Ms Lisa Ellman > Hogan Lovells US LLP > Washington DC, United States > Lawyer Profile

Hogan Lovells US LLP
COLUMBIA SQUARE
555 THIRTEENTH STREET, NW
WASHINGTON DC 20004
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
United States

Work Department

Global Regulatory

Position

Partner

Career

Widely recognized as one of the “world’s foremost authorities on drones and law,” Lisa Ellman offers a unique perspective and vast experience to clients, helping them push policy boundaries forward and get ahead in the fast-changing regulatory environment.

Lisa is a leader in Hogan Lovells’ Transportation practice and chairs the firm’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) practice, a group dedicated to helping businesses succeed in the dynamic drone marketplace. As co-founder and executive director of the independent non-profit Commercial Drone Alliance, Lisa focuses on expanding the commercial drone industry and enabling Advanced Air Mobility. She also focuses on UAS security efforts. Lisa regularly brings industry together with policymakers to tackle and solve complex emerging technology policy issues, including around safety, security, and privacy.

Throughout her career, Lisa has worked to bridge government policymaking and business innovation (a combination that has become known as “polivation”). Lisa has held a variety of positions at top levels of the executive branch at the White House and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). Most recently, she led the DOJ’s effort to develop UAS policy in the United States, and participated in the federal interagency process considering UAS-related policy issues.

Education

J.D./M.P.P., The University of Chicago Law School and Harris School of Public Policy, 2005; B.A. History, University of Michigan, 2000

Lawyer Rankings

United States > Transport > Aviation and air travel: litigation and regulation

(Leading lawyers)

Lisa EllmanHogan Lovells US LLP

According to clients, Hogan Lovells US LLP has ‘the most knowledgeable, well-informed practice around’. In addition to its traditional aviation work, the Washington DC-based practice stands out for its drone-related credentials: Recent highlights include assisting drone manufacturer Pyka with securing approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to operate (commercially nationwide) its zero-emission, highly-automated Pelican Spray uncrewed aircraft. The team also routinely works with American Airlines’ regulatory affairs team on FAA and US Department of Transportation (DOT) issues. Consistently mandated by airlines and aerospace companies, Robert Cohn is highly rated for his aviation-related regulatory, transactional, litigation and government relations advice. As chair of the firm’s global uncrewed aircraft systems practice, Lisa Ellman further serves as executive director of the Commercial Drone Alliance (an independent non-profit industry organization). Also integral to the group are Patrick Rizzi, who regularly acts before the DOT and FAA, and former FAA chief counsel (and acting deputy administrator) Arjun Garg, whose ‘experience is extremely valuable to clients’ and who recently advised the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County (Tennessee) on FAA policy in relation to an airport’s change in control. The next line of active practitioners includes Matthew Clark, an expert in federal regulatory issues.