MCAFEE & TAFT A PROFESSIONAL - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Professional Paralegal, Certified Legal Professional
Allison McGrew is a transactional lawyer whose practice is concentrated on the representation of clients in matters involving the buying, selling, leasing, financing and registration of aircraft, as well as other matters that fall under the purview of the Federal Transportation Code, Federal Aviation Administration Regulations, FAA Aircraft Registry, and Cape Town Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment and the Aircraft Protocol. Much of her work involves the documentation of aircraft transactions and aircraft title and registration matters, as well as negotiating and drafting contracts.
With the rise in popularity of the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs or "drones") for personal use and business or commercial purposes, Allison has expanded her practice in recent years to include the representation of owners of unmanned aircraft systems in registering those drones with the FAA Civil Aircraft Registry and lenders in perfecting security and leasehold interests in drones. She also advises clients on federal laws and regulations related to the operation of drones and was a researcher and contributor to the "Digital Signatures, Subordinations and Drones" chapter of the 2017 edition of the International Comparative Legal Guide to Aviation Law.
Allison's achievements have earned her inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch (administrative/regulatory law; transportation law).
Amanda Lira is a member of the firm's Aviation Group and is part of a paralegal team dedicated to ensuring that client interests in aircraft, engines and helicopters are registered and in compliance with the Cape Town Convention on Mobile Interests in Mobile Equipment and the Aircraft Protocol. Her responsibilities include assisting clients with establishing and maintaining accounts on the International Registry, reviewing documents for compliance with the Cape Town Treaty, organizing closings and establishing closing rooms, requesting and consenting to professional user authority, registering all forms of interest on the International Registry, and obtaining priority search certificates.
Prior to joining McAfee & Taft, Amanda worked as a paralegal for Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma and as a case investigator for one of the nation's largest staffing companies.
Amanda graduated cum laude with a bachelor's degree in history from the University of Oklahoma in 2021.
Job Titles:
- Shareholder, Practice Group Leader, Industry Group Leader
Job Titles:
- Paralegal
- Paralegal Support
Brandee Hudson provides administrative and paralegal support for McAfee & Taft's worldwide aircraft financing, title and registration practice and works directly with attorneys to protect clients' interests in aircraft, engines and helicopters. Her responsibilities include preparing aircraft and engine records for review, reviewing and compiling FAA records for outstanding title and lien issues, preparing aircraft closing instruments, and verifying the posting of recorded instruments by the FAA to the proper aircraft, engine and helicopter records.
Prior to joining McAfee & Taft in 2021, Brandee worked for one of the world's largest aircraft title and escrow companies for more than seven years. She began her career in the aviation industry as a compliance officer and wire coordinator and later transitioned to serve as an escrow agent assistant. Together, these roles provided her with skills and experience in a wide range of areas, including conducting anti-money laundering due diligence, handling incoming and outgoing wire transfers, creating escrow files for aircraft transactions, coordinating with the Federal Aviation Administration for proper registration of aircraft, ordering domestic and international title searches, and filing international interests on the International Registry.
Brandee earned her bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Central Oklahoma and her associate's degree in business from Oklahoma City Community College. She also earned training certificates from Professional Bank Services, Inc. for courses in Anti-Money Laundering and Bank Secrecy Act Compliance, Customer Due Diligence New BSA Regulation, and Banking Third Party Payment Processors.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Shareholder
Job Titles:
- Director of Records Management
Job Titles:
- Shareholder, Practice Group Leader
Job Titles:
- Shareholder, Practice Group Leader, Industry Group Leader
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Industry Group Leader
Debby Jones joined McAfee & Taft's Aviation Group in 2007 and provides paralegal support to the firm's worldwide aircraft financing, title and registration practice. In her current role, she works directly with attorneys who are involved in assisting local, national and international clients with their aircraft title and financing needs. Debby's responsibilities include preparing aircraft and engine records for review, reviewing and compiling FAA records for outstanding/resolved title and lien issues, corresponding with involved parties to resolve document issues, drafting documents for attorney review, preparing aircraft closing instruments for filing and recordation with the Federal Aviation Administration, and verifying recorded instruments have been posted by the FAA to the proper aircraft, engine and propeller records.
