FAA Attorney Joins Wiley Rein Aviation Practice



By Priya Potapragada



A senior attorney at the Office of Chief Counsel at the Federal Aviation Administration, Gary A. Michel, joined Wiley Rein LLP's aviation practice and its Unmanned Aircraft Systems Working Group as consulting counsel. 



Michel will help clients with legal strategies for UAS commercial and other operations and work with manufacturers and operators to integrate the operation of UAS in the National Airspace System lawfully. 



“We are very pleased to welcome Gary to our firm,” says Peter D. Shields, managing partner of Wiley Rein. “With a rich and extensive background at the FAA in airworthiness certification laws, regulations and procedures, Gary will be an excellent addition to our aviation practice as someone at the forefront of UAS regulation and enforcement.”



Michel has more than 30 years of regulation experience at the FAA and held attorney-manager positions in several key branches for both unmanned aircraft and manned aircraft legal branches. At Wiley Rein, he will focus on the legislative issues as the company monitors legal, regulatory, and technological issues that will define when and how UAS are deployed in the U.S. and around the world.