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AI-washing – when AI hype becomes a litigation risk
We help companies take their satellite systems from drawing board to implementation, and safely navigate the multilayered risks and issues they will face. We understand the technology, business, and regulatory issues ahead of you, and know the strategies necessary to achieve real world success.
Our lawyers have unique space-specific knowledge and experience. They have worked in-house, as general counsel, and as “outside general counsel” for top-tier commercial, government, and private equity/venture capital clients. We have been pioneers alongside our entrepreneurial clients for their most innovative industry developments. Acting as an integrated part of your team, we work to understand what you need and the challenges you face to structure the best transaction for you.
We successfully navigate the challenges that high-profile and NewSpace industry participants face, wherever they are located. We have a robust inventory of winning resolutions, unparalleled complex deal experience, a cohesive global team approach, and deep industry experience.
Our unique combination of legal, business, and technical experience offers tremendous benefits to our clients. Our lawyers appreciate the business goals, motivations, and strategies of our clients and understand the business and technical requirements for achieving a successful outcome. We are problem solvers and deal closers.
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Representative experience
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Advised the Government of Mexico, Visiona Tecnologia Espacial S.A., UAE Space Agency, and MB Group on complex, high-value satellite and space infrastructure programs spanning satellite manufacturing, launch, financing, and deployment.
Represent Omnispace and Lynk Global in their merger to create a combined direct-to-device (D2D) satellite connectivity company.
Advised Columbia Capital and its portfolio companies on investments, financing, and deployment activities and end-to-end support for their major private equity and portfolio transactions from startup through operation and sale.
Advised Airbus Group on the establishment of its strategic joint venture with OneWeb to design and manufacture satellites for one of the world’s first large-scale low Earth orbit (LEO) broadband constellations.
Advised Lockheed Martin on its US$2.3 billion SEC-registered notes offering and related redemption of existing bonds; as a debt holder and minority investor throughout the de-SPAC process for Terran Orbital Corporation.
Advised NewSpace, SmallSat, and constellation operators on accessing and using radiofrequency spectrum for missions not contemplated by existing FCC or ITU frameworks.
Advised on the EXIM Bank supported financing for CesiumAstro in connection with the MMIA satellite program, recognized as “Deal of the Year,” including structuring and negotiation of export credit financing arrangements.
Counseled satellite operators, spacecraft manufacturers, and human spaceflight ventures on orbital debris mitigation requirements across FCC, FAA, and international regimes, including where no settled standards yet exist.
Advised Space Leasing International on satellite and infrastructure procurements with ReOrbit and AscendArc; SwissTo12 on satellite acquisition from Astrum; orbital data center developer in negotiating a satellite bus purchase agreement with Apex.
Awards and recognitions
Space - Band 1
Chambers USA
2025
Telecommunications, Broadcast, and Satellite - Band 1
Chambers USA
2024-2025
Trade Remedies & Trade Policy, Export Controls & Economic Sanctions – Band 1
Chambers USA
2025
Transportation: Aviation: Regulatory – Band 1
Chambers USA
2025
Telecoms and Broadcast: Regulatory - Tier 1
Legal 500 US
2025
Telecoms and Broadcast: Transactions - Tier 1
Legal 500 US
2023, 2025
Government Relations – Tier 1
Legal 500 US
2025
Practice Group of the Year for Government Contracts
Law360
2023-2024
Ranked Band 1 for Commercial Contracts
Chambers Europe
2023
Practice Group of the Year for Telecommunications
Law360
2022
Most Innovative Firm in North America
Financial Times
2022
How we’ve helped our clients succeed
NEO Space Group
We advised National Space Company (doing business as the NEO Space Group), a Public Investment Fund-owned company and Saudi Arabia’s leading commercial space services provider, on its acquisition of UP42 GmbH a next-generation earth observation digital platform, from Airbus Defence and Space GmbH.
The acquisition supports NSG’s mission to meet Saudi Arabia’s growing demand for advanced earth observation and geospatial solutions. The space team, worked with our teams in Berlin, Brussels, Dusseldorf, Munich, and Riyadh for the transaction’s M&A, antitrust, employment, infrastructure and projects, intellectual property, real estate, regulatory, and tax practices.
SES S.A.
The team represented SES in its $3.1 billion acquisition of Intelsat, which successfully closed on July 17, 2025. This deal combines two of the largest commercial operators of geostationary communications satellites globally. The acquisition is part of a significant restructuring and consolidation in the communications satellite industry, driven by the emergence of low-earth orbit constellations that have disrupted the sector.
The team handled complex national security-related regulatory approvals encompassing a wide range of issues, including telecommunications regulatory matters, foreign investment reviews by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. (CFIUS) and other international jurisdictions. We also addressed government contracts, security clearance issues, export controls, and economic sanctions.
LEO, MEO, GEO, and Beyond-Earth-Orbit Operators
Our satellite regulatory team members assist a broad range of LEO, MEO, GEO, and beyond-Earth-orbit operators with respect to evaluation and improvement of spectrum positioning at both the ITU (including with respect to completing the “bringing into use” (BIU) requirements and spectrum leases for purposes of BIU where needed) and domestic licensing for desired spectrum frequency bands.
We support our clients in the United States (with the FCC, NOAA, and FAA) as well as internationally both with our own global regulatory team as well as with law firms wherever landing rights or other administration licenses may be desired based on various governmental, timing, spectrum availability, priority, and other considerations. At any given time, our strategic regulatory team may be representing at least 10 different global LEO or MEO operators in varying stages of spectrum, filing, and BIU strategy and implementation, as well as obtaining licenses in the United States and globally for satellite operations and ground system deployments in the VLF, VHF, UHF, L-, S-, C-, X-, Ku-, Ka-, and V-band frequencies. Most of these specific representations are confidential, but a few of our representations are a matter of public record including Intelsat, SES, ALL.SPACE, Apex, Basalt Tech, DISH, Fleet Space, Goonhilly, Helogen (formerly Odyssey SpaceWorks), Hubble Network, ICEYE, Kepler, Lunasonde, Lynk, Omnispace, Orbit Fab, Outpost, Quantum Space, Planet, Rivada, Sierra Space, Spire, Vast, and Xona, among others.
Ovzon
The team represented Ovzon in negotiating a launch services agreement with SpaceX for Ovzon-3, the first privately funded Swedish geostationary satellite. We also advised on credit facility matters, customer and distribution contracts, and strategic arrangements with other satellite operators, as well as in connection with certain matters related to their satellite procurement contract. The deal culminated in the successful launch of Ovzon-3 on January 3, 2024 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
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