Debby brings more than 20 years of comprehensive experience in the mortgage industry to her position at the firm. Over the course of her career, she has served in a variety of roles, including mortgage underwriter and mortgage processor of residential loans. She also has extensive management experience having worked as an office manager for two Oklahoma City mortgage companies.
Job Titles:
- Industry Group Leader
- of Counsel
Job Titles:
- Shareholder, Practice Group Leader
Job Titles:
- Leader
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Shareholder
Henry Hoss is a trial lawyer who practices primarily in the areas of construction litigation and commercial litigation. He has extensive experience representing contractors, architects and owners in construction litigation, arbitration and mediation; manufacturers in products liability disputes; and buyers and sellers in commercial litigation involving the purchase and sale of aircraft. As a result of his construction litigation experience, Henry has also developed expertise in preparing and negotiating construction contracts.
Henry has been involved in several high-profile cases involving construction litigation and products liability. In the landmark case of Christian v. Gray, 2003 OK 10, 65 P.3d 591, he represented a defendant in an action where the Oklahoma Supreme Court adopted the Daubert standards for expert witnesses. The Daubert standards were subsequently used to exclude the plaintiffs' expert witness on causation leading to dismissal of the lawsuit and more than a dozen other lawsuits that had been filed against the defendant arising out of the same occurrence.
As part of his practice, Henry serves as leader of the firm's Subrogation Recovery Services litigation team of lawyers. He also serves on McAfee & Taft's board of directors.
His achievements have earned him inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America (commercial litigation, construction law, construction litigation; professional malpractice law-defendants) and Oklahoma Super Lawyers. Henry was selected by Best Lawyers as "Oklahoma City Construction Lawyer of the Year" for 2022 and "Oklahoma City Construction Litigation Lawyer of the Year" for 2018, honors given to a single lawyer in each legal specialty in each market.
Prior to entering law school, Henry obtained his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Oklahoma.
Job Titles:
- Shareholder, Practice Group Leader
Job Titles:
- Shareholder, Practice Group Leader, Industry Group Leader
Job Titles:
- Member of McAfee & Taft 's Aviation Group
Job Titles:
- Federal Aviation Administration Paralegal
- Member of the American Quarter Horse Association
- Paralegal
Janet is a member of the American Quarter Horse Association, the Palomino Horse Breeders of America and other related industry organizations. She has been a circuit champion and futurity winner of multiple AQHA and PHBA events, and in 2001 she was named the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Association State Champion.
Job Titles:
- Industry Group Leader
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Shareholder
Job Titles:
- in 2007 As a Paralegal
- Paralegal
Jeri Fatheree joined McAfee & Taft in 2007 as a paralegal for the firm's aviation practice group. Jeri works directly with McAfee & Taft's aviation attorneys as an International Registry specialist for the International Registry of Mobile Assets, which was established as part of the Cape Town Convention. Her current responsibilities include requesting and consenting to professional user authority, reviewing transactions, preparing documentation for registration, and registering all forms of Interests on the International Registry to ensure that client interests in aircraft, engines and helicopters are protected and in compliance. Additionally, Jeri obtains aircraft and engine records for review, and prepares title memoranda and post-registration correspondence in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.
Prior to working at McAfee & Taft, Jeri worked for two Oklahoma City country clubs. Her experience includes administrative and management positions in the areas of office management, finance and human resources. Jeri graduated from Portland Community College with an associate's degree in science in 1998 and later attended Portland State University where she studied geology. In her off time she enjoys traveling with her husband, Perry.
Job Titles:
- Paralegal
- Paralegal Support
Jessica Daugherty provides paralegal support for McAfee & Taft's worldwide aircraft financing, title and registration practice and works directly with attorneys to register aircraft with the FAA Aircraft Registry and to record/register interests against aircraft with the FAA Aircraft Registry and International Registry. Her responsibilities include preparing aircraft and engine records for review, reviewing and compiling FAA records for outstanding title and lien issues, preparing aircraft closing instruments, and verifying the posting of recorded instruments by the FAA to the proper aircraft, engine and helicopter records. She also prepares documents for filing with the FAA Aircraft Registry and assists with conducting closings and escrowing funds.
