Aerospace and Defense Lawyers

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 both the regulatory requirements for the sector and the sensitivity to the business trends and challenges unique to the sector.

Aerospace and defense is a highly technical sector with an evolving regulatory landscape, and evolving 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.

The team is extremely knowledgeable on the substantive law and has a deep understanding of the sector and the business needs of the client.

Chambers 2022

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, service providers, air and space management solutions and aircraft operators.

In aerospace and defense, governmental entities are not only the regulators overseeing companies’ compliance but also the companies’ customers. We understand this dynamic as we guide clients through procurement and contract execution challenges.

From 90+ offices in 40+ countries throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific, we are positioned to work cross-border like no other firm. Our teams deploy quickly and seamlessly around the world, providing clients with efficient, experienced and effective service to help achieve their business goals.

Experience

Advising BAE Systems, Inc., a US subsidiary of BAE Systems plc, a UK based international defense contractor, and its subsidiary BAE Systems Technology Solutions & Services Inc., in its USD200 million acquisition of Bohemia Interactive Simulations, a global software developer of simulation training solutions for military organizations
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:
- it and its US subsidiary CAE USE Inc. in their USD1.05 billion acquisition 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 Rocket Lab USA in various M&A, including the acquisitions of:
- SolAero, a PE-backed supplier of space solar power products and precision aerospace structures for the global aerospace market; and
- Advanced Solutions, a Colorado-based aerospace engineering firm delivering mission proven space software, mission simulation and test systems, and Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) solutions
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 Analytical Graphics, a developer of mission-driven modeling, simulation, testing and analysis software for aerospace and defense organizations, in its USD700 million sale to ANSYS
Advising Antenna Research Associates, via its financial sponsor Gladstone Capital, in the acquisition of AQYR Technologies, a provider of SATCOM terminals for the commercial communications and military aerospace markets
Advising Northrop Grumman on their Norwegian Satellite Programme
Advising BAE Systems, Inc., and its subsidiary BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc., in various acquisitions, including the USD1.925 billion acquisition of the Military Global Positioning Systems business of United Technologies Corporation/Collins Aerospace; its USD275 million acquisition of the Airborne Tactical Radios business of Raytheon; and its acquisition of Riptide Autonomous Solutions
Advising Sabena Aerospace Engineering on the creation of a joint venture with SONACA to offer innovative services in the field of military aeronautics, in particular in respect of the to the F-35 maintenance offerings
Advising and coordinating local counsel in 40+ jurisdictions on the preclosing reorganization of Lockheed Martin’s global Information Systems and Global Solutions business prior to the merger of IS&GS with Leidos, with an aggregate transaction value of USD4.6 billion
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
Advised Net Vision Consultants, a provider of analytic and engineering services to the Department of Defense and commercial partners, in connection with its sale to Eqlipse Technologies, a provider of end-to-end mission-oriented solutions to key national security customers within the Department of Defense and intelligence community
Albers Aerospace, a leading aerospace products and services provider, in its acquisition of Garret Container Systems, a manufacturer of highly engineered aluminum storage and shipping containers and tactical kits
Arlington Capital Partners in its acquisition of Pegasus Steel, a provider of fabricated steel structures used for building nuclear submarines, aircraft carriers and other vessels for the U.S. Navy
Arlington Capital Partners, a Washington, DC-based private equity firm, in a 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
BayFirst Solutions, a provider of network engineering, cybersecurity and intelligence support to the US government, in its acquisition by Versar, a portfolio company of Kingswood Capital Management and a provider of global project management services for the federal government and commercial industries
Black Diamond Networks, a provider of professional staffing solutions exclusively focused on scarce, high-end skill sets in advanced technical fields, in its US$299 million investment from Tenex Capital Management
Blackstone Technology Group in the US$85 million sale of its federal government IT consulting division to ASGN Incorporated (NYSE: ASGN), one of the foremost providers of IT and professional services
Data Intelligence Technologies, Inc. in its acquisition by Axiologic Solutions, LLC, a provider of systems engineering and information technology solutions to the defense, intelligence, and government communities
DeWinter Group, a leading provider of temporary and permanent staffing solutions, in a growth equity investment from New Heritage Capital
DFT a designer and developer of hardware and software products used for force protection and tactical surveillance in its formation of a strategic partnership with DC Capital Partners
