Mary-Caitlin Ray is a counsel in Crowell & Moring’s Aviation Group in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office. Her practice focuses on complex regulatory and commercial concerns associated with the operation, sale, and acquisition of aircraft. Mary-Caitlin advises clients across multiple industries on safe, innovative integration of unmanned aircraft systems (aka UAS or drones) into their operations. Mary-Caitlin also advises clients on Federal Aviation Administration procurement issues, including contract negotiation and administration, the Buy American Act, novation of contracts and compliance with the agency’s grant assurances.
Representative Matters
- Performed aviation due diligence for acquisitions and sales of aircraft operators engaged in civil and military operations, Part 145 Repair Stations, Holders of Type Certificates, Parts Manufacturer Approvals and Supplemental Type Certificates .
- Advised a manufacturer on the regulatory requirements for manufacturing and operating small recreational drones.
- Advised small unmanned aircraft operators on obtaining FAA approval for complex operations, including operations beyond visual line of sight.
- Advised a mining company on obtaining a release to use FAA-funded airport land for non-aeronautical purposes.
- Assisted clients in structuring entities to ensure compliance with U.S. citizenship requirements under federal aviation statutes.
- Represented and advised airline and aerospace companies on compliance with Federal Aviation Administration grant assurances and Buy America Act requirements.
Prior to joining Crowell & Moring, Mary-Caitlin served as an attorney in the Federal Aviation Administration’s Office of the Chief Counsel, where she provided commercial and litigation risk advice on NextGen and UAS procurements. She also served as lead procurement counsel to the UAS Integration Pilot Program, a White House initiative allowing for state, local, and tribal governments to partner with private sector entities to accelerate safe integration of complex UAS operations.
Mary-Caitlin is an active member of the American Bar Association. She serves as the Young Lawyer Liaison to the Forum on Air and Space Law, and she previously served as a vice chair of the Public Contract Law Section’s Young Lawyers Committee.
Mary-Caitlin received her J.D. from Washington and Lee University School of Law and her B.A. (cum laude) from Washington and Lee University. In law school, she was an editor of the Journal of Civil Rights and Social Justice.
Affiliations
Admitted to practice: District of Columbia, Massachusetts, New York, U.S. Supreme Court
Professional Memberships
- Chair, Young Lawyers Committee of the American Bar Association Forum on Air and Space Law
- Young Lawyer Liaison to the American Bar Association Forum on Air and Space Law
- Member, International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading
- Member, Women in Aviation International
- Vice Chair, ABA Section of Public Contract Law Young Lawyers Committee (August 2017-August 2018)
Speeches & Presentations
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"Drone Law & Policy in Commercial Operations," 2020 AZDroneFest & Education Expo
(October 22, 2020).
Panelist: Mary-Caitlin Ray.
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"Public Safety Drone Regulation and Policy," InterDrone Webinar Series
(August 19, 2020).
Presenter: Mary-Caitlin Ray.
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"Parsing the Preemption Puzzle: Where is the Line?" ABA Forum on Air and Space Law Drone Law Conference, Washington, D.C.
(June 18, 2018).
Moderator: Mary-Caitlin Ray.
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"Not Your Average Bid Protest," ABA’s 24th Federal Procurement Institute, Annapolis, MD
(March 14-17, 2018).
Moderator: Mary-Caitlin Ray.
Publications
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"Chinese Drones Are In The Penalty Box," The SciTech Lawyer, Volume 17, Number 3, Spring 2021
(Spring 2021).
Author: Mary-Caitlin Ray.
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"Transportation – The March to Digital Mobility," Crowell & Moring's Regulatory Forecast 2020
(February 26, 2020).
Contributors: Cheryl A. Falvey, Scott L. Winkelman, Rebecca Baden Chaney, and Mary-Caitlin Ray.
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"Expecting A Pizza Delivered By Drone? It May Take A While," Law360
(August 29, 2019).
Author: Mary-Caitlin Ray.
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"FAA Seeks Industry Cohorts to Administer Knowledge Test for Recreational Drone Operators," Crowell & Moring's Government Contracts Legal Forum
(August 27, 2019).
Author: Mary-Caitlin Ray.
Client Alerts & Newsletters
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"American Rescue Plan Act Throws a Lifeline to Previously Ineligible Aviation Manufacturers,"
(March 15, 2021).
Contacts: Mary-Caitlin Ray, Eileen M. Gleimer
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"A Bright End to a Bleak Year: the FAA Releases Final Rules on Remote ID and Operations Over People,"
Insurance/Reinsurance Alert
(December 30, 2020).