Jessica joined McAfee & Taft in 2015 and most recently worked as a legal secretary for attorneys engaged in a broad range of transactional practices, including tax, estate planning, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate and securities.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Shareholder
Job Titles:
- Chief Human Resources Officer
Job Titles:
- Industry Group Leader
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Shareholder
Job Titles:
- Industry Group Leader
- of Counsel
Judy Ames is a paralegal for the firm's worldwide aircraft financing, title and registration practice and a member of a team specifically dedicated ensuring that client interests in aircraft, engines and helicopters are protected and in compliance with the Cape Town Convention on Mobile Interests in Mobile Equipment and the Aircraft Protocol. Her responsibilities include obtaining priority search certificates, requesting and consenting to professional user authority, and registering all forms of interest on the International Registry.
Judy joined McAfee & Taft's Aviation Group in 2007 and has a varied and lengthy work background in the legal industry supporting attorneys whose practices included complex corporate litigation, trust and estate planning, oil and gas title work, and the representation of Oklahoma-based insurance companies.
Job Titles:
- Shareholder, Practice Group Leader
Job Titles:
- of Counsel, Practice Group Leader
Job Titles:
- Advanced Certified Paralegal
Linda Steinke has more than 27 years of experience working on complex and sophisticated aircraft transactions. She joined McAfee & Taft in 1993 along with a partner who was hired to expand the firm's aviation practice. Since that time she has served as senior paralegal for McAfee & Taft's worldwide aircraft financing, title and registration practice, working directly with the firm's aviation attorneys to ensure client interests in aircraft and engines are protected and in compliance with the Federal Aviation Administration regulations and procedures and the Cape Town Convention.
Her responsibilities include examining FAA records for outstanding title and lien issues, reviewing instrument drafts, corresponding with involved parties to resolve issues and assisting with closing transactions by preparing aircraft instruments for filing and recordation with the FAA. She has decades of experience in working with fractional aircraft companies and resolving fractional aircraft ownership, registration and lien issues.
Linda has had a well-rounded and interesting background with varied working experiences, including as clerk stenographer for the State of New Jersey, secretary to a private investigator, baker in a local deli/bakery (where she is credited with inventing the "chocolate sugar cookie"), and as owner/operator of an antique furniture refinishing business.
In 1988, she began working at an aircraft title company co-owned by one of her customers, then as a legal secretary at an Oklahoma City firm with a large aircraft practice, and finally as a paralegal with a small law firm before finding her way to McAfee & Taft.
Since joining McAfee & Taft in 1993, she has become known to the aviation group as well as hundreds of clients as the "go-to" paralegal for complex registration structures, challenging issues, and knowledge of the FAA's internal rules and guidelines.
Outside of the office, Linda likes traveling cross-country by car, camping, bicycling and photographing nature. At home, she stays busy gardening and using her photographs to create children's books.
Louis J. Price - Chief Legal Officer, Shareholder
Job Titles:
- General Counsel
- Shareholder
Job Titles:
- Shareholder, General Counsel, Practice Group Leader
Maria Gonzalez joined McAfee & Taft in 2006 and focuses her practice on aviation matters, including the documentation of aircraft transactions and aircraft title and registration matters. Her practice involves the review of Federal Aviation Administration records for aircraft, engines and propellers and advising clients regarding title issues as well as liens and encumbrances of record at the FAA. She also reviews security agreements, leases, bills of sale and other documents to ensure compliance with FAA regulations and procedures and advises clients on matters arising under the Cape Town Convention with regard to the filings of interests and prospective interests in aircraft with the International Registry.
Maria is the co-author of the chapter "The Cape Town Convention: Key Issues for the Practitioner" featured in the International Comparative Legal Guide to Aviation Law 2013, published by the Global Legal Group.
Maria's achievements have earned her inclusion in Oklahoma Super Lawyers' list of "Oklahoma Rising Stars," which recognizes the state's top up-and-coming attorneys.
Maria is fluent in Spanish and proficient in both French and Italian.
Job Titles:
- Shareholder, Practice Group Leader
Job Titles:
- Shareholder, Practice Group Leader
Melissa Trent serves as a paralegal for McAfee & Taft's worldwide aircraft financing, title and registration practice. Her responsibilities include preparing aircraft and engine records for review, reviewing and compiling FAA records for outstanding/unresolved title and lien issues, corresponding with involved parties to resolve document issues, drafting documents for attorney review, preparing aircraft closing instruments for filing and recordation with the Federal Aviation Administration, and verifying recorded instruments have been posted by the FAA to the proper aircraft, engine and propeller records.
