Kaplan Kirsch’s airport law attorneys lead the country’s oldest and largest dedicated airport law practice, with experience at more than 300 airports across 49 states—from the world’s largest fortress hubs to small general aviation airports. Our airport law practice is recognized by Chambers and Partners, Best Lawyers in America®, and Super Lawyers®.
Operating an airport today is like running a small (or sometimes large) city, a complex business, and a sophisticated political machine, all at once. Airports face mounting pressure on air service, congestion, security, competition, and finances. They must generate revenue while keeping rates and charges competitive, remain good neighbors, and contribute to their communities’ economic development. These demands are challenging for any enterprise; in a highly regulated, government-operated industry, the burden on airports can be considerable.
Airport law does not respect the boundaries of traditional legal disciplines. Solving the problems presented by airport operation and development often touches Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) compliance and grant assurances; land use, noise, and environmental concerns; collateral commercial development; public finance; and national security. It also means handling the everyday legal needs of a business that operates as a public utility. Our attorneys stay ahead of emerging issues—from autonomous vehicles (AVs) and PFAS/AFFF contamination to cybersecurity threats—bringing deep, multimodal experience to each engagement. That same depth of experience carries through to airport authority governance, TSA and security compliance, and the full range of issues airports face today.
Who We Represent
Our airport law practice serves the full range of stakeholders who own, operate, invest in, and do business at airports across the country.
- Airport Owners and Operators: Airport authorities and commissions, city, county, and state governments that own airports, and public-private airport authorities.
- Aviation Businesses: Commercial, cargo, and charter airlines on lease negotiations and gate agreements; fixed-base operators and ground handling companies; airport concessionaires, including retail, food and beverage, and parking operators; and aircraft leasing and finance companies.
- Developers, Contractors, and Design Firms: Developers and contractors on terminal expansions, runway projects, and airport electrification and EV infrastructure, along with engineering and architecture firms delivering airport capital projects and the public-private partnership sponsors and investors who finance them.
- Regulatory-adjacent Clients: Airport owners and operators navigating FAA grant assurances, airport noise and environmental review under NEPA, land use matters around airport boundaries, and security regulations affecting airport operations.
- Financial Stakeholders: Bond counsel and underwriters on airport revenue bond financings, and insurers and lenders in related transactions.
- Aviation Organizations: National, state, and international aviation organizations involved with policy, regulatory, and legal guidance.