Unmanned Systems

The Unmanned Systems Team at Williams Mullen can help unmanned systems operators, data providers and users, manufacturers, downstream solutions providers and other stakeholders negotiate a rapidly changing legal, regulatory and policy landscape so they can participate and excel in this burgeoning industry.

Our team can assist companies that seek to leverage this technology with obtaining Section 333 Exemptions and other regulatory approvals, securing financing, software and data licensing, international business transactions and export restrictions and numerous other issues critical to building or running a business in a global economy.

Regardless of a company’s location in its lifecycle or its size, our team will focus on rendering advice that reflects our deep understanding of both the industry and the technology with a view toward augmenting a company’s bottom-line, enhancing its attractiveness to potential buyers and improving its ability to acquire a business with complementary technology or coveted market share.

We can provide counsel on the following types of matters:

• Government Contracts
  Our Government Contracts attorneys provide unmanned systems companies with a full-range of legal services tailored to contracting with federal, state and local governments. We combine our understanding of your business operations with our knowledge of the government marketplace to help you succeed in serving the government customer’s needs while also achieving your own business goals. Our attorneys are experienced in all aspects of government contracting, from contract formation and negotiation through performance to litigation and dispute resolution. We have experience with a number of federal agencies, including the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security and State, as well as procuring agencies in many state and local governments. Our attorneys have significant experience in government contracting matters that allows them to interact with government personnel from any federal, state and local agency and help resolve any type of government contract matter.
• Export Controls
  U.S. law prohibits the export of defense articles or defense services that are regulated under the International Traffic and Arms Regulations (ITAR) without an export license or Technical Assistance Agreement approved by the State Department. Similarly, products and technologies regulated under the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) may require export licenses in export transactions. Since many unmanned systems products and technologies are listed on the U.S. Munitions List (and regulated under ITAR) or on the Commerce Control List (and regulated under the Export Administration Regulations) industry executives should use care to understand their obligations under export laws and avoid export control violations. 
   
  The stakes can be high – violations can result in criminal penalties of up to 20 years imprisonment for the company and its employees. 
  Our team stands ready to help you:  
  • Determine the classification of your products, software and technical data under ITAR and EAR.
  • Obtain requisite licenses and authorizations.
  • Develop compliance policies and procedures and train employees on key compliance issues.
  • Submit product classifications and commodity jurisdiction requests.
  • Conduct annual internal compliance audits.
  • Conduct specialized due diligence reviews on acquisition transactions in your industry.
  • Stay current on export control best practices, including export processes, compliance issues and export recordkeeping.
• Intellectual Property
  A system’s value and likelihood of market success depend materially on your unmanned systems company’s IP pedigree. In many instances, the associated IP will determine the strength and longevity of a system’s only competitive advantages. It is therefore critical for you to identify the IP that corresponds to current – and forecasted – products and services, with a special emphasis on the core aspects and critical technologies that comprise the backbone of existing and future products and services.
   
  We can help unmanned systems companies:  
  • Identify the IP assets associated with a system, which in many instances can include unrecognized but valuable IP, and develop an IP strategy that integrates with the overall business strategy for the system.
  • Develop internal procedures for recognizing, tracking, and evaluating internally developed IP, as well as take advantage of the full range of options for protecting IP assets.
  • Conduct “early clearance” searches and undertake “freedom to operate” reviews to ensure a system’s market viability.
  • Monitor competitor and industry IP activities.
  • Identify potential government IP rights and evaluate the impact those rights may have on strategic use of IP.
• Mergers and Acquisitions
  As FAA regulations begin to enable commercial uses of unmanned systems in the U.S., potential service providers are seeking access to viable unmanned systems platforms, and investors are recognizing the industry’s limitless possibilities. These trends are stimulating a flurry of M&A activity in the unmanned systems industry. M&A in the unmanned systems industry is particularly complex, not only because of questions of IP ownership and valuation and the red tape of FAA regulations, but also because many unmanned systems companies have contracts with the federal government or had contracts or grants/cooperative agreements with the government when they developed their unmanned systems capabilities. 
   
  Our lawyers can advise on the entire process of acquiring or selling an unmanned systems company.  In addition to our experience in structuring deals with our corporate and tax capabilities, our experience with due diligence in IP, ITAR, compliance, and government contracting is a significant benefit in enabling you to get the deal done.  
   
• Entity Formation
  We welcome new participants in the unmanned systems industry with ground floor advice to help establish the corporate structure that best suits the client’s short-term and long-term objectives. 
   
  Our lawyers guide clients through the issues involved in forming a new business that intends to compete in the unmanned systems sector. We assist in determining the appropriate business structure, developing corporate bylaws and articles of incorporation, registering the new business, protecting intellectual property and ensuring corporate compliance with all regulatory guidelines. The key to our success is partnering with the client to understand the business and the client’s goals. 
   