Prior to joining McAfee & Taft in 2013, Melissa worked as an administrative assistant, title examiner and escrow agent for an Oklahoma City-based aircraft title management and escrow service company. While there, she also developed an extensive working knowledge of the aircraft financing and registration industry.
Melissa attended Oklahoma City Community College and is an active member of Life Tabernacle in Mustang, OK.
Michael Joseph is a transactional lawyer widely regarded for his experience and expertise in representing clients in a broad range of corporate, healthcare, franchise, and business law matters.
His successful, aggressive representation of client interests has been recognized by clients and peers alike and has earned his inclusion in Chambers USA Guide to America's Leading Lawyers for Business, The Best Lawyers in America (antitrust law; biotechnology and life sciences practice; business organizations; corporate compliance law; corporate governance law; corporate law; franchise law; health care law; non-profit/charities law; project finance law), and Oklahoma Super Lawyers. He was selected by Best Lawyers as the "Oklahoma City Corporate Compliance Lawyer of the Year" for 2012 and 2014, "Oklahoma City Corporate Governance Lawyer of the Year" for 2013, and "Oklahoma City Health Care Lawyer of the Year" for 2019, honors given only to a single lawyer in each legal specialty in each community.
Mike was recognized for his professional and civic contributions to the state of Oklahoma by being named to The Journal Record's inaugural list of Leadership in Law honorees in 2006 and again in 2014. He has been additionally been honored with Leadership Oklahoma City's Distinguished Leadership Award, the Oklahoma Arts Council's Governor's Arts Award, and the United Way of Central Oklahoma's John Rex Community Builder Award.
As a business lawyer, Mike represents privately owned businesses in business transactions and strategic and business planning. He also represents numerous industry leaders, as well as emerging companies and tax-exempt organizations, in a variety of business transactions. In addition to transactional work, Mike regularly advises senior management and boards of directors on organizational and operational matters.
Mike has previously served as the leader of the firm's Healthcare Industry Group, and his business practice includes decades of experience representing and advising healthcare industry clients in business transactions. He represents physicians and physician groups, including multi-specialty and single-specialty group practices in both private and academic settings. Also, he represents hospitals, including major tertiary referral centers, nonprofit hospitals, investor-owned hospitals, physician-owned specialty hospitals, religious-sponsored hospitals, academic medical centers, children's hospitals, rural community hospitals, critical access hospitals, and government hospitals. Other clients include other types of healthcare facilities, health-related institutions and foundations, trade associations, educational institutions, and healthcare organizations.
Mike regularly represents businesses using franchising, licensing, and direct selling arrangements for the distribution of goods and services. He has a broad range of experience in representing franchisors in transactional and regulatory matters, including acquisitions and divestitures, contracting, development of franchise agreements and franchise systems, franchise registration, operational advice, business planning, antitrust, and dispute resolution. He has represented franchise clients in a number of industries, including retail photography, food distribution, restaurant, healthcare, business services, building products, home accessories and other products and services.
He has worked with numerous nonprofit organizations, including public charities, private foundations, supporting organizations, chambers of commerce, social welfare organizations, and other tax-exempt organizations. Leading organizations in the nonprofit sector frequently turn to Mike for guidance and assistance in legal matters, including those involving tax compliance, board governance, board and management responsibilities, fundraising and donor solicitation, planned giving, political advocacy, executive compensation, grants and grant-making, and a full spectrum of issues and challenges that the nonprofit sector faces. Additionally, Mike has also provided pro bono legal representation to numerous Oklahoma charitable and civic organizations.
