Aviation at
North, Pursell, Ramos & Jameson, PLC

While a number of law firms have listed aviation as an area of practice, few firms have attorneys who are actually experienced pilots.  Aviation law at NPRJ is more than handling an occasional aircraft accident personal injury case but rather includes experience over the broad range of legal needs in General Aviation:  creation of legal entities to acquire and hold title to aircraft, representing airmen in FAA enforcement actions, representing fixed base operators, airport facility users and owners, consulting on the complex and often conflicting regulations of the IRS, FAA, and the insurance industry, as well as aircraft accident cases.

Senior Member Ron Pursell has, in addition to his law degree, a Master’s degree in tax law from Southern Methodist University and is available to consult on the tax benefits and liabilities of aircraft ownership.

Attorney and Pilot Edward Hadley has been approved by the AOPA as a panel attorney for its legal services program, and he is a member of the Lawyer Pilots Bar Association.  Phillip North is an experienced multi-engine instrument rated pilot.

The pilot/attorneys of NPRJ stay current on everyday aviation issues by actually using the general aviation system in the other aspects of the firm’s practice.  With the use of the six seat, Piper Navajo Chieftain the attorneys and clients of the firm can reach any part of the State of Tennessee in about one hour.  The attorneys have access to airports in the southeast that are not serviced by commercial airlines.  By avoiding the parking, connection, and security delays at the commercial airports, clients of NPRJ see significant savings in travel time and expense.  NPRJ does not operate a charter service and therefore only seeks reimbursement for operating expenses when using the aircraft on a client's behalf.

The pilot/attorneys of NPRJ do not use their aviation skills and experience solely for clients of the firm.  Phillip North is also approved as a volunteer pilot for Angel Flights America which is a company that arranges free air travel for needy medical patients that cannot afford or otherwise obtain air travel from their homes to specialized medical facilities or transplant facilities.  Click HERE  to read an article in the Cleveland, Tennessee Rotary Club newsletter.  Click HERE for an article in Pipers magazine regarding Mr. North's angel flights.  Phillip North is also a volunteer pilot for the Homeland Security program of Angel Flights (click HERE for more information).  He also serves as a volunteer pilot and legal officer as a Major in the Civil Air Patrol, U.S. Air Force Auxiliary, that provides search and rescue as well as disaster relief in the continental United States.

Phillip North has attained the rank of Major in the Civil Air Patrol, a civilian auxiliary for the United States Air Force.   CAP is a  nation-wide organization of 60,000 volunteers consisting of pilots and ground team members who conduct over 90% of the search and rescue operations for missing aircraft in the continental United States.  CAP also provides disaster relief and is involved in surveillance work for the Department of Homeland Security.  CAP pilots flew more that 400 hours to assist relief efforts from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.  Major North serves as a volunteer pilot and as the Legal Officer for the Tennessee Wing.  He was awarded the Commander’s Commendation Award For Outstanding Duty Performance for 2005.