Supporting your aerospace and defense business across the world

Innovation and nimbleness are keys to success in the aerospace and defense industry. We support your business entering new markets, developing and protecting new technologies and executing new business models, while ensuring you comply with applicable regulatory regimes in every chapter of your journey. We help you rise to the opportunities and challenges presented.

With decades of experience, our lawyers understand the sensitivities of this highly technical sector with its evolving regulatory landscape, market demands and business trends. To help you succeed in this complex environment, we provide tailored and pragmatic solutions on a global scale and across all business functions. We work with you to ensure smooth and successful day-to-day operations with personnel, real estate, intellectual property protection and commercial dealings. And we guide you through business transformation and business expansion – both organically and through acquisition, restructuring, outsourcing and strategic alliances, dispute resolution, IT structuring and digitization. We collaborate with clients in scenario planning processes to anticipate the potential consequences of significant business challenges on a global and local scale, such as the pandemic and security breaches.

“DLA Piper’s cross-practice aviation group has expertise in commercial aerospace issues, encompassing both civil and military aspects, particularly within the maintenance and aircraft manufacturing sectors.”

Legal 500 EMEA 2026

We act for the full range of industry stakeholders whether their products or services focus is land, sea, air or space. We advise parts makers, technology developers and system integrators, and governmental entities not only as regulators overseeing companies’ compliance but also as the companies’ customers. We understand this dynamic as we guide clients through procurement and contract execution challenges.

Our teams deploy quickly and seamlessly around the world, providing clients with efficient, experienced and effective service to help achieve their business goals.

