The ABA Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility

A business bankruptcy attorney and recipient of Houstonia magazine's Top Lawyer award, Hugh M. Ray III has been a long-time advocate of professionalism in legal practice. As a result of his outstanding legal work and dedication to the legal profession's highest principles, Hugh Ray III was inducted as a Life Fellow of the Fellows of the American Bar Association.

The ABA Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility was established over a century ago to set ethical standards for attorneys and judges across the United States. The ABA’s Model Rules of Professional Conduct is used to develop standards for ethical legal practice and conduct. Further, the opinions of the committee serve as guidelines for court decisions involving the interpretation of the rules. 

Most recently, the committee has drafted a proposal revising the ethical standards for communications advertising legal services. The draft outlines the requirements of any communication associated with a lawyer or law firm to be truthful and free of misleading information. The proposal also identifies circumstances where attorneys can pay for recommendations or references.

What is a Bet-the-Company Case?

Hugh M Ray III leverages a J.D. from Vanderbilt University and years of legal experience as a partner at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP in Houston, Texas. A Life Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, Hugh Ray III has served as a lead trial attorney in cases ranging from complex reorganizations and bankruptcy proceedings to commercial litigation and bet-the-company cases.

On a general level, bet-the-company cases refer to high-stakes litigation that threatens the existence of a business. These cases, which can impact established firms as well as start-ups, often result from investigations, natural disasters, product liability, or even attacks on a firm’s line of business and reputation. 

Bet-the-company cases are known for their complicated nature and the unique challenges they present to attorneys. Litigation may span federal, state, and international jurisdictions and be impacted by multiple adversaries simultaneously. Moreover, bet-the-company cases often have criminal, civil, arbitral, and administrative components. On top of all this, attorneys involved in these cases must cooperate with a range of stakeholders within the business in addition to outside customers and governmental authorities.

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, LLP, in Houston

Named one of Houston’s Top Lawyers by Houstonia magazine, Hugh M. Ray III is also a “Super Lawyer,” an outstanding attorney who has attained a high degree of professional achievement and peer recognition. Hugh Ray III leverages his extensive legal expertise as a partner at the law firm of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP.

Based in Houston, Texas, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman has been named one of North America’s most innovative law firms by the Financial Times. The firm employs more than 700 attorneys who provide expertise in areas that include aviation, real estate, and insolvency and restructuring.

The firm’s insolvency and restructuring practice serves a diverse client base, including borrowers, creditors, financial institutions, and distressed investors. In addition to developing cutting-edge solutions for bankruptcies, the practice provides assistance to clients navigating complex business cycles. For additional information on Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, visit www.pillsburylaw.com.

FAA Registration Requirements for Unmanned Aircraft Systems

A partner at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, LLP, Hugh M. Ray III practices at the firm’s insolvency and restructuring practice in Houston, Texas. In addition to handling commercial litigation and reorganization cases, Hugh Ray III regularly speaks on the law of drones, or unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires commercial drones in the United States to be registered with the organization before the owners operate them. Drones that qualify for part 107 registration must weigh between 0.55 and 55 pounds. This weight includes added payloads, such as an onboard camera. UAS owners must also be at least 13 years old to register. Owners who operate a drone without registering it are subject to criminal and civil penalties. 

In most cases, drones in the US must be registered under the FAA’s Small UAS Rule (Part 107) or the Special Rule for Model Aircraft (Section 336). Drones registered under part 107 have specific restrictions on both hobby and commercial use. They must be flown within a visual line-of-sight, away from "no drone" areas (such as near airports or Washington, D.C.) and must weigh less than 55 pounds. Meanwhile, drones filed under the Small UAS Rule can be used for recreational or commercial purposes. But they also cannot be flown at night, near other aircraft, over crowds of people, or outside the visual line-of-sight. Commercial operators must obtain a Remote Pilot Certificate. In addition, several states and local governments have enacted their own regulations on drone use. 

Non-commercial registration with the FAA is a relatively simple process and requires an email address, home address, name, and the make and model of the UAS. The FAA charges $5 per aircraft for the registration, which lasts for three years.