As a member of the firm’s Aviation Group, Scott Smith represents clients in transactions involving the title, registration, buying, selling, leasing and financing of aircraft and concentrates his practice on matters which fall under the purview of the Federal Transportation Code, Federal Aviation Administration Regulations, FAA Aircraft Registry, Cape Town Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment and the Aircraft Protocol and International Registry.
Much of Scott’s practice involves the examination of FAA records for registered aircraft, engines and propellers, issuing title memoranda, and advising clients as to the status of titles, liens and encumbrances of record at the Federal Aviation Administration. He also prepares and obtains curative documents to correct defects in FAA records, as well as reviews security agreements, leases, bills of sale and other documents to ensure compliance with FAA regulations and procedures. A portion of his practice is also devoted to helping owners, lessors and lessees of aircraft who seek to register and protect their interests internationally under the Cape Town Treaty.
Scott holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Robert Morris College, a Juris Doctor from the Dickinson School of Law at Penn State University, and a master of laws degree in taxation from Georgetown University Law Center. While in law school, he served as a certified legal intern for the Pennsylvania Department of State and as a legal extern for the U.S. Department of Justice’s Criminal Tax Division. He also earned valuable business marketing and management experience while working in private industry prior to entering law school.
Immediately prior to joining McAfee & Taft, Scott worked as a law clerk for the Honorable Judge Elizabeth Crewson Paris of the U.S. Tax Court in Washington, D.C.