Awards and recognition

Aviation Law Firm of the Year 2023 Best Lawyers Europe – France

Aviation – Band 2Chambers UK 2026: UK-wide

Transport: Aviation – Tier 1Legal 500 Canada 2026

Aviation – Tier 2Legal 500 EMEA 2026: Belgium

Aviation – Tier 1Legal 500 EMEA 2026: France

Transportation: Aviation – Band 1Chambers Europe 2026: France and Portugal

Transport: Aviation – Tier 1Legal 500 UK 2025: London

Experience

Advising Arlington Capital Partners, a Washington, DC-area private investment firm specializing in government regulated industries, on various projects, including:
- its complex, cross-border divisional acquisition of Doncasters Group’s Blaenavon forging business, a leading manufacturer of precision metal components for the aerospace and defense industry;
- its acquisition of Pegasus Steel, a provider of fabricated steel structures used for building nuclear submarines, aircraft carriers and other vessels for the US Navy; and
- the subsequent formation of defense manufacturing company Keel through the merger of Pegasus Steel with the newly completed acquisitions of Metal Trades and Merrill Technologies Group.
Advising Montana Aerospace AG, a manufacturer of complex lightweight components and structures for the aerospace industry, on its successful initial public offering and listing on the SIX Swiss Exchange. The IPO consisted of a base offering of 17,153,997 new shares and an over-allotment option for 2,573,099 over-allotment shares held by Montana Tech Components AG, the previous sole and future majority shareholder
Advising CAE Inc., a Canada-based simulation and training company, in various matters including:
- the joint USD1.05 billion acquisition with their US subsidiary CAE USE Inc., of the L3 Military Training business from L3Harris; and
- providing ongoing advice to CAE Aircrew Training Services in respect of its concession contract with the UK Ministry of Defence and other third party contracts relating to the Medium Support Helicopter Aircrew Training Facility
Advising Airbus on several strategic projects, including strategic sourcing, the design and creation of a global flight training curriculum, and transactional projects. Examples include advising Airbus:
- as joint shareholder in the AirTanker joint venture, in connection with the acquisition by Equitix of the shares in that JV from Rolls-Royce and Babcock;
- on the establishment of a joint venture by Airbus Helicopters with a special purpose vehicle owned by the Hungarian state, with the purpose of developing a competitive industrial base for helicopters and associated services; and
- on its acquisition of Navtech, a global provider of flight operations solutions
Advising Thales Australia on a variety of privacy issues, including providing training for the client’s internal data protection correspondents, and reviewing and updating privacy and related contract terms for a variety of engagements proposed to be entered into by the client.
Advising the UK Ministry of Defence on various matters, including on:
- a procurement project where we structured the procurement, drafted the design contract, hosted bidder engagement and feedback sessions and prepared for the manufacture procurement;
- the acquisition of a manufacturing plant; and
- the Armed Forces Recruiting Programme, a GBP1.8 billion project to combine the MoD's recruitment across all three Armed Services. Our advice covered negotiation of contract terms, procurement laws and commercial strategy, day-to-day assistance in many months of competitive dialogue, handling of bidder clarification questions and internal / ministerial communications, as well as data governance and data protection, infrastructure, employment and TUPE, financial and performance management, and intellectual property advice.
Advising Sabena Aerospace Engineering on various matters, including:
- the creation of a joint venture with SONACA to offer innovative services in the field of military aeronautics, in particular in respect of the F-35 maintenance offerings; and
- litigation proceedings against Equatorial Congo Airlines (ECA) in relation to a previously seized Boeing 737 and the hangar storage and maintenance fees, which ECA refused to pay to our client. We successfully represented our client before the Enterprise Court of Brussels, who found jurisdiction over a very significant part of our claim and rejected all claims from ECA, who subsequently appealed this ruling, during which time we were able to reach a settlement which allowed for recovery of approximately 80% of the damage suffered (EUR1.2 million).
Advising Heart Aerospace, a Swedish company developing electric airplanes for commercial short haul flights, on a variety of matters including IP, investment programs, commercial contracts and acquisitions
Advising a Babcock and Lockheed Martin joint venture on all aspects of its GBP6 billion (through-life projected value) single source bid for the provision of training facilities and simulators for the Fixed Wing Training element of MFTS, including funding and sub-contract arrangements
Advising Albers Aerospace, a leading aerospace manufacturer and services provider, in its acquisition of Garret Container Systems, a manufacturer of highly engineered aluminum storage and shipping containers and tactical kits
Advising an engine manufacturer on a strategic partnership and minority equity investment to co develop hybrid electric turbogenerators for defense and civil applications, structured to align technical development with long term acquisition and commercialization pathways.
Representing aerospace and defense technology companies in negotiating long term teaming and joint development agreements supporting autonomous air vehicle and collaborative combat aircraft programs.
Working with early stage and growth stage defense technology companies to address data rights, IP positioning, and regulatory risk at the front end of development and partnership agreements.
Advising aerospace products and services providers on strategic acquisitions across the defense supply chain, including businesses focused on propulsion, advanced manufacturing, and aviation services.
Structuring joint ventures, minority investments, and multi party collaboration agreements involving primes, startups, investors, and allied governments, with transaction terms aligned to FAR/DFARS and national security review requirements.
Guiding companies through Foreign Military Sales (FMS) and Direct Commercial Sales (DCS) transactions, integrated with broader teaming, technology development, and services agreements.
Counseling aerospace, defense, and dual use technology companies on export controls, ITAR/EAR compliance, and foreign investment risk as part of transactional and operational planning.
Representing autonomy and command and control technology providers in cross border transactions involving foreign governments, addressing national security, data transfer, and regulatory approval considerations.
Advising global defense contractors on cybersecurity, data rights strategy, and supplier contract restructuring, including GDPR and cross jurisdictional compliance issues.
Handling high stakes disputes, enforcement actions, and government investigations involving active aerospace and defense programs.
Representing clients in patent infringement and enforcement matters involving advanced aerospace and defense technologies.
Advising on antitrust, merger control, and competition issues in connection with complex, cross border aerospace and defense transactions.
Representing commercial space companies in launch services agreements, satellite procurement, and orbital infrastructure partnerships, including matters involving FAA licensing, spectrum coordination, and cross border collaboration.
Advising transportation and mobility technology companies on public private partnerships, federal grant structures, and regulatory strategies for autonomous vehicle deployment and next generation transit systems, including AAM/eVTOL platforms.
Representing autonomous aerial robotics and defense technology companies in venture capital financings.
Advising sponsor backed and growth stage aerospace and defense companies on equity and debt investments in highly regulated markets.