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Slack Davis Sanger is excited to announce that Michael L. Slack and Ladd C. Sanger have achieved Board Certification in Aviation Law from the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. This accomplishment distinguishes them in the field of Aviation Law, as only a select few attorneys in Texas hold this certification.
Board certification signifies that an attorney has demonstrated exceptional proficiency in a specific legal domain. According to the Texas Board of Legal Specialization (TBLS), approximately 7% of licensed attorneys in Texas are board certified, covering 27 specialized areas. Board Certified attorneys are the sole practitioners in Texas authorized to designate themselves as specialists and showcase board certified credentials.
Texas boasts the largest single-state certification program for lawyers in the U.S., and in 2023, Aviation Law was introduced as the latest specialty by the TBLS.
Aviation Law, as defined by the TBLS, encompasses legal aspects related to aircraft and airport operations, aircraft ownership, navigation and maintenance, air traffic control safety, pilot licensing and certification requirements, spacecraft, and outer space. Attorneys in this field represent parties in transactions governed by or impacted by aviation law, provide legal guidance on various tax or regulatory matters, serve as legal counsel in civil aviation authority regulatory enforcement matters, offer advice on aviation-related insurance claims and coverage, and engage in litigation related to aviation law disputes.
To attain Board Certification in Aviation Law, attorneys must fulfill several criteria, including practicing law full-time for a minimum of 5 years as an active member of the State Bar of Texas, obtaining at least 3 years of specified aviation law experience with a yearly minimum of 30% substantial involvement in aviation law matters, securing qualified vetted references from judges and lawyers in the field, completing 60 hours of TBLS approved continuing legal education in aviation law, meeting the TBLS Standards for Attorney Certification, and passing a comprehensive 6-hour examination in aviation law.
Michael L. Slack, the managing and founding partner of Slack Davis Sanger, L.L.P. in Austin, Texas, not only holds Board Certification in Aviation Law but also in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Additionally, he is a licensed pilot and former NASA aerospace engineer, contributing to the Apollo-Soyuz and Space Shuttle programs at the Johnson Space Center before transitioning to a legal career. Slack has successfully litigated aviation accident cases in state or federal courts in 36 states.
Ladd C. Sanger, the managing partner of Slack Davis Sanger’s Dallas office, is an FAA-licensed Airline Transport Pilot with two jet-type ratings and is also a licensed helicopter pilot. With a global reach, Sanger has handled numerous crash cases and earned a Top 50 Verdicts in Texas Award in both 2019 and 2022, ranking first in aviation accidents.
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