Hunton & Williams LLP has opened a unit to help clients navigate the complexities of the developing regulatory framework for using drones in civilian airspace.

The New York-headquartered law firm said its multi-disciplinary Unmanned Aircraft Systems integration Unit is part of its larger Unmanned Systems Group and is composed of business, litigation and regulatory professionals who will monitor and participate in the developments of regulatory programs for UAS and other unmanned systems.

Included in its brief will be issues related to regulations and the rulemaking process of the Federal Aviation Administration, the National Transportation Safety Board, and other agencies.

"The firm's UAS Integration Unit is being launched in light of emerging regulatory environment regarding UAS and the broad scope of potential commercial uses for our clients," the company said. "Our UAS Integration Unit's current initiatives include collaborating with clients to develop internal working groups to include representatives from legal, new technologies, risk management, privacy and security and aviation departments; and participation in joint efforts of industry, trade groups and government to clarify rules regarding the operation of UAS and related systems."

Hunton & Williams LLP has 800 lawyers serving clients from 19 offices around the world.