Jennifer Trock
Biography
Jennifer Trock is chair of Baker McKenzie's Global Aviation Group and the immediate past chair of the North America International Commercial Practice Group. She leads the Firm's Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) focus team and is a member of the Firm's Future Mobility Taskforce. She is the immediate past chair of the ABA's Forum on Air & Space Law. She serves on the Regional Management Committee for Baker McKenzie’s North America Region.
Jennifer has been recognized by Chambers USA, Aviation Regulatory – National (2007-2024) and received honors from Euromoney's Guide to the World's Leading Aviation Lawyers, Infrastructure Journal and The Washingtonian. Jennifer was recognized by Women in Business Law Americas as "Aviation Lawyer of the Year," in 2021-2022, and 2024. She is also named as winner in the 2024 ALM Women, Influence and Power in Law Awards, Talent Management category and as Smart Tech Trailblazer in 2023 by The National Law Journal for leadership in Advanced Air Mobility and the future of air transportation.
With an industry focused lens, Baker’s global aviation team includes over 200 practitioners that advise the commercial aviation and aerospace sectors across the globe on transactional, tax, commercial, disputes, regulatory, and employment matters.
Practice Focus
Jennifer’s industry-centered practice is inclusive of all commercial aviation subsectors and legal issues. She routinely advises a broad range of commercial aviation and transportation clients on complex commercial, transactional, regulatory, and compliance matters across the globe. Her clients include airlines, airports, aerospace manufacturers, OEMs, wind developers, private equity, and advanced air mobility (e.g. electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) and UAS/drone) stakeholders.
Jennifer has extensive experience in airline licensing, airline restructuring and ownership/control requirements, appellant matters, international aviation, public-private partnerships (including for US airports and infrastructure), corporate aviation, airport use agreements, compliance, and M&A transactions.
In addition to traditional commercial aviation matters, Jennifer focuses a substantial portion of her practice on emerging transportation areas, such as drones/UAS, eVTOL, and smart cities. She was one of the first in her field to represent clients in the UAS sector. She has considerable experience advising AAM clients, including OEMs and operators of eVTOL aircraft, High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (HAPS) applications, and passenger carrying self-piloted aircraft, on a range of commercial, regulatory and transactional matters.
Jennifer is at the forefront of technology's impact on the transportation sector and is familiar with the unique considerations impacting companies seeking to harness generative AI in safety-sensitive aviation applications. She serves as a member of Baker McKenzie's Global AI team.
Representative Legal Matters
Airlines and Aircraft Operators
- Represents US and foreign airlines in aviation matters, including licensing, route proceedings, antitrust applications, code-share/joint venture agreements, restructuring, commercial, and transactional matters.
- Represents major airlines in multi-billion dollar financings involving regulatory collateral.
- Represented multiple start-up U.S. airlines, including Virgin America, and Avelo Airlines in commercial, governance, and regulatory matters associated with obtaining operational approvals.
- Represented Aer Lingus in connection with its application for antitrust immunity as part of the American Airlines and British Airways joint venture.
Private Equity/Investors
- Represents investors in connection with investments in and ownership/control of U.S. air carriers.
- Represents investors in connection with major acquisitions of aviation-related companies, including airlines, MROs, FBOs, and OEM companies.
- Represents investors in connection with airport infrastructure projects (see below).
AAM
- Advises eVTOL OEMs, investors, and other stakeholders on cross-border commercial, regulatory, and transactional matters.
- Advised developer on first-of-its-kind of autonomous pilot software and associated public aircraft operations.
- Advises UAS clients on an array of regulatory and commercial matters, including commercial and recreational use of UAS, Part 107, non-standard operations of sUAS and large UAS, testing and experimental certification matters before the FAA, and in connection with public aircraft operations.
Professional Honors
- Named as winner in the 2024 ALM Women, Influence and Power in Law Awards, Talent Management category
- Recognized by Women in Business Law Americas as "Aviation Lawyer of the Year," 2021-2022, 2024
- Named a 2023 Smart Tech Trailblazer by The National Law Journal for leadership in Advanced Air Mobility and the future of air transportation.
- Recognized, Chambers USA, Aviation Regulatory – National, 2007–2024
- Recognized as leading lawyer, Legal 500 USA 2023–2024 - Aviation and Air Travel - Litigation And Regulation
- Recognized as USA Thought Leader for 2023 Aviation Regulatory by Who’s Who Legal: Transport
- Received honors from Euromoney's Guide to the World's Leading Aviation Lawyers, Infrastructure Journal and The Washingtonian.
- Member of firm team named to the Financial Times' "U.S. Innovative Lawyers" list following the groundbreaking completion of the first large-scale US airport privatization
Professional Associations and Memberships
- International Aviation Club – Board Member
- ABA Forum on Air and Space Law - Immediate Past Chair
- International Aviation Womens Association - Member
Admissions
- District of Columbia~United States
- Illinois~United States
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit~United States
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit~United States
- U.S. District Court, District of Columbia~United States
Education
- University of Notre Dame Law School (J.D.)
- Wheaton College (B.S., cum laude)
Languages
- English