Nathan M. Wheat
Partner
3550 Buschwood Park Drive; Suite #130
Tampa, Florida 33618
Telephone (813) 222-1800
Fax (813) 222-1801
nwheat@mmhlaw.com
NATHAN M. WHEAT is an experienced trial lawyer who has handled complex aviation cases in both state and federal courts. He attended the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, where he received a Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude in 1996, and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. Mr. Wheat received his J.D. from Vanderbilt University School of Law in 1999. At Vanderbilt, he was a member of the Moot Court Board, Charles Jessup International Law Moot Court Team, and Dean’s List, and received the International Law Moot Court award for best brief in the regional competition. He is a member of the Florida and Georgia Bars and is admitted to practice in all Florida and Georgia state courts, all United States District Courts in Georgia, the United States District Courts for the Middle and Southern Districts of Florida, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.
Mr. Wheat has a wide-ranging practice at MMH with an emphasis on aviation litigation, including defense of pilots, aircraft owners, repair stations, aircraft manufacturers, ground handling servicers, and fixed base operators. His experience includes representing clients in defending against claims pertaining to the crashes of Lion Air Flight 610 in Jakarta, Indonesia, Atlas Air Flight 3591 in Houston, Texas, and Dana Air Flight 992 in Lagos, Nigeria. He also has a transactional aviation practice advising clients on aircraft purchases and leases and FAA regulatory compliance. He has assisted numerous pilots and air carriers in responding to FAA letters of investigation and defending against FAA enforcement actions.
Before joining MMH, Mr. Wheat practiced law in Atlanta, Georgia for over ten years with extensive experience in civil litigation with trial and appellate practice in a wide range of subjects, including aviation litigation, general commercial litigation, personal injury, products liability, and employment. He continues to represent many non-aviation clients in litigation and in transactional matters in both Florida and Georgia.
Mr. Wheat has presented at several aviation law conferences including the SMU Air Law Symposium, the ACI Aviation Claims & Litigation Conference, and the Florida Aviation Trades Association on topics such as the doctrine of the application of the doctrine of forum non conveniens in international aviation accidents, aeromedical issues arising after the Germanwings disaster, fixed base operator liability, and Florida’s economic loss rule. Mr. Wheat is an active private pilot with endorsements for high-performance and complex aircraft, and is a member of the Aviation Law Section of the State Bar of Georgia.
Bar and Court Admissions
Florida Bar
Georgia Bar, Aviation Law Section
U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Middle Districts of Georgia
U.S. District Court for the Southern and Middle Districts of Florida
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
Education
Vanderbilt University Law School, J.D.
Syracuse University, B.A.