Rachel Trinder is President and CEO of Trinder Aviation & Aerospace Advocacy, PLLC.  Rachel has worked as an aviation and aerospace advocate and consultant in Washington for nearly forty years, advising airports, air carriers, helicopter operators, financial institutions, civil aviation authorities, manufacturers, suppliers and other entities on an extensive range of domestic and international aviation and aerospace matters.  Rachel enjoys the highest rating – AV® Preeminent – from Martindale-Hubbell’s “pinnacle in excellence” peer review rating process.  She also is rated as one of the World’s Leading Women in Business Law.

Rachel has in-depth experience in regulatory matters and government affairs representation before the various agencies that oversee aviation and aerospace issues, including the Department of Transportation, the Federal Aviation Administration, the Departments of State, Commerce, Justice, Treasury (including the Office of Foreign Assets Control), Homeland Security (including Customs and Border Protection and the Transportation Security Administration), the National Transportation Safety Board, and NASA.  She has extensive experience in airport and airline operational, safety and technical issues, air carrier and aircraft certification and registration, foreign air carrier start-up and service to the U.S., the negotiation and interpretation of aviation bilateral and multilateral agreements, transactions and financing, citizenship issues applicable to aviation entities and transactions, airport funding and grant assurances – including letters of intent and AIP funding, aviation safety and security matters, FAA Part 13 and 16 cases, rotorcraft issues, export licensing and International Traffic in Arms Regulations, antitrust/ antitrust immunity, alliances and code-sharing, noise mitigation, air navigation hazards, passenger facility charges,  intellectual property matters, licensing agreements, International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) compliance, air service development, government contracts issues, charter and all-cargo matters, route selection proceedings, hazardous materials transportation issues, aviation emissions issues, business and general aviation matters, airport concession contracts, airport security plans, passenger and cargo arrivals/shipment processing (including CBP Model Ports and facilitation issues), aircraft/airport rescue and firefighting standards, alternative minimum taxes applicable to airport bonds, environmental impact statements, airport/airline/tenant agreements, space launch licensing and business issues, lease documentation, airport privatization, aviation marketing, and numerous other aviation and aerospace matters.  For many years she has advised one of the world’s largest airport systems.

Rachel also has extensive legislative experience, advising clients on congressional relations, developing federal agenda action strategies, securing federal grants and financial assistance, advising on legislative policy, bill drafting and passage, liaison with congressional offices, congressional advocacy, and testimony before congressional committees.

Rachel also has an extensive background in appellate advocacy and business dispute resolution and litigation, including mediation and arbitration.  She has successfully litigated major appeals cases involving the aviation industry and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.  She has advised several countries and foreign government agencies in connection with the negotiation of international agreements and compliance with international law requirements.  She also provides aviation and aerospace consulting services, advising on marketing, new carrier service development, airport management and operations, government affairs matters, aviation infrastructure and safety issues, and space launch matters.

Born in Africa and educated in the U.K. and the U.S., Rachel is active in the Washington aviation and legal community.  She served on the Board of Governors of the Aero Club of Washington from 1993-2007 and as the Club’s President in 2000.  She has served on the Board of Directors of the National Aeronautic Association and was President of the International Aviation Club in 1986 and a member of its Board of Directors for several years.  She also has served as Chairman of the Federal Bar Association Section on International Law, Chairman of the Federal Bar Association Space Law Committee, and as a Board member of the International Aviation Women’s Association.  Rachel also is a member of the National Transportation Bar Association and is involved in various other legal and business groups, including the Airports Council International, the American Association of Airport Executives, the Australia-American Association, the British American Business Association, the Helicopter Association International, and the Paris-based International Institute of Space Law.  She served for several years on the Board of the International Institute of Air & Space Law in the Netherlands, and as a Board member of the publicly traded (NYSE) Avemco Corporation, one of the world’s largest insurers of general aviation aircraft.  Among her awards are the Federal Bar Association Distinguished Service award, an English Speaking Union Fellowship, and the Harmsworth Award from the Inns of Court, London.

Rachel is a member of the Bar of the District of Columbia, and is admitted to practice before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court.  She is a speaker and author on a variety of aviation, space and business topics.