- Overview
- Recognitions
- Representation
- Insights
Overview
Courtney W. Freeman, a preeminent former regulatory attorney with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), serves as Counsel at Adams & Reese and is a leading member of the national law firm’s Aviation & Aerospace Team.
Courtney served for more than a decade in the Regulations Division of the FAA’s Office of the Chief Counsel where she was recognized by industry and agency leadership as an innovator in regulatory law. Primarily overseeing projects relating to emerging aviation technologies, Courtney concentrated on issues such as integrating Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS or drones) into National Airspace System (NAS) and international operations; Advanced Air Mobility (AAM); licensing and regulatory compliance; exemptions and waivers; and countless other novel and conventional aviation law matters.
Having held a lead attorney role on rulemaking, integration, and implementation efforts within many of the FAA’s most forward-looking programs, Courtney provides her clients with a broad understanding of how federal regulations are developed, their rationale, enforcement protocols, and the exemption process. As a result of her involvement in every major operational drone and AAM initiative at the FAA, Courtney is well-equipped to advise and guide clients on how to direct their own planning as these technologies and their myriad applications become increasingly more sophisticated and prevalent.
Courtney also has experience in traditional air carrier and general aviation operations, hazardous materials carriage requirements, pandemic response, environmental compliance, privacy matters, and Paperwork Reduction Act compliance. The team she led frequently handled issues of agency first impression, with Courtney often personally dispositioning the team’s most complicated legal matters.
Courtney served for more than a decade in the Regulations Division of the FAA’s Office of the Chief Counsel where she was recognized by industry and agency leadership as an innovator in regulatory law. Primarily overseeing projects relating to emerging aviation technologies, Courtney concentrated on issues such as integrating Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS or drones) into National Airspace System (NAS) and international operations; Advanced Air Mobility (AAM); licensing and regulatory compliance; exemptions and waivers; and countless other novel and conventional aviation law matters.
Having held a lead attorney role on rulemaking, integration, and implementation efforts within many of the FAA’s most forward-looking programs, Courtney provides her clients with a broad understanding of how federal regulations are developed, their rationale, enforcement protocols, and the exemption process. As a result of her involvement in every major operational drone and AAM initiative at the FAA, Courtney is well-equipped to advise and guide clients on how to direct their own planning as these technologies and their myriad applications become increasingly more sophisticated and prevalent.
Courtney also has experience in traditional air carrier and general aviation operations, hazardous materials carriage requirements, pandemic response, environmental compliance, privacy matters, and Paperwork Reduction Act compliance. The team she led frequently handled issues of agency first impression, with Courtney often personally dispositioning the team’s most complicated legal matters.
Clients find that Courtney is both relentless and creative in identifying customized and novel approaches to help them achieve their regulatory objectives– promoting their interests and keeping them ahead of what’s coming in this rapidly evolving area of law. In June 2025, Courtney played a key role in the legal implementation of the "Unleashing American Drone Dominance "Executive Order, which outlines new rules and timelines for integrating emerging aviation technologies like routine drone operations and AI-assisted waiver reviews. Her experience with the framework of these technologies will be an asset to clients seeking to capitalize on the Order’s opportunities.
Courtney joined the FAA as a result of her time in the prestigious United States Department of Transportation Honors Attorney program, for which she was selected upon graduating from law school. In the Honors Attorney program, she completed rotations with the Office of International and Aviation Economic Law as well as the Maritime Administration.
While earning her J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School, Courtney served as a Notes Editor for the Michigan Journal of Environmental and Administrative Law and completed internships with both the United States Department of Justice Aviation and Admiralty Litigation Division and the Chicago Transit Authority. She received her B.A. in History and Political Science from Northwestern University, where she also received a certificate in leadership.
Courtney joined the FAA as a result of her time in the prestigious United States Department of Transportation Honors Attorney program, for which she was selected upon graduating from law school. In the Honors Attorney program, she completed rotations with the Office of International and Aviation Economic Law as well as the Maritime Administration.
While earning her J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School, Courtney served as a Notes Editor for the Michigan Journal of Environmental and Administrative Law and completed internships with both the United States Department of Justice Aviation and Admiralty Litigation Division and the Chicago Transit Authority. She received her B.A. in History and Political Science from Northwestern University, where she also received a certificate in leadership.
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Education
- University of Michigan Law School, J.D. | 2013
- Northwestern University, B.A. | 2010
Bar Admissions
- Illinois
Related Services
Recognitions
- Recipient of the Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety’s Aerospace Innovation Award for work on the Powered Lift Special Federal Aviation Regulation Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 2022
- Nominated by FAA Chief Counsel for the Lawrence R. Schneider Award, 2022 (“for outstanding dedication and exemplary service in improving aviation safety and efficiency of the national airspace system, and safely enabling new operations”)
- Recipient of Silver Medal, Meritorious Achievement for transforming the safety of transportation at all levels, 2021
- Secretary’s Team Award, for contributions to the work of the COVID-19 Vaccine Air Transport Team, 2021
- FAA Strategic Achievement Award for contributions to the UAS Registration Team, 2017
- Team Award for contributions to the UAS Integration Team, 2016
- Transportation Safety Award, Safety Posture Review Team, 2016
- Office of the Chief Counsel Outstanding Team Award for Registration, 2016
- Certificate of Appreciation from the Administrator for contributions to the Small UAS rule, 2016
- Certificate of Appreciation from the Administrator for the Development and Implementation of the UAS Registry, 2015
Education
- University of Michigan Law School, J.D. | 2013
- Northwestern University, B.A. | 2010
Bar Admissions
- Illinois
Related Services
Representation
- Served as lead attorney, reviewing attorney, or provided legal input on all UAS rules issued by the FAA since 2015.
- Served as either lead attorney or reviewing attorney on over a dozen significant rulemaking projects aside from UAS rules, including the powered-lift Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR), Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification rule, Transportation Security Administration vetting requirements, conflict zone SFARs, and pilot records requirements.
- Reviewed or substantially drafted most novel UAS exemptions and waivers since 2015, UAS air carrier cargo delivery exemptions under 14 CFR part 135, as well as agricultural operations under part 137 and beyond visual line-of-sight waivers and exemptions.
- Served as manager of the Operations Law Team within the FAA’s Office of the Chief Counsel’s Regulations Division, which involved development, drafting, and review of regulations and other agency actions, including determining the legal sufficiency of all safety rules related to the certification and operation of air carriers and commercial operators under Parts 107, 110, 117, 119, 121, 133, 135, and 137 as well as all operating rules governing general aviation operations under Part 91.
- Established the legal parameters for enabling the current drone delivery framework by exemption, which will continue to be in place until finalization of the Normalizing Unmanned Aircraft Systems Beyond Visual Line-of-Sight (BVLOS) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM).
- Helped develop, as lead regulatory attorney, the framework for the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Test Site Program waiver authority, the FAA’s Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (FMRA 2012) that directed the FAA to initiate a five-year program to establish six UAS test sites to support the FAA in integrating UAS into the NAS, including use of test site specific waiver authority.
- Served as lead regulatory attorney for implementation of the high-profile unmanned aircraft system Integration Pilot Program (IPP) (now the BEYOND Program).
Education
- University of Michigan Law School, J.D. | 2013
- Northwestern University, B.A. | 2010
Bar Admissions
- Illinois