Digital Force Technologies (DFT) in its formation of a strategic partnership with DC Capital Partners, a private equity investment firm headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia. DFT is a leading innovator in the design and development of hardware and software products used for force protection and tactical surveillance, primarily for government customers
AKD Partners LLP (US) represented longtime client Eye Street Solutions LLC in the sale of key contract assets to INADEV Corporation. Eye Street Solutions is a web and mobile technology development company that has helped government and commercial organizations solve IT challenges since 1995, including via development and implementation of cost effective web and mobile solutions to streamline and unify communications with customers
Emerett, a defense engineering solutions firm that supports the US intelligence community, in its sale to BlackHorse Solutions, a portfolio company of private equity fund Razor’s Edge Ventures and a technology solutions provider to US government agencies
G2SF, a provider of government-focused IT consulting and IT services for defense and intelligence agencies, in its strategic acquisition by Gunnison Consulting Group
HIM Holdings, Inc. in the sale of its interests in FedData Holdings, LLC to an affiliate of McNally Capital
ICF International (NASDAQ:ICFI), a global consulting and digital services provider, in its acquisition of Creative Systems and Consulting, a premier provider of IT modernization and digital transformation solutions to US federal agencies
ICF International (NASDAQ: ICFI) in its US$255 million acquisition of Incentive Technology Group (ITG), a global consulting services company with more than 7,000 employees in 70 countries. ITG is an IT consulting firm that works primarily with federal government agencies to provide full life cycle solutions using a broad range of technology platforms. This strategic acquisition significantly expands ICF's IT modernization services to US federal government clients and adds best-in-class IT platform and partnerships
ICF International, a global consulting and digital services provider, in its acquisition of ESAC, LLC, one of the leading specialized providers of advanced health analytics, research data management and bioinformatics solutions to U.S. federal health agencies
Inchcape Shipping Services in the sale of its enterprise resource planning (ERP) shipping solutions division to the Volaris Group (TSE: CSU)
In-Q-Tel (IQT) in its strategic partnership and investment in Advanced Navigation, a Sydney, Australia-based company that builds ultra-precise, AI-based navigational technologies and robotics that are used by four of the top five car manufacturers, nine of the largest ten defense companies, and multinational companies including NASA, Boeing, Airbus and Tesla. IQT is a nonprofit investor that identifies and accelerates the development of innovative technologies to support the mission of the US intelligence community
In-Q-Tel (IQT) in its strategic partnership and investment in Auterion. Based in Zurich, Auterion is a leading supplier of an open-source-based, enterprise operating system for drones. IQT is a nonprofit strategic investor that identifies and accelerates the development of innovative technologies to support the mission of the US Intelligence community
In-Q-Tel (IQT) in its strategic partnership and investment in CounterCraft, a Madrid-based company that provides pioneering cyber deception and counterintelligence products to detect targeted attacks to multinational companies and government agencies. IQT is a nonprofit investor that identifies and accelerates the development of innovative technologies to support the mission of the US intelligence community
In-Q-Tel (IQT) in its strategic partnership and investment in Kasada, a Sydney, Australia-based company that provides the leading SaaS cybersecurity solution fighting malicious automation. IQT is a nonprofit investor that identifies and accelerates the development of innovative technologies to support the mission of the US intelligence community.
In-Q-Tel (IQT) in its strategic partnership and investment in Q-CTRL, a control engineering software company based in Sydney, Australia that develops quantum technology platforms in support of national security missions. IQT is a nonprofit investor that identifies and accelerates the development of innovative technologies to support the mission of the US intelligence community
In-Q-Tel (IQT) in its strategic partnership and investment in Worldsensing, a Barcelona-based provider of operational intelligence and monitoring solutions. IQT is a nonprofit investor that identifies and accelerates the development of innovative technologies to support the mission of the US intelligence community
In-Q-Tel, Inc. in connection with Magnet Forensics Inc.’s “bought deal” secondary offering
Intelligent Decisions, Inc., a leading provider of IT solutions to the federal government, in its sale to Acacia Capital
Operational Intelligence, a leading woman-owned government contractor, in its sale to E3/Sentinel, a leading provider of big data and rapid software development solutions to the US Intelligence Community
Orbis Operations, a leading provider of intelligence and national security advisory services, software engineering and cyber services, and situational awareness training to the United States government and its allies, as well as select commercial clients, in its acquisition by McNally Capital
Sequoia, a Virginia-based provider of software and cloud engineering services for the US intelligence community, in its acquisition by Chart Capital Partners
Sixgen, a Maryland-based cybersecurity services and products company, in its acquisition of Fourcast Management & Analysis, Inc., a Maryland based technology management consulting company