Areas of Practice

Jim has extensive legal and management experience within the aviation industry, including Lead Counsel at Alaska Airlines and Senior Attorney at Trans World Airlines. He holds a commercial pilot license with over 2,500 hours and was the Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel of a regional Hawaiian airline, as well as Managing Partner of Waldon Law Group, a law practice with an aviation focus. His practice focuses on aircraft transactions and finance and Federal Aviation Administration regulatory matters, general business, and corporate law. He represents domestic airlines and business aircraft owners and operators. He assists clients in establishing appropriate operating structures for aircraft to comply with the Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration regulatory requirements and has represented numerous clients in regard to participation in fractional ownership programs. Jim represents clients before the FAA in enforcement actions and assists in obtaining Part 135, 121, and 129 authority for commercial operators. Jim is frequently consulted by local media to discuss various aviation topics.

Professional Experience

• Joined Lane Powell PC in 2006
• Lead Counsel, Alaska Airlines
• Senior Attorney, Trans World Airlines
• Chief Operating Officer/General Counsel for Mokulele Airlines
• Managing Partner, Waldon Law Offices
• President, Whiteside Air and Ozark Aviation
• Commercial pilot with over 2,500 hours

Admitted to Practice

• Washington
• Missouri

Publications

• “FAA Issues Final Rule – Comprehensive Changes to Aircraft Registration Requirements,” Lane Powell Aviation Industry Legal Update, July 29, 2010
• “FAA Proposes to Change Pilot Training Requirements,” Lane Powell Aviation Industry Legal Update, September 3, 2009
• “TSA Proposal to Require General Aviation Security Programs,” Lane Powell Aviation Industry Legal Update, January 12, 2009

Speaking Engagements

• Law Enforcement Appreciation Dinner, Puget Sound Chapter of ASIS International, May 2010 (Keynote)
• “Introduction to Aviation Law”, ITT Technical Institute, April 2010
• “Proposed Pilot Training Regulatory Changes,” Lawyer Pilots Bar Association Conference, February 2010
• “The Passenger Bill of Rights,” Pacific Northwest Aviation Law and Insurance Seminar, September 2007
• “New Airline Service between Portland and Seattle,” Portland CBS affiliate KOIN, June 2008 (Television interview)
• “Current Developments in Airline Travel,” Seattle FOX News 13, December, 2007 (Television interview)
• “The Passenger Bill of Rights,” Seattle FOX News 13, September 2007 (Television interview)
• “Airline Delays: What is the Cause?” Seattle FOX News 13, September 2007 (Television interview)

Professional and Community Activities

• Panel Attorney, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
• Co-Chair of Membership, Lawyer Pilots Bar Association
• American Bar Association
• Aviation Section
• Washington State Bar Association
• King County Bar Association
• President, Aviation Section
• Lawyer-Pilots Bar Association
• National Business Aviation Association (NBBA)
• Pacific Northwest Business Association (PNBAA)
• National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Bar Association
• Panel Attorney, Epilepsy Foundation