Space is no longer the exclusive domain of governments and defense primes. It is a rapidly commercializing industry generating value across agriculture, logistics, telecommunications, finance, insurance, health care, and national security. Falling launch costs, miniaturized satellite technology, and surging private investment have lowered barriers to entry, enabling hundreds of new companies to deploy satellites, deliver global connectivity, generate data-driven insights, and pursue emerging frontiers such as in-space manufacturing and resource utilization.
At the same time, the legal and regulatory environment governing space activities has become increasingly complex. Domestic statutes, international treaties, and overlapping agency oversight regimes have struggled to keep pace with the speed of commercial innovation. Companies operating in this environment need counsel that understands both the legal architecture – ranging from the Outer Space Treaty and Commercial Space Launch Act to International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), the Communications Act, and the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) – and the policy dynamics shaping how that framework continues to evolve.
Baker Donelson's Space and Satellites Team provides that counsel. We bring together attorneys and policy professionals with deep experience in intellectual property (IP), government contracts, regulatory compliance, international trade, investment, and telecommunications, integrated with the government affairs capabilities of DB3, our public policy affiliate. Whether a client is launching its first satellite, pursuing government contracts, raising capital, managing regulatory risk, or defending against enforcement scrutiny, our team delivers coordinated legal and policy support tailored to the realities of the modern space economy.
Areas of Service
Intellectual Property and Technology
Innovation is the core asset of space and satellite companies. We advise clients on protecting and commercializing technologies including satellite platforms, launch systems, propulsion technologies, software, and ground infrastructure. Our work includes patent strategy and prosecution, trade secret protection, licensing and joint development agreements, and IP diligence for mergers, acquisitions, and investment transactions.
Government Contracts
The federal government remains both a major customer and a key regulator of space-sector activity. Our Government Contracts Practice advises companies on proposal development, teaming arrangements, contract negotiation, compliance, security clearance issues, and dispute resolution. We advise on NASA agreements and other transaction authority vehicles increasingly used to support commercial space partnerships. When disputes arise, we represent clients before boards of contract appeals and the Court of Federal Claims.
Government Enforcement, Export Controls, and National Security
As regulatory scrutiny increases, space companies face heightened enforcement risk. We defend clients in False Claims Act matters, inspector general investigations, suspension and debarment proceedings, and regulatory audits. Members of our International Trade and National Security Practice also advise on ITAR and U.S. Export Administration Regulations (EAR) compliance, export licensing, voluntary disclosures, and enforcement matters, as well as CFIUS reviews – an increasingly critical issue given the sector's sensitivity and international investment flows.
Corporate, Investment, and Emerging Companies
We advise space and satellite companies throughout their corporate lifecycle, from early-stage formation through growth, financing, and exit. Our work includes venture capital and private equity financing, Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC) transactions, joint ventures, strategic partnerships, and mergers and acquisitions. For startups, we provide practical, cost-conscious counsel on regulatory entry strategy, governance, contracting, and investor readiness.
Government Affairs and Public Policy
In collaboration with DB3, our team offers integrated government affairs capabilities focused on the issues reshaping the space industry – from launch licensing reform and spectrum allocation to cybersecurity requirements and commercial space resource regulation. Our advisors help clients engage proactively with Congress, federal agencies, and regulators, develop advocacy strategies, pursue public funding opportunities, and navigate the increasingly contested policy environment surrounding commercial space activity.
Commercial Space Launch, Licensing, and Regulatory Compliance
We guide clients through the multi-agency regulatory framework governing launch, remote sensing, and satellite operations, such as Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) commercial launch licensing, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) remote sensing approvals, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) satellite and spectrum licensing, International Telecommunication Union (ITU) coordination, orbital debris mitigation planning, and ongoing compliance programs. We help clients navigate complex interagency reviews and anticipate regulatory developments affecting emerging architectures such as non-terrestrial networks and direct-to-device services.
A Unified Approach
The challenges facing space-sector clients rarely fit neatly into a single legal category. Regulatory, contractual, national security, and investment issues often arise simultaneously. Baker Donelson's Space and Satellites Team is structured to address these issues holistically, delivering coordinated legal and policy advice for clients navigating one of the most dynamic and strategically important industries in the global economy.