James Cooling, Cooling & Herbers

LEADING LAWYER DIRECTORY – James Cooling, Cooling & Herbers

James Cooling is the MD of Cooling & Herbers legal firm. He is an aviation lawyer, aircraft owner, pilot and flight instructor.

Managing Director
Kansas City
+1 816-474-0777
[email protected]

James’ advice

“Our advice is to seek out good advice – that is, engage advisors who know the market and the applicable rules and, accordingly, where the client can (and can’t) compromise in negotiations as well as how to comply with the numerous FAA, DOT, IRS, SEC, and state laws and regulations and insurance restrictions applicable to business aircraft. Industry professionals not only know these individual rules but also understand how they interconnect and apply to a client’s transaction.

“As the old saying goes, “time kills deals.” Thus, it is usually best that a client have their advisory team selected and ready once there is an offer on the table. Prompt responses are key at each stage, be it providing initial draft documentation, responding to the other party’s proposals, or executing final documents and closing the deal.”

Background

“I started “at the bottom” of aviation driving a lavatory service truck (“pot truck”). Since then, and for the last 30-plus years, I have been committed to the aviation industry – not just as an aviation attorney, but also as an aircraft owner, pilot and an active member of numerous aviation industry boards.”

Official biography

James E. Cooling is the managing director of the firm. He is an aircraft owner and pilot holding commercial, instrument, multi-engine, and flight instructor ratings with a Cessna Citation jet type rating.

Mr. Cooling is admitted to practice in the U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. District Court for the Western and Eastern Districts of Missouri and U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas.

He served for nine years as a member of the Board of Directors of the National Business Aviation Association headquartered in Washington, D.C. He is also a former member of the National Business Aviation Association Tax Committee; a past Chairman of the Aviation, Transportation and Space Law Committee of the Missouri Bar; and past President of the Aviation Insurance Association. He has authored articles for the SMU Air Law Journal, the NBAA Business Aviation Management Journal, Sport Aviation, and wrote an aviation legal column for Flight Training magazine for ten years. He has been a featured speaker at programs for the FAA, NBAA, EAA, Aviation Insurance Association, and the SMU Aviation Law Symposium.