Curated by eVTOL Insights, the Power Book highlights achievements across North America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific regions. It features individuals who have played crucial roles in initiating conversations about eVTOL aircraft and those who have enjoyed a strong 12 months packed with important milestones for the development of this industry.
The Power Book profile commends Hakes as “a distinguished lawyer and trailblazer in the realm of eVTOL aircraft.” It added: “Hakes’ contributions to the sector have been nothing short of extraordinary, marking him as a standout figure in the evolving landscape of aviation law, with Reed Smith acting for a wide range of market participants.”
Hakes was instrumental in establishing Reed Smith’s global aviation practice from the ground up, which now comprises lawyers across Europe, the U.S. and Asia. Over the last five years, he has dedicated significant time to companies in the AAM and eVTOL space, working with manufacturers, lessors, developers, regulators and other government bodies, as well as with investors. Recognised and ranked by numerous publications and directories for his capabilities across multiple sectors of the transportation industry, Hakes has been described by clients as “a source of great counsel, not just on purely legal matters but also on commercial aspects, where his market knowledge and commercial pragmatism are extremely valuable.”
He acts for a wide range of clients in the aviation industry including lessors, financiers and airlines and routinely advises on strategic and change management processes to c-suite stakeholders. He is particularly well known as counsel to many of the leading private equity and other alternative investors, and due to his experience of negotiating and advising on some of the most innovative and structured transactions in the market, he is often the counsel of choice for disruptors, innovators and other new entrants, as well as working with traditional and established market participants.
For further details and the complete list of the top 20, please refer to the eVTOL Insights Power Book.