Philip Zager joined Garofalo Goerlich Hainbach PC (GGH) in 2024. He counsels and represents airlines, airports, and related travel industry members on a wide range of matters before the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and elsewhere. His focus areas include aviation consumer protection, competition, international aviation, enforcement proceedings, and emerging technologies – including facilitating relationships between innovative companies and the FAA Aircraft Certification Service. Previously, he worked at a boutique law firm that specialized in aviation law.
Philip counsels small and large airlines (Part 121 and 135 direct air carriers) and Part 129 foreign air carriers on compliance with DOT consumer protection rules, including Parts 250, 259, and 382. He assists with the full lifecycle of aviation consumer protection, including evaluating proposed ancillary services, website and advertisement transparency, responding to investigative requests from DOT and Congress, and defending airlines in enforcement proceedings. He also drafts public comments in response to proposed DOT rules.
In addition to the above, Philip works on behalf of U.S. and foreign operators to obtain the required aviation licenses to conduct business in the United States, including DOT Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity, as well as Foreign Air Carrier Permits and exemptions and FAA Part 129 Operations Specifications. He advises airlines on aircraft acquisition and lease agreements. He also has represented U.S. and foreign carriers in enforcement proceedings before FAA, NTSB, CBP, and TSA.
Philip earned a B.A. in International Affairs and Economics, magna cum laude, from the University of Southern California in 2010. He received an M.A. in International Affairs and International Economics, with a concentration in Middle East Studies, from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in 2015. He received his J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center in 2015. He is admitted to the Bars of the District of Columbia and the State of New York. He is a member of the ABA’s Forum on Air & Space Law and the International Aviation Club. He is proficient in Arabic and French.