Lisa Ellman of Hogan Lovells led companies through an uncharted regulatory landscape for commercial drones to secure groundbreaking federal approvals to allow these emerging technologies to scale their operations for the first time, landing her a spot as one of Law360's 2023 Transportation MVPs.

Why she's a transportation attorney:

A history major who worked on Capitol Hill, Ellman set her sights on policymaking. She graduated with a dual degree in law and public policy from the University of Chicago Law School and the Harris School of Public Policy, where she was a student and mentee of Barack Obama when he was in the Illinois Senate.

She later served in President Obama's administration, shepherding the government's efforts to integrate drones into the national airspace after Congress approved the Federal Aviation Administration Modernization and Reform Act in 2012.

The experience was "inspiring," she said, because her team focused on "emerging technologies, policymaking and how the federal government can work hand in hand with innovators and entrepreneurs to move new industries forward, for the benefit of the American people."

Ellman right away knew that drones — also known as uncrewed aircraft systems — were on the verge of becoming an "exciting new industry" with applications beyond just the military.

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