Thomas R. Pantino, Partner

Tom has over 17 years experience practicing Aviation Law. Prior to entering the legal side of the Aviation field, Tom enjoyed a technical career at Grumman Aerospace Corporation. Tom worked as a systems design and development engineer on the U.S. Navy F-14D fighter jet program. His work included design of the stores management (weapons) system; the crew’s data entry computer; and the Infra-Red Search and Track System (IRSTS). Working closely with U.S. Navy pilots, Tom participated in flight testing of the F-14D during its development program.

In his career as an aviation attorney, Tom has handled claims and litigation throughout the U.S. and abroad. The vast majority of these cases involve claims for wrongful death, personal injury and property damage, arising out of commercial, military and general aviation incidents and accidents. Tom successfully represented a defendant in the litigation arising out of the ValuJet Flight 592 crash into the Florida everglades. Coming full circle, Tom found himself representing Grumman Aerospace Corporation in wrongful death claims involving U.S. Navy aircraft, including the F-14. Tom has since represented numerous airframe and aircraft component part manufacturers and aviation-related service providers. He has also successfully defended aviation product manufacturers in litigation arising out of asbestos exposure.

In addition to the state courts in New York, Tom is admitted to the United States District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. Tom has written several articles in the products liability area, and has made product integrity presentations to clients. He is a member of the New York City Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the Aviation Insurance Association. Tom is also registered as a patent attorney before the United States Patent and Trademark Office.