Jap W. Blankenship, Of Counsel

Jap Blankenship was one of the founders of the firm. Prior to becoming of counsel, he was a partner and shareholder who served the firm in various capacities through the years, including those of managing partner and president.

For more than 30 years, Jap’s practice has been primarily focused on representing national and international clients in structuring and closing transactions involving the sale, registration, leasing, financing and operation of large commercial and business aircraft. He also provides services and advice with respect to various related matters and issues which may arise in recording documents with the FAA Aircraft Registry located in Oklahoma City and, more recently, in registering interests with the International Registry created in 2006 pursuant to an international treaty (which relates to the international perfection and enforcement of rights in aircraft and engines). He regularly provides counsel to clients from various sectors of the aviation industry on such matters.

Jap’s other major practice area is commercial real estate. He has had extensive experience representing developers and investors, financial institutions, and others in the acquisition, financing, development and leasing of real estate. Jap has handled numerous transactions involving shopping centers, hotels, office buildings, multi-family apartment complexes, warehouses, student housing projects, and a windfarm project. He has also represented both landlords and tenants in the negotiation and preparation of leases covering a variety of properties.

Practices

• Administrative and Regulatory Practice
• Aviation
• Commercial Real Estate

Education

• University of Oklahoma College of Law ( LL.B., 1963) Editor, Oklahoma Law Review
  President, Senior Class
• University of Oklahoma (B.A., 1957) Omicron Delta Kappa

Bar Admissions

• Oklahoma, 1963
• U.S. District Courts for the Western and Northern Districts of Oklahoma
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit

Representative Matters & Clients

With respect to his aviation practice, Jap has had extensive experience in representing major corporations and other entities (including Fortune 100 companies) in the negotiation and preparation of agreements relating to the purchase, sale, leasing and financing of large jet aircraft, both new and used. In such transactions, Jap has very often been the sole or lead outside counsel for the client and has been primarily responsible for the preparation and consummation of all required documentation. As the Oklahoma City office of the firm is located near to the FAA Aeronautical Center, Jap is often called upon to act as special FAA counsel regarding various aspects of transactions, including:

• Assisting clients in analyzing the proposed ownership and registration structures of transactions for compliance with U.S. citizenship and registration requirements (including the use of owner trusts and other arrangements to satisfy the same).
• Drafting and reviewing documents to be filed with the FAA Registry for compliance with the Federal Transportation Code and regulatory requirements of the FAA.
• Obtaining opinions of the FAA Aeronautical Center Counsel on various matters, including the affect of a specific lease on aircraft registration, the recordability of documents, and the acceptability of trust structures and limited liability companies with respect to aircraft registrations.
• Providing services with respect to an aircraft’s importation (registration with the FAA after a prior registration in a foreign country) and an aircraft’s exportation (U.S. deregistration in anticipation of foreign country registration).
• Organizing and conducting the closing of transactions, including conference calls with the required parties, the supervision of filing of all escrowed documents with the FAA and, where appropriate, the registration of such documents with the International Registry.
• Providing legal opinions with respect to the recordability of documents filed with the FAA, the status of registration of the aircraft, and the status of encumbrances filed at the FAA and registered with the International Registry.

With respect to his real estate practice, for more than 25 years Jap has served, and continues to serve, as Oklahoma counsel to a major national financial institution in connection with a variety of loans collateralized by various kinds of commercial real estate; and also with respect to secured loan workouts, receivership actions, foreclosures, and deeds-in-lieu of foreclosure arrangements. Jap has also had extensive experience in working with major out-of-state law firms in serving as local counsel with respect to the Oklahoma aspects of multi-state transactions.

Professional Memberships

• American Bar Association
• Oklahoma Bar Association
• Oklahoma County Bar Association
• Fellow, American Bar Foundation
• Oklahoma Bar Foundation (President, 1994)

Community Leadership & Activities

• Legal Aid of Western Oklahoma (Board of Directors)
• Oklahoma Indian Legal Services (Board of Directors and Vice President)
• Red Earth, Inc. (Board of Directors and Executive Committee)
• The Men’s Dinner Club (Executive Committee)