Partner David Bannard presents an executive summary of his publication ESG and Airports: The Benefits and Risks of ESG Reporting for US Airports at the American Association of Airport Executives’ Policy Review Council Meeting. His presentation offers an insightful exploration into the ever-growing significance of ESG disclosure within aviation industry, with a focus on the pivotal role of airports. The objective of this presentation was to equip airport managers and stakeholders with a solid grounding in the foundational principles of ESG, while concurrently examining the multifaceted implications these principles wield for airports.

Charles Spitulnik serves as a panelist at Strafford’s virtual event, Local Regulation of Railroads: Protecting Residents by Navigating the Complexities of Federal Preemption, on August 10^th, 2023.

The discussion will provide local government counsel with guidance on addressing the issues presented by freight and passenger railroads that run through cities. The panel will give an overview of the federal regulatory scheme governing the railroad industry and provide strategies for exercising local control to address safety, nuisance, liability, and economic issues, as well as explore the challenges presented to local governments in protecting local interests in an area under predominately federal jurisdiction.

Learn more and register here: https://www.straffordpub.com/products/local-regulation-of-railroads-protecting-residents-by-navigating-the-complexities-of-federal-preemption-2023-08-10

Peter Kirsch’s presentation at the 13^th Worldwide Airports Lawyers Association (WALA) on June 30^th, 2023, focused on the legal framework for AAM/UAM (Advanced Air Mobility/Urban Air Mobility) regulation. The WALA is an organization that brings together airport attorneys from around the world to stay updated on airport-related laws and regulations.

Here are the key points Peter’s presentation discussed:

• Federal regulation of ‘navigable airspace’
• Defined – airspace at and above the minimum flight altitudes prescribed by FAA
  • 1000 feet (305m) and above in urban areas
  • 500 feet (152m) and above in rural areas
  • Airspace needed for takeoff and landing
• Law protects private property rights outside navigable airspace
• Distinguish airspace access/regulation from airport access/regulation
• What about low altitude flights?

Click Here to Read More

Sara Mogharabi and Tim Roth Present at the Environmental Law Section of the Colorado Bar Association’s (CBA) Virtual CLE Event on June 20th, 2023

The presentation will cover updates and strategies related to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are long-lasting chemicals found in a wide variety of consumer, commercial, and industrial products, the exposure to which has been linked to harmful health effects. Sara and Tim will discuss PFAS-related litigation, including options for defining and redistributing the obligations and costs of PFAS cleanups; Colorado’s actions to address PFAS and the current state and federal regulatory landscape; and best practices for PFAS due diligence and risk management, including recent ASTM updates related to PFAS.

Click here to register: Link

Peter Kirsch presents two sessions at the 95^th Annual AAAE Conference & Exposition as part of the required continuation for the professional education of certified airport professionals. The first presentation, Staying Out of Trouble: Everything You Need to Know About Airport Law in 60 Minutes, provides a basic introduction to the principles of airport law for non-lawyers and the framework to identify potential legal problems before they become overwhelming. The second presentation, Working in a Fishbowl: Ethics for Airport Professionals, discusses airport officials’ professional ethics and codes of conducts. 

Peter Kirsch presents a webinar hosted by Airport Consultants Council (ACC) Young Professionals Forum. The forum is designed to help industry professionals that are 35 years old and younger to further evolve and build up their careers. The webinar will analyze advocacy and the application of advocacy to the airport industry. His presentation will provide all the basics to understanding and utilizing advocacy, including:

• What is advocacy?
• The many forms of advocacy
• How to advocate
• Why to advocate
• Application to the airport industry and your career

Click here to learn more.

Firm attorney Stephanie Pope presented at the Annual Bond Training hosted by HOYA Foundation and USDOT on February 21, 2023. Her presentation, Doing Business at the Airport provided an introduction to the Denver International Airport from a business perspective, and gave an overview of the City’s general contracting requirements (specifically construction contracts including prequalification, bonding, retention, etc.).

She has previously presented at this event in 2022, 2021, and 2019.