Contacts: Cheryl A. Falvey, Laura Foggan, Scott L. Winkelman, Mary-Caitlin Ray
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"Omnibus Bill Brings Changes to Aircraft Certification System and Extends CARES Act Lifeline for Air Carriers,"
(December 28, 2020).
Contacts: Rebecca Baden Chaney, Mary-Caitlin Ray
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"Transition 2021: Top Transportation Policy Issues Facing the Biden Administration,"
Biden First 100 Days Series
(December 21, 2020).
Contacts: Rebecca Baden Chaney, Scott L. Winkelman, Byron R. Brown, Mary-Caitlin Ray
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"Concerns Over Chinese Made Drones Continue as Executive Agencies Update their Drone Policies,"
Privacy Law Alert
(October 19, 2020).
Contacts: Gabriel M. Ramsey, Scott L. Winkelman, Mary-Caitlin Ray, Matthew B. Welling
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"Treasury Issues Guidance and a Form Agreement for Air Carrier Payroll Support Program and Provides an Update on Payments,"
Corporate Alert
(April 23, 2020).
Contacts: James G. Flood, Eileen M. Gleimer, Ryan C. Tisch, Scott Lessne, James Janaitis, Mary-Caitlin Ray
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"CARES Act Loans for Aviation Related Businesses – Update,"
Corporate Alert
(April 17, 2020).
Contacts: James G. Flood, Eileen M. Gleimer, Ryan C. Tisch, Scott Lessne, James Janaitis, Mary-Caitlin Ray
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"Summary of FAA's COVID-19-Related Measures Affecting General Aviation and Part 135 Operators and Related Considerations,"
(April 14, 2020).
Contacts: Eileen M. Gleimer, James Janaitis, Mary-Caitlin Ray
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"New Treasury Guidance Provides Relief from Financial Instrument Offering under Payroll Support Program for Small and Mid-Sized Aviation Businesses,"
Corporate Alert
(April 14, 2020).
Contacts: James G. Flood, Eileen M. Gleimer, Ryan C. Tisch, Scott Lessne, James Janaitis, Mary-Caitlin Ray
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"CARES Act Payroll Support Program: It's Not Just for Airlines,"
(April 6, 2020).
Contacts: James G. Flood, Eileen M. Gleimer, Ryan C. Tisch, Scott Lessne, James Janaitis, Mary-Caitlin Ray
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"Lawmakers Take Aim at Chinese Drone Technology,"
Regulatory Alert
(February 19, 2020).
Contacts: Evan Y. Chuck, Mary-Caitlin Ray
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"New Decade, New Drone Rules: FAA Announces Proposed Rule for Remote ID,"
Regulatory Alert
(January 3, 2020).
Contacts: Mary-Caitlin Ray, Laura Foggan, Scott L. Winkelman
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"USPS Joins the Drone Delivery Domain with RFI for Services,"
Regulatory Alert
(October 3, 2019).
Contacts: Mary-Caitlin Ray, Laura Foggan, Cheryl A. Falvey
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"Alaska Drone Team Achieves Major Regulatory and Operational Milestone,"
Regulatory Alert
(August 8, 2019).
Contacts: Mary-Caitlin Ray, Scott L. Winkelman, Cheryl A. Falvey, Laura Foggan
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"Drone Use Brings New Advantages and Opportunities in the Energy Sector,"
Energy Law Alert
(March 5, 2019).
Contacts: Mary-Caitlin Ray, Deborah A. Carpentier
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"Off to the Races: The FAA Initiates Informal Drone Rulemaking,"
Regulatory Alert
(February 14, 2019).
Contacts: Mary-Caitlin Ray, Scott L. Winkelman, Cheryl A. Falvey
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"A Day for Drones: FAA Releases Drafts of Long-Awaited Enabling Rules (Part 2),"
Regulatory Alert
(January 25, 2019).
Contacts: Mary-Caitlin Ray, Scott L. Winkelman, Cheryl A. Falvey
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"A Day for Drones: FAA Releases Drafts of Long-Awaited Enabling Rules,"
Regulatory Alert
(January 22, 2019).
Contact: Mary-Caitlin Ray
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"ISO Releases First Global Drone Standard,"
Regulatory Alert
(December 4, 2018).
Contacts: Cheryl A. Falvey, Scott L. Winkelman, Mary-Caitlin Ray
Media Mentions