WASHINGTON, D.C., February 12, 2024 – Cozen O'Connor is pleased to announce that Patrick R. Rizzi, a recognized leader in the country’s aviation bar, has joined its Transportation & Trade practice — one of the most highly regarded transportation groups among U.S. law firms. Rizzi, who comes to Cozen O’Connor from Hogan Lovells US LLP, joins the firm as a member and will reside in its Washington, D.C., office.
Rizzi brings nearly three decades of experience advising clients across the aviation industry in matters involving regulatory, policy, litigation, and transactional issues. Consistently ranked in Chambers and Partners USA and Legal 500 USA, he has represented passenger and cargo airlines, on-demand air taxi operators, uncrewed aircraft operators, and aerospace manufacturers, as well as infrastructure and development companies. He has also represented and advised banks, investment firms, repair stations, and technology companies on aviation-related matters.
A licensed private pilot, Rizzi regularly represents clients before the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and other government agencies, handling regulatory matters that range from licensing, certification, operations, and airport access to government investigations, enforcement cases, and civil aviation policy development. In addition, he has represented a range of clients before the DOT on international route authority proceedings, antitrust immunity, airport access, comparative route/slot selection proceedings, rulemakings and aviation rulemaking committees, essential air service, airspace obstruction matters, and ownership changes of aviation companies. He also regularly advises clients on compliance issues under U.S. aviation regulations and laws, including safety, licensing, operations, consumer protection, sales/acquisitions of aviation companies, competition, and airline alliances.
“As a long-time, well-known, and highly regarded aviation lawyer, Pat is the ideal fit for our team. He brings decades of experience acting on behalf of a broad range of clients — from airlines to investment banks — in the global aviation industry,” said David Heffernan, chair of the firm’s Transportation & Trade group. “At a time when the industry faces substantial challenges, attorneys of Pat’s caliber and experience are in great demand. I’m thrilled to welcome him to our practice and to Cozen O’Connor.”
Rizzi has been recognized for a number of years by Chambers USA Transportation: Aviation-Regulatory, and by Who’s Who Legal – Transport: Aviation Regulatory and Uncrewed Aircraft Systems. In addition, he is recognized as a Leading Lawyer by Legal 500 USA – Aviation and Air Travel: Litigation and Regulation and was named as one of the Top 10 Influential Regulatory Aviation Lawyers Shaping US Airspace in 2023 by Business Today. Rizzi is a member of the ABA’s Forum on Air and Space Law and was a two-term member of the forum’s governing committee.
“It’s both a pleasure and an honor to be joining the Transportation & Trade group at Cozen O’Connor, which is ranked among the best in the country, and for good reason,” Rizzi said. “I’ve long been an admirer of the team’s scope and talent level, as well as Cozen O’Connor’s overall capabilities. I’m very much looking forward to working with David, Jonathon Foglia, Rachel Welford, Jonathan Echmalian, and my new colleagues to continue to enhance what is by any measure an industry-leading practice.”
Rizzi earned his J.D. at New York University School of Law, where he served on the editorial board of the law review, and a B.S.B.A., magna cum laude, at Georgetown University.
About Cozen O’Connor
Established in 1970, Cozen O’Connor has over 925 attorneys who help clients manage risk and make better business decisions. The firm counsels clients on their most sophisticated legal matters in all areas of the law, including litigation, corporate, and regulatory law. Representing a broad array of leading global corporations and middle market companies, Cozen O’Connor serves its clients’ needs through 33 offices across two continents.
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