Over the course of his 40-year legal career, Frank Polk established himself as one of the world’s leading legal experts on aircraft title, registration, finance and regulatory law matters. As part of his private practice, he represented a wide variety of regional, national and international clients in connection with owning, leasing, acquiring, financing and operating aircraft, and he was frequently engaged to act as special FAA counsel and render legal opinions based on the Transportation Code and applicable FAA regulations. He also served as the leader of the firm’s Aviation Group for many years.
Frank was widely regarded in global industry circles for his expertise and insights regarding aircraft transactions and regulatory matters and was frequently called upon to provide advice and technical assistance to many of the industry’s leading organizations. He served as a representative to the Legal Advisory Panel of the Aviation Working Group and as a technical advisor to the International Registry Advisory Board, both dealing with the Cape Town Convention. Additionally, he was a member of the National Business Aviation Association’s Regulatory Issues Advisory Group and served on the NBAA’s tax committee for many years.
He was also a frequent panelist, speaker, and organizer of aviation law conferences in the United States and worldwide, including those sponsored by the National Business Aviation Association, Aviation Working Group, Strategic Research Institute, Federal Bar Association, and American Bar Association.
Frank’s achievements earned him recognition in The Best Lawyers in America (aviation law; corporate law; equipment finance law), Oklahoma Super Lawyers, The International Who’s Who of Aviation Lawyers, and Legal Media Group’s Guide to the World’s Leading Aviation Lawyers. He was also selected by Best Lawyers as the “Oklahoma City Equipment Finance Lawyer of the Year” for 2016 and “Oklahoma City Aviation Lawyer of the Year” for 2020.
He retired from McAfee & Taft in August 2020.