David is an experienced corporate, transactional and commercial law attorney. As chair of the firm's Aviation Practice Group, he devotes a significant portion of his practice to representing entities in both commercial airline and business aviation law and other industry-related business and legal matters. He has served as special counsel for domestic and international commercial airlines in connection with numerous aircraft acquisition, disposition and financing transactions, airport-related issues and transactions, sales and property taxation issues, and subsidiary dispositions and acquisitions, giving him a unique industry perspective. David has also served in a similar role to major maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities and an aircraft completion center. He has represented U.S. and foreign business aviation clients (high net-worth individuals, flight departments, charter operators, fixed base operators and major maintenance facilities) in connection with large business aircraft acquisitions, financings, leasing, management, charter leasing and maintenance, repair, modifications and completions.
In addition to aviation, a significant part of David's practice includes mergers and acquisitions, commercial transactions, business planning and strategies, real estate, financings and international transactions for local, national and international clients, including those in the hospitality industry. He regularly serves as outside general counsel to local and national companies, which has positioned him to successfully manage unique and complex projects requiring multiple disciplines and distinctive solutions. David also routinely represents southwest Missouri area entrepreneurs and start-ups in developing, organizing and financing their entities and concepts.
Awards & Recognitions
· The Best Lawyers in America, Corporate Law, 2007-2012
· Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers, Business/Corporate Law, 2005, 2008-2011
· Springfield Business Journal, "Men of the Year," Inaugural Class, 2011
Professional Associations & Memberships
· American Bar Association
· The Missouri Bar
· National Business Aviation Association
· Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association
· World Services Group, Aviation Group, Group Leader, 2012-present
Civic Involvement
· American Red Cross, Greater Ozarks Chapter, Chair, "Red"iness Capital Campaign, 2008
· City of Springfield, City Manager Search Committee, 2008
· City of Springfield, Enhanced Enterprise Zone Board, 2005-present; Chair, 2006-present
· Greater Ozarks Professional Baseball Association, Board of Directors, 1989-1997
· Greater Ozarks Sertoma Club, 1999-2002
· Make-A-Wish Foundation of Missouri, Vice President, 2006-2007; Board of Directors, 2005-2007; Program Center Board, 2007-2008
· Ozark Empire Fair, President, 2008; Board of Directors, 2002-present
· Partnership Industrial Center Administrative Council, 2002-2003
· Ronald McDonald House Charities, Chair, 2008; Board of Directors, 2005-2011
· Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, Chair, 2002; Board of Directors, 1998-2003; Chair, Past Chair's Advisory Council, 2004; Local Issues Task Force, 2009-present; International Business Council, Chair, 2010-present
· Springfield Business & Development Corporation, Board of Directors, 2002-2006
· Springfield Good Community Committee, 2001
· Springfield, Missouri Convention and Visitors Bureau, Board of Directors, 2001
· Springfieldian Selection Committee, 2002-2004, 2006
· Springfield Southeast Rotary Club, 1993-present
· Springfield's Best Foundation, Board of Directors, 2001-2002
· Springfield's Best "Locally Owned Companies," Board of Directors, 1997-2000
· Tim O'Brien Memorial Foundation, Inc., Board of Directors, 1999-2000
Experience
Aviation
· Co-counsel for commercial airline in connection with largest aircraft order in history (935 firm and option aircraft) including current and two new program aircraft
· Lead counsel for major commercial airline in connection with cross-border sale-leaseback of multiple aircraft with aggregate transaction value of approximately $200 million
· Counsel in connection with numerous new and used aircraft, acquisition, sales, financing and leasing transactions for U.S. and foreign airlines and business aviation clients, including those based in Mexico, Saudi Arabia and Turkey
· Counsel for major commercial airlines in multiple sale-leaseback transactions of 757 and similar large aircraft
· Negotiate purchase agreements for one of the largest buyers of Embraer Phenom aircraft, valued in excess of $75 million
· Represent major domestic airline in connection with multiple used aircraft dispositions, including transactions involving buyers located in Australia, Nepal, Mongolia and Russia
· Special counsel in providing lex situs opinions for foreign lenders in connection with United States deliveries of new and used aircraft
· Serve as outside general counsel for a major maintenance, repair and overhaul facility for large jet engines
· Provide outside general counsel services for a major business aviation maintenance and overhaul facility, including negotiation of completion agreements for large VIP aircraft
· Counsel in connection with merger of two commercial airlines
· Counsel for major commercial airline in connection with disposition of various aviation subsidiaries
· Lead counsel in acquisition and financing transaction for 125 Airbus aircraft and 125 Boeing aircraft (firm and option orders with total value of approximately $9 billion)
Other Corporate Transactions
· Counsel in connection with merger and acquisition transactions involving privately and publicly held companies, manufacturing facilities, aviation, lodging and healthcare-related organizations with consolidated enterprise values generally ranging from $10 million to $250 million
· Counsel in connection with divestiture and reorganization of multiple automotive dealerships
· Represent real estate development company in connection with divestiture and reorganization and refinancing of multiple residential and commercial developments
· Counsel for controlling shareholder in restructuring/going private transaction involving publicly held hotel and management company with enterprise value of approximately $900 million
News & Publications
News
10.19.11, Super Lawyers 2011 Names 71 Husch Blackwell Attorneys from Missouri and Nebraska; an Additional 15 Listed as Rising Stars
9.6.11, More Than 100 Husch Blackwell Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers 2012
7.26.11, Springfield Business Journal Names Husch Blackwell Partner to 2011 "Men of the Year" Class
7.20.11, The American Lawyer: Husch Blackwell's Aviation Team Played Pivotal Role in Record-Setting American Airlines Transaction
1.27.11, Husch Blackwell Successfully Defends Hotelier John Q. Hammons in Shareholder Litigation, Defeats $93 Million Damage Claim
10.13.10, Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers 2010 Names 64 Husch Blackwell Attorneys; An Additional 20 Listed as Rising Stars
10.22.09, Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers 2009 Names 73 Husch Blackwell Sanders Attorneys
Publications
7.11.11, FAA Changes the BARR Program to Allow Access to Private Flight Data
8.20.10, DOT Revised the Standard Industry Fare Level (SIFL) for Last Six Months of 2010
8.5.10, Reimbursement of Costs for Personal Use Flight Operations - FAA Reverses Schwab Interpretation (Partly)
3.13.09, Stimulus Bill Provides Acquisition Tax Opportunities
2.26.09, New Development in Poison Pills
10.15.08, Developments in Advance Notice Bylaws