Law-Tech Connect Workshop

Transportation & Infrastructure attorneys Joel Roberson and Benjamin Allen, together with National Security & Defense attorney Daniel Sennott, will participate in the Law-Tech Connect Workshop, one of several "co-located" events taking place during the 2025 XPONENTIAL conference. This educational program strives to unite those in the uncrewed and autonomous systems industries for conversations on topics including global drone regulations, advanced air mobility regulations and policies, artificial intelligence (AI) and space technology.

Mr. Sennott's panel will explore how drones have changed the face of warfare and what threats autonomous systems can pose, from hacking, spoofing and jamming to drone swarms and other physical incursions. Speakers will also talk about technology that can help protect operations and domestic assets.

Mr. Roberson's session will focus on advanced air mobility (AAM), in particular the status of global regulations and policies surrounding it. In the U.S., the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has signed the powered lift Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) to facilitate the certification of powered-lift pilots and integrate powered-lift into the National Airspace System (NAS). The discussion will cover what to expect from a technological and regulatory standpoint as a result of this development.

Mr. Allen's presentation will examine legal challenges arising from autonomous vessels at sea. Requirements such as the duty to provide search and rescue become complicated when a ship is fully autonomous. In this session, panelists will analyze the intersection of the law of the sea and introduction of autonomy into the maritime industry, and how this may be driving potential changes in the legal sea lanes applicable to maritime vehicles.

Session Times and Topics

Future-Proofing for Over the Horizon Operational Challenges: Lessons Learned from Warfare
May 19, 2025 | 10:20 – 11:20 a.m.
Speaker: Daniel Sennott

AAM, Are We There Yet? Updates on Tech & Regs
May 19, 2025 | 12:50 – 1:50 p.m.
Speaker: Joel Roberson

Legal Issues for Autonomy in the Maritime Environment
May 19, 2025 | 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Speaker: Benjamin Allen