His unique background and skillset make him regularly sought after for his deep industry knowledge, understanding of the applicable regulatory and legal regimes, and aerospace insight and experience. He represents clients in nearly every segment of the aerospace industry, from large companies to startup ventures and from manufacturers to launch service providers.
He helps national and international clients address legal matters ranging from the planning, purchasing, and operation of space assets to launch services and space insurance, government contract issues, regulatory issues, and other matters. Skip has also negotiated deals and litigated disputes with dollar values in the hundreds of millions.
Recently, he represented one of the three private astronauts on the first all-commercial mission to the International Space Station. As part of that representation, Skip helped negotiate an agreement for the first NFT to be minted in space.
Additionally, Skip represents a major aerospace company in insurance recovery litigation against 27 insurance companies stemming from a launch failure.
He has considerable alternative dispute resolution experience and was selected by the American Arbitration Association as one of 26 members of its Aerospace, Aviation, and National Security Panel.
Skip served in Geneva as the legal adviser of the 50-person U.S. Delegation at the ITU Conference on the Geostationary Satellite Orbit. He helped establish and is a past chair of the Colorado Space Business Roundtable. Skip served for many years on the board of the International Institute of Space Law and has taught space law as an adjunct professor at the University of Colorado Law School, the George Washington University Law School, and the University of Denver Law School.
Regarded as a leader in the field, Skip has received numerous honors, including the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Institute of Space Law. He was selected to author the United States chapter in the inaugural edition of the “Space Law Review,” a series published by The Law Reviews. In 2021, Skip was selected by his peers for inclusion in the Who’s Who Legal section for Space & Satellite Law as one of only fourteen lawyers in the U.S. He is the author of six space-related law review articles and a book on the international regulation of satellite communication. Skip speaks nationally and internationally on commercial space law issues.
CONSTRUCTION
In the construction law arena, Skip represents general contractors, subcontractors, and owners, negotiating, advising on, and enforcing contracts; providing counsel regarding large-scale infrastructure projects; and resolving disputes in and out of court. Skip often represents construction clients in disputes with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and obtained the largest award ever against CDOT in a hotly contested five-week arbitration.
Repeatedly recognized by “Best Lawyers in America” in the field of construction law, Skip frequently speaks, writes, and advises on construction law issues.