Stewart H. Lapayowker
Founding Partner
Tel: 954.202.9600
Transactions accomplished
Mr. Lapayowker devotes his law practice to corporate aircraft transactions. He is devoted to helping aircraft owners and operators find solutions to challenges that they face on a daily basis. He has excellent working relationships with major aircraft manufacturers which facilitates his ability to get transactions accomplished efficiently.
CALL: 954.202.9600
Transactions accomplished
Mr. Lapayowker devotes his law practice to corporate aircraft transactions. He is devoted to helping aircraft owners and operators find solutions to challenges that they face on a daily basis. He has excellent working relationships with major aircraft manufacturers which facilitates his ability to get transactions accomplished efficiently.
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We don’t believe in the no-win scenario. Aviation transactions are fluid and can change quickly. We are ready to adapt and find a solution.
THE RIGHT TEAM.
THE RIGHT TEAM. THE RIGHT DEAL.
Stewart H. Lapayowker | 954.202.9600
Stewart H. Lapayowker
954.202.9600
About Stewart
Mr. Lapayowker devotes his law practice to corporate aircraft transactions. He counsels corporate and individual clients, foreign and domestic, on issues relating to the acquisition, leasing, registration and financing of new and pre-owned jet aircraft (including fractional aircraft). He counsels on a wide variety of aviation matters, including implementing tax efficient structures, related FAA and DOT regulatory matters, regulatory evaluation of operations, aircraft management arrangements, personal use issues and compensation-related SEC issues in connection with the use of business aircraft by public companies. He has excellent working relationships with major aircraft manufacturers which facilitates his ability to get transactions accomplished efficiently.
He is Past- Chair of the National Business Aviation Association’s Tax and Regulatory Committee, and a member of the Aviation Law Committee of The Florida Bar.
Stewart has written articles and editorials, has been quoted in the press, cited to by a federal appellate court and has lectured on various topics in business aviation.
Stewart is devoted to helping aircraft owners and operators find solutions to challenges that they face on a daily basis. He hosts an internet radio show PlaneTalkRadio.
He is committed to supporting a variety of charitable causes, including the Corporate Angel Network and Debbies Dream Foundation for Stomach Cancer, an organization devoted to curing a rare form of stomach cancer, and annually does stand-up comedy at the Improv at the Hard Rock in Hollywood Florida as part of the Debbies Dream Foundation Night of Laughter. In April 2016, he was recognized as Humanitarian of the Year by the Board of Directors of Debbies Dream Foundation.
Honors
Recognized as Humanitarian of The Year by Debbies Dream Foundation Curing Stomach Cancer, April 2016.
Selected as a 2016 and 2014 Tier 1 Best Law Firm by U.S. News and Best Lawyers.
Selected for inclusion in 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011 and 2010 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.
Selected for South Florida’s Best Lawyers (2012 and 2009 Edition; Incisive Media)
Cited in United States of America v. Lake, 10th Cir. U.S. Ct. App. (Jan. 5, 2007)
Rated “AV Preeminent” by Martindale-Hubbell
Select Transactions
Negotiated the purchase of one of the first Boeing Business Jets and Bombardier Global Express aircraft, and the first operational Eurocopter EC 155B VIP-configured helicopter delivered in the United States.
Represented an aircraft owner in connection with arrangements for having its aircraft appear in the MGM major motion picture James Bond 007 Casino Royale starring Daniel Craig.
Represented aircraft owner in connection with the simultaneous fleet transition involving the acquisition and trade in of 12 business aircraft.
Represented aircraft owner in connection with the acquisition of Dassault Falcon 900 as part of synthetic lease financing and reverse 1031 exchange involving synthetic lease.
Represented various aircraft purchasers in connection with acquisitions of aircraft imported from many countries, including United Kingdom, Austria, Spain, United Arab Emirates, and related financing.
Lectures
Panelist, Expensive Toys, The Florida Bar International Law Section, February 16, 2018
Moderator, Tax, Regulatory and Other Considerations When Bringing Aircraft into the U.S., NBAA Tax, Regulatory and Risk Management Conference, October 9-10, 2017
Lecturer, Basic Issues in Aircraft Transactions, Palm Beach Tax Institute, October 4, 2017
Lecturer, ICM Aviation Corporate Aircraft Conference, Has Business Aviation Trumped?, Isle of Man, United Kingdom, June 22, 2017
Lecturer, ICM Aviation Corporate Aircraft Conference, How to Make Your Legal Fees as High as Possible in an Aircraft Transaction, Isle of Man, United Kingdom, June 19, 2016
Panelist, Business Aircraft Finance, Registration and Legal Conference, Fraudulent Transactions and Cybercrime Strategies for a Safe Closing, Boca Raton, Florida, February 12, 2016
Panelist, Corporate Jet Investor 2015 U.S. School of Corporate Jet Finance, Key Elements of the Sales Process, Coral Gables, Florida, October 19-20, 2015
Lecturer, International Aircraft Transactions, Business Aircraft Finance, Registration and Legal Conference, Bonita Springs, Florida, March 1-3, 2015
Publications
"Tail Number Changes, Tail Number Changes, Tail Number Changes! Oh My!"
“But it Was Just Spray Paint!”
"We Would Have Told Elvis That He Had a Problem."
"Are Your LOAs in the Name of the Correct Entity?"
"Is Your Pre-Purchase Inspection Taking Too Long?"
"Is Your Letter of Intent an Accident Waiting to Happen?" - Business Air, October 2019
“Buying a Business Aircraft – Don’t Be Emotionally Compromised?” - Business Aviation Advisor, May 2014
“Your Plane Will Punish You…If You Don’t Behave” - JSSI AirWays, Fall 2012
“Taxing Personal Use of Corporate Aircraft – A Conversation You Don’t Want But Need To Be Ready For” - Executive Flyer Magazine, Volume 5, Issue 1 May, 2006
“Corporate Aircraft” Four Common Compliance Issues, Co-author - ACC Docket 21, No. 10 (Nov/Dec), 2003
Education & admissions
Education
The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, B.S., Economics, 1986
Temple University School of Law, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania J.D.,1989,
Honors: Cum Laude
Temple Law Review, Research Editor
Bar Admissions
- Florida, 1995
- New Jersey, 1989
- Pennsylvania, 1989
- Connecticut, 2017
Past Positions
Lapayowker Jet Counsel, P.A. (Fort Lauderdale, Florida 2008-Present)
Partner in law firm located in Boca Raton, Florida, 2006-2008
Shareholder, Akerman Senterfitt (Miami, Florida), 1996 – 2006
Associate Attorney, Gunster Yoakley Valdes – Fauli and Stewart, P.A. (Ft. Lauderdale, Florida), 1995 – 1996
Associate Attorney, Cohen, Shapiro, Polisher, Shiekman and Cohen (Philadelphia, PA), 1989 – 1995