J.D. Brown

As a shareholder and member of McAfee & Taft’s Aviation Group, J.D. Brown represents aircraft lenders, lessors, operators, managers, purchasers, and sellers in relation to commercial, corporate, and private aircraft.  He advises clients on matters involving title, registration, buying, selling, leasing, operating and financing aircraft that 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 the International Registry. This includes advising clients on FAR Part 91 and Part 135 operations, as well as fractional ownership programs under 14 CFR Part 91(K).

J.D. provides aviation-related counsel on aviation finance and purchasing matters, including not only advising clients to ensure perfection of client interests under the Federal Transportation Code, but also the drafting of purchase agreements, lease agreements, management agreements, security agreements, bills of sale, and many other documents to facilitate the registration, perfection, and operation of aircraft and to ensure compliance with FAA regulations and procedures.

J.D. also has extensive experience acting as an escrow agent for the escrow of funds for many types of transactions, including aircraft sales and financing. This portion of his practice requires expertise in a broad range of anti-money laundering (AML) issues, including compliance with the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (U.S.A. Patriot) Act of 2001, the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), the Office of Foreign Asset Controls (OFAC), and other know your customer (KYC) regulations.

J.D. also handles some aircraft and helicopter litigation matters. Specifically, he represents aircraft sellers and potential buyers in disputes involving chain of title issues, quiet title claims on aircraft, and escrow interpleader actions.

J.D.’s achievements have earned him inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch (transportation law).