A leader in the community, Mike serves on numerous community, civic and philanthropic boards, advisory boards, selection committees, and task forces. He is a frequent speaker and organizer of educational conferences and institutes sponsored by the Oklahoma Bar Association, Oklahoma Hospital Association, and several state and national organizations, covering a variety of topics, and he has served as an adjunct faculty member and professor for the graduate-level course on "Nonprofit Organizations Law" at Oklahoma City University.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director
- Shareholder
Job Titles:
- Shareholder, Practice Group Leader
Job Titles:
- Shareholder, Practice Group Leader, Industry Group Leader
Job Titles:
- Associate
- of Counsel
- Shareholder
Nate Arrington Michael K. Avery Brian C. Beatty Sasha L. Beling Jeremy M. Black Logan P. Blackmore T. Michael Blake Timothy J. Bomhoff Elizabeth Bowersox Simon W. Bright JohnDavid Brown Matthew K. Brown Philip R. Bruce Brandon L. Buchanan Vickie J. Buchanan Jeremiah L. Buettner Steven W. Bugg Joel A. Bulleigh Brian A. Burget Colby J. Byrd Jennifer H. Callahan Kaitlyn Schrick Chaney Allison B. Christian John R. Chubbuck Jodi C. Cole Steven P. Cole W. Chris Coleman Melissa J. Cottle Todd Court Richard D. Craig Ryan N. Cross C. Bruce Crum Evan J. Crumpley Robert W. Dace Elizabeth L. Dalton J. Cooper Davis Wagner R. Dias da Silva Kate N. Dodoo Bradley K. Donnell Clifford C. Dougherty, III Alex Duncan Gregg B. Eichner Roberta B. Fields S. Gregory Frogge Robert L. Garbrecht Bonner J. Gonzalez Maria E. Gonzalez Paige Hoster Good Thomas P. Goresen Jr. Danae V. Grace Thomas W. Griffin, III William D. Hall J. Derek Hardberger Lloyd T. Hardin, Jr. Allison Meinders Harvey Matthew B. Hickey Frank D. Hill Alan G. Holloway Henry D. Hoss Christian S. Huckaby Sean S. Hunt Justin Jackson Richard D. Johnson Michael E. Joseph Courtney D. Keeling John A. Kenney Katelyn M. King Michael J. LaBrie Todd G. Lamb Myrna Schack Latham Michael F. Lauderdale Joe C. Lewallen, Jr. Brandon P. Long Laura J. Long Robert T. Luttrell, III H. Cole Marshall Tony Mastin Haley J. Maynard Michael D. McClintock Scott D. McCreary Allison C. McGrew Cole McLanahan Elke C. Meeùs Isai Molina Jennie M. Mook T. Lake Moore V Andrew J. Morris M. Richard Mullins Drew Neville Richard D. Nix Jenny M. Odom Zachary A.P. Oubre John A. Papahronis Karlen C. Parsamian Terra Lord Parten Ross Plourde Louis J. Price Jennifer B. Puckett Tony G. Puckett Anthony L. Rahhal Natalie K. Ramsey Dee A. Replogle, Jr. Richard A. Riggs Patricia A. Rogers Paul A. Ross Christopher M. Scaperlanda John N. Schaefer Susan B. Shields Ronald T. Shinn Jr. Kristin M. Simpsen Joshua D. Smith Spencer F. Smith Joshua M. Snavely Joshua W. Solberg Mark D. Spencer Gatlin C. Squires Joel D. Stafford Patrick L. Stein N. Martin Stringer Curtis J. Thomas Jeff L. Todd Erin M. Van Laanen Jeffrey L. Vogt Chase C. Webb Drew D. Webb Nathan L. Whatley Emma L. Wilson Elizabeth Scott Wood J. Todd Woolery Emily Z. Xiao
Job Titles:
- Shareholder, Practice Group Leader
Job Titles:
- Shareholder, Practice Group Leader
Job Titles:
- Chief Information Officer
Job Titles:
- Shareholder, Practice Group Leader
Job Titles:
- Director of Marketing and Business Development
- Media Inquiries
Job Titles:
- Industry Group Leader
- Shareholder
Job Titles:
- Shareholder, Practice Group Leader
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Shareholder
Job Titles:
- Litigation Support Specialist
- Paralegal
Job Titles:
- Shareholder, Practice Group Leader
Job Titles:
- Shareholder, Practice Group Leader, Industry Group Leader
Job Titles:
- Industry Group Leader
- Shareholder
Job Titles:
- Shareholder, Practice Group Leader
Job Titles:
- Industry Group Leader
- Shareholder