Aerospace

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The aerospace and defense industry is central both to California’s economy and to Downey Brand’s law practice. We have represented numerous aerospace and defense firms on a wide variety of issues. The aerospace and defense industry in California is regulated by a myriad of federal and state statutes and regulations. Downey Brand has the experience to help its clients defend themselves, navigate complex regulatory hurdles and achieve positive results.

Assisting aerospace and defense firms on environmental matters is a particular area of focus. We have represented aerospace and defense clients on matters involving environmental remediation, cost recovery litigation, hazardous waste regulatory issues, underground storage tanks, regulatory standard setting, water rights and stormwater regulatory issues. Our team is also experienced at advising clients on industry-specific ADA issues, construction law issues and general litigation matters. Our lawyers have worked with many of the aerospace firms with a presence in California and understand their operations, facilities, and the legal issues they confront.

Selected Experience

Currently represent a defense contractor in a significant sediment cleanup matter that involves multiple parties who operated in the vicinity of a private shipyard over the past 100 years. The matter entails environmental cost recovery, liability allocation, resolution of insurance disputes and extensive mediation.
Review all bills of interest introduced in the California legislature for a group of aerospace companies.
Provide counsel and compliance advice on the state and federal hazardous waste regulations, including waste characterization issues. Provide compliance advice to an aerospace company and several of its subcontractors on ADA issues. The interplay between defense contracting, safety requirements and the ADA raises difficult interpretational issues.

California Manufacturers and Technology Association

Currently represent a defense contractor in a significant sediment cleanup matter that involves multiple parties who operated in the vicinity of a private shipyard over the past 100 years. The matter entails environmental cost recovery, liability allocation, resolution of insurance disputes and extensive mediation.
Provide counsel and compliance advice on the state and federal hazardous waste regulations, including waste characterization issues. Provide compliance advice to an aerospace company and several of its subcontractors on ADA issues. The interplay between defense contracting, safety requirements and the ADA raises difficult interpretational issues.
Obtained a determination that significantly increased the amount eligible for reimbursement from the State Underground Storage Tank Fund for a group of aerospace companies. The outcome hinged on the interpretation of ambiguous statutory language, which was then corrected by a piece of clarifying legislation sponsored by the State Water Board.
Represented aerospace firms in construction disputes involving damages from demolition, construction and infrastructure projects at defense contractor facilities.
General commercial litigation, including contract disputes arising out of acquisition agreements and evaluation of appellate matters.
Currently represent a group of aerospace companies in connection with a major regional groundwater plume.
Advised aerospace facility with respect to water rights issues involving a surface water body from which it extracted most of its industrial water supply.

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