Clearing for Takeoff: Fundamentals of Airport Law

When:  Jul 15, 2026

Speakers will explain the statutes and case law that are the foundation of airport law. The presentation will also provide insights into the operation of airports from both a governance and financial perspective.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the legal framework in which airport operate in the United States.

2. Learn about how airports are governed and operate financially.

3. Gain an understanding of the evolution of airports in the United States and the role federal regulation plays in the modern airport environment.

Presented by the Paralegal Division

 

FACULTY

Jenn Ewan is Chief Legal Officer at the Reno Tahoe Airport Authority, where she leads all legal functions and advises on executive decision-making to support the Authority’s long-term operations and development. She previously co-founded a boutique law firm advising startups and growth-stage companies on corporate, employment, and transactional matters, and served as senior counsel at Michael Best & Friedrich. Jenn also held executive leadership roles in economic development, including Vice President of the Missoula Economic Partnership, and earlier worked as in-house counsel for software companies and for former U.S. Senator and Ambassador to China Max Baucus.

Tom Luria is the Associate General Counsel for the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority (RTAA). Mr. Luria has been with the RTAA since 2017, initially serving as a Contract Specialist I, before being promoted to Contract Specialist II, Contracts Manager and finally Associate General Counsel. Mr. Luria holds a BS in Broadcast News from West Virginia University and a JD from the William S. Body School of Law at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. Prior to joining the RTAA, Mr. Luria served as a law clerk for the Hon. William G. Rogers at the Third Judicial District Court in Lyon County, Nevada, worked as an associate attorney for Mark Mausert, Esq., and as a Staff Attorney for Nevada Legal Services. Mr. Luria has been admitted to practice law in Nevada since 2012.