DLA Piper announced it welcome Marc Nichols, former Federal Aviation Administration Chief Counsel, as a partner and as the Co-Chair of the Transportation Practice. He will be based in the firm’s Washington, DC, office.
Nichols has over 25 years of experience in the private and public sectors, including aerospace, defense, and technology. And during his time as FAA Chief Counsel (the third highest official at the agency), Nichols led a team of over 300 legal professionals across 13 offices nationwide. Plus, his responsibilities included representing and advising the FAA’s various divisions responsible for air traffic management, aviation safety, and over 5,000 airports and facilities, and others.
He counseled these divisions on a broad range of aviation and aerospace subjects and issues, including regulatory compliance and enforcement, litigation, safety and security, legislation, and data collection and management. Nichols also advised on emerging technologies, such as uncrewed aircraft systems and vertical take-off-and-landing aircraft.
Nichols had represented the FAA before US federal courts and administrative law judges, the National Transportation Safety Board and the Merit Systems Protection Board. And he developed policies on spectrum management and aircraft safety and helped to lead the revision of the bipartisan FAA Reauthorization Act.
Nichols joins DLA Piper on the heels of former Verizon Business Group Senior Vice President (SVP) and General Counsel John Frantz’s arrival to the firm’s Telecom Practice, demonstrating the firm’s continued investment and commitment to the aerospace and aviation industries, and critically related communications services.
KEY QUOTES:
“Our aerospace and aviation clients are navigating an increasingly complex regulatory landscape, particularly with the growing capabilities and uses of drones. Marc’s experience and relationships in Washington, not to mention his extensive knowledge of the industry, will bring incredible depth to our service offerings and capabilities.”
- Richard Hans, Chair of DLA Piper’s Regulatory and Government Affairs Practice
“Our group is focused on assisting and advising clients navigating the rapid change and innovation taking place in the transportation sector. We are excited to welcome Marc, whose tenure at the FAA and extensive aviation industry experience will complement and expand our transportation regulation, transaction, and litigation capabilities, and increase the scope of transportation-related services we offer to our clients.”
- Paul Hemmersbaugh, Co-Chair of DLA Piper’s Transportation Practice
“With growing business opportunities for commercial space equipment and services, uncrewed aircraft, and other emerging aviation technologies, we’re also seeing increased government and regulatory scrutiny – an area of growing demand for legal services that Marc is strongly qualified to serve. He is one of the most respected veterans in the industry and our clients will immediately benefit from the extensive knowledge and insights he has gleaned over his distinguished career.”
- William Minor, Managing Partner of the firm’s Washington, DC office
