Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration Unit formed to assist with legal complexities associated with UAS

NEW YORK, 18 Nov. 2014. Hunton & Williams LLP officials have formed a multidisciplinary Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration Unit to assist with the legal complexities associated with the developing regulatory framework pertaining to commercial UAS (commonly known as drones), including issues related to regulations and the rulemaking process of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), such as Section 333 guidance; the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and other state and federal agencies.

The firm’s UAS Integration Unit is being launched in light of emerging regulatory environment regarding UAS and the broad scope of potential commercial uses. UAS Integration Unit initiatives include collaborating with clients to develop internal working groups to include representatives from legal, new technologies, risk management, privacy and security and aviation departments; and participation in joint efforts of industry, trade groups, and government to clarify rules regarding the operation of UAS and related systems.

The UAS Integration Unit, part of the larger Unmanned Systems Group, is led by Doug Kenyon, Eric Murdock, Mike Sievers, and Lisa Sotto. The Unit is composed of business, litigation, and regulatory professionals who will monitor and participate in the developments of regulatory programs for UAS and other unmanned systems. The use of these emerging technologies draws on areas of the law in which Hunton & Williams has significant proficiency, such as aviation, environmental, government relations, insurance, maritime, patent, privacy and data protection, products liability, property and land rights, risk management, technology, and transportation.