Vedder Price

Vedder Thinking

David M. Hernandez

Shareholder

1401 I Street NW Suite 1100 Washington, District of Columbia 20005

+1 (202) 312 3340

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Services

David M. Hernandez

Shareholder

David M. Hernandez is a Shareholder at Vedder Price and a member of the firm's Global Transportation Finance team, whose performance led Vedder Price to be named Airline Economics Aviation 100 Law Firm of the Year in 2015, 2017 and 2018.

In 2016 through 2020 Mr. Hernandez was recognized in Private Aircraft (Global-wide) in Chambers High Net Worth as one the world’s leading high net worth business aircraft advisers.

Mr. Hernandez frequently advises clients on new and used aircraft purchase/sale agreements, fractional program documents, aircraft management agreements, aircraft registration, aircraft use policies, cross-border transactions, personal use of company aircraft and aircraft use agreements to ensure compliance with FAA, SEC and IRS regulations. He represents a wide variety of clients, including Fortune 500 companies, high net worth individuals, corporate flight departments, charter operators, some of the largest aerospace manufacturers and suppliers, airlines, defense contractors and airports. Mr. Hernandez also has considerable experience assisting clients with aircraft operational issues, financing, leasing and regulatory matters, complex government investigations, aircraft and part certifications, and enforcement matters (Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) violations, Export Controls, Hazardous Materials and Drug/Alcohol testing).

He also represented several clients in federal government enforcement actions, many of which resulted in dismissals, including the dismissal of an enforcement action with a proposed civil penalty in excess of $1,000,000. Mr. Hernandez is a frequent speaker at conferences on a wide variety of aircraft and regulatory topics. Since 2019, Mr. Hernandez has been recognized among the world’s leading aviation attorneys by Euromoney Legal Media Group’s Expert Guides. Mr. Hernandez has been selected for inclusion in Who’s Who Legal’s The International Who’s Who of Aviation Lawyers, as one of the Top Attorneys in the Washington, D.C. Metro Area (Aviation Law), and was also named in Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers. Prior to joining Vedder Price, Mr. Hernandez was a Prosecutor at the FAA as well as a DOT Honors Attorney. He also served in the Office of the Counsel to the President during the Clinton Administration and was a Captain in the U.S. Air Force

David M. Hernandez

Shareholder

Education

  • Northwestern University School of Law, J.D., 1996
  • Monmouth University, M.B.A., 1994
  • United States Air Force Academy, B.S., 1988

David M. Hernandez

Shareholder

Bar Admissions

  • District of Columbia

Court Admissions

  • U.S. Court of Federal Claims
  • U.S. District Court, District of Columbia
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit

Affiliations

  • Member, National Business Aviation Association, Tax Committee
  • Member, National Business Aviation Association, Regulatory Issues Advisory Group
  • Instructor, School of International Corporate Jet and Helicopter Finance
  • Former Co-Chair, American Bar Association, International Law Section, Transportation Committee
  • Member, Forum on Air and Space Law, Governing Committee
  • 2020 Fellow of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity

David M. Hernandez

Shareholder

David M. Hernandez

Shareholder

David M. Hernandez

Shareholder

Experience

  • Giving regulatory advice regarding compliance concerns and agency investigations
  • Giving International Aviation Safety Assessment Advice
  • Litigating enforcement proceedings before all applicable venues
  • Advising start-up companies – airlines (foreign & domestic), charter operators and leasing companies
  • Defending hazardous materials and wastes (hazmat) shipment enforcement actions
  • Attaining DOT airline certification and fitness, including U.S. citizenship/foreign ownership issues
  • Negotiating aircraft purchase and sale agreements, fractional documents and management agreement
  • Preparing business aircraft use policies, personal use of company aircraft and aircraft use agreements to ensure compliance with FAA, SEC and IRS regulations
  • Offering advice regarding government contract matters – bid preparation, bid protests, sole source, foreign military sales and direct commercial sales
  • Representing clients in Federal Aviation Regulation Part 13 and Part 16 (airport prceedings) compliants
  • Performing mergers and acquisitions due diligence and internal audits
  • Offering advice regarding DOT advertising and regulation compliance and airline disability policy

Mr. Hernandez's representation of aerospace manufacturers and suppliers also includes the following:

  • Providing regulatory advice regarding mergers, acquisitions and outsourcing agreements
  • Assisting clients with pre- and post- merger due diligence audits and associated FAA reporting of potential violations
  • Providing regulatory interpretations and guidance in connection with the FAA certification process (FAR Parts 21, 23 and 25)
  • Negotiating with the FAA regarding applications for TCs, STCs, PMAs and TSOAs
  • Representing aerospace manufacturers and suppliers in legal enforcement actions
  • Assisting clients with voluntary disclosures to avoid legal enforcement action
  • Providing guidance with respect to U.S. export control for aircraft parts, articles and appliances