approvals, and he has helped international carriers secure approvals to operate in the U.S. Along with the 2014 addition of London partners Graham Tyler and Debra Erni and last month’s addition of New York partner Barry Biggar, whose practices all include aviation finance, Donley’s hire is a continuation of the firm’s focus on expanding its global aviation offerings.

Donley received his J.D. from the University of Illinois in 1988 and his A.B. from Cornell University in 1982. He is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia. He has been recognized by Chambers USA and the Who’s Who Legal 100 as a leading practitioner in aviation law.

About Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP

Pillsbury is a full-service law firm with an industry focus on energy & natural resources, financial services including financial institutions, real estate & construction, transportation, and technology. Based in the world's major financial, technology and energy centers, Pillsbury counsels clients on global business, regulatory and litigation matters. We work in multidisciplinary teams that allow us to understand our clients’ objectives, anticipate trends and bring a 360-degree perspective to complex business and legal issues—helping clients to take greater advantage of new opportunities, meet and exceed their objectives and better mitigate risk. This collaborative work style helps produce the results our clients seek.