  The acquisition, divestiture, or reorganization of a corporate entity performing unmanned systems services requires an appreciation of government restrictions on assignments of contracts, cost recovery limitations, and industrial security requirements. Our lawyers have represented a number of U.S. and international companies, as well as financial institutions, in connection with mergers and acquisitions, including the drafting of special terms and conditions, the conduct of due diligence reviews, novation agreements and interaction with the U. S. Small Business Administration concerning the protection of a small business concern’s eligibility to retain designated contracts. 
   
• Private Equity
  With the growth in unmanned systems commercial activity comes the need for capital and the interest of motivated lenders and investors. 
   
  We help early, mid-stage and later-stage companies as they prepare to find capital to finance their needs, and when they are ready to do so, we assist them in consummating capital financing transactions. Sources of these funds can be institutional investors, such as venture capital firms and mezzanine funds, private equity groups, “angel” investors and investors who cross the venture capital/angel divide. We also represent companies in negotiating with investment banking firms to raise capital or explore strategic alternatives on their behalf and work with closely with these clients and their investment bankers to complete the transaction. 
   
  A private equity representation typically involves a comprehensive legal and regulatory due diligence examination of the target company. When we represent a client seeking capital, we similarly assess its business model and risk profile with the goal of matching the client with appropriate investors or with investment banks. Whether we are representing the investors, the portfolio company or the target, we draw on our experience in the areas of finance, intellectual property, tax law, real estate law, labor and employment law, environmental law, and other areas as appropriate to properly structure a transaction suited to the investment. 
   
• Government Affairs
  In North Carolina and Virginia, our team of attorneys and government consultants has decades of experience working with statewide elected officials, legislators, agency heads, key staff and interest groups. We have actively counseled and advocated for clients on issues before the Virginia and North Carolina General Assemblies, and we are proud to have represented clients in most of their major public policy developments. Our advocacy continues throughout the year and includes coordinating grassroots lobbying efforts, providing political advice and helping clients work with pivotal members of the legislature. In addition, the Group regularly advocates for clients before state and local government boards and agencies. 
   
  Our North Carolina Government Relations team has a strong history of representing clients before the legislative and executive branches of government on an extensive variety of issues directly related to the unmanned systems industry in North Carolina. As veterans of the legislative and political process, our team has well-developed insight and understanding concerning the workings of the governor’s administration, state legislature and agencies. We are in regular and direct contact with legislators, whether the legislature is in or out of session, as well as with the governor, the heads of state agencies in North Carolina, and the staff who are critical to the decision-making process in the executive branch. Utilizing this experience and knowledge positions the team to work effectively with decision-makers who are critical to developing the emerging unmanned systems regulatory and legal framework and to be a valuable partner to help the unmanned systems industry as it grows in North Carolina. 
   
  Virginia presents an interesting landscape for unmanned systems companies. In 2013, Virginia became the first state to pass a moratorium on the use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems by any public body having law or regulatory enforcement powers. Shortly after legislation establishing the moratorium passed the General Assembly, the Governor and Virginia Tech began work on the state’s application to the FAA for designation as one of the six unmanned systems test sites around the country. In December 2013, the FAA designated Virginia as one of the six test sites, successfully competing against a pool of 24 other states. Recognition of the growth and importance of the unmanned systems industry is now beginning to take shape among policy leaders, and interest in unmanned systems applications is growing quickly. With a large military presence, consistent top ranking as a best state for business, and now the FAA designation as an official Unmanned Aircraft Systems test site, Virginia is attracting and growing its base of unmanned systems companies. 
   
  For those companies looking to do business in Virginia, our Government Affairs team can assist in navigating the Virginia-specific regulatory environment and help connect your company to state and local leaders looking into unmanned systems applications. Our team also keeps track of new legislative and regulatory developments of interest to unmanned systems companies, an absolute necessity in this rapidly evolving industry. 
   
• Labor and Employment
  Intellectual property can be a significant asset of any company, particularly those in a nascent industry such as yours. To help you avoid the loss of competitive advantage that can occur when a former employee improperly discloses proprietary information to another party, including competitors, we develop comprehensive employment agreements that protect your vital proprietary information and the poaching of employees. Should the need arise, we represent employers in injunctive and other trial proceedings to enforce, or prevent the enforcement of, non-compete and non-solicitation agreements, employment contracts, confidentiality agreements and restrictions on the use of trade secrets.
• Domestic and International Business Expansion and Relocation
  As the U.S. market for your industry expands, greater demand for your company’s technology could necessitate the relocation and/or expansion of your company. Our experienced economic development team can help U.S. and international companies streamline their corporate relocation and expansion projects and reduce initial and long-term costs by advising on economic incentives, entity selection, tax, labor and employment issues and the necessary permits and licenses.
• Immigration
  We can help your company secure access to global talent by obtaining essential visas for key executives, managers, investors and skilled workers, while streamlining processing times and reducing cross-border transfer costs. For U.S. companies, we help ensure compliance with U.S. Homeland Security regulations, including the use of programs like E-Verify. We also assist with “deemed export” issues where foreign nationals have access to technical data subject to ITAR and EAR.