HOUSTON, December 12, 2022 – Winstead PC, a leading business law firm, today announced that Ted Davidson has joined the Winstead Airlines Team as Of Counsel based in the firm’s Houston office.
“Ted knows the airline industry having worked for over twenty-five years in a number of senior business and legal leadership roles for United Airlines,” said Ehren Hartz, Shareholder and Chair of the Winstead Airlines Team.
Most recently, Mr. Davidson worked as the Vice President of Procurement for United. In that role, he led a team of over one hundred co-workers responsible for worldwide sourcing, vendor selection and negotiating contracts supporting billions of annual spend for aircraft, aircraft parts and maintenance, airport and aircraft services, fuel, information technology, professional labor services, corporate services, crew and corporate travel, onboard food services and amenities.
Prior to assuming a business leadership role at United, Mr. Davidson served as the company’s Vice President and Deputy General Counsel. In that role, he led a team of more than 20 lawyers and staff with responsibility for all of the company’s commercial transactions, including corporate real estate and aircraft/fleet, corporate finance, aircraft leases and financings, procurement, and United’s loyalty program, MileagePlus.
“Having worked on a wide range of issues and transactions across all facets of the airline industry, Ted is well known for providing practical advice while looking for creative win-win solutions that serve as the basis for longstanding partnerships. The Winstead Airlines Team prides itself on its industry knowledge and experience, and Ted’s addition further bolsters our expertise,” added Mr. Hartz.
Mr. Davidson is the fourth former airline employee to join the Winstead Airlines Team and the first who previously worked at United Airlines. The other three are all former American Airlines’ employees and include: Le Lam, former Vice President and Deputy General Counsel; Fred Swanevelt, former Senior Manager, Fleet Transactions; and Draylan Gant, former Senior Specialist, Air Operations Safety.
Mr. Davidson graduated from Vanderbilt University with a B.S. and earned his J.D. from the University of Tennessee College of Law.
About Winstead
Winstead is a business law firm with more than 300 attorneys who serve as trusted advisors to emerging, mid-market and large companies, both public and private. The Winstead team provides a range of core legal services that are critical to our clients achieving their business goals. Winstead’s business transactions and litigation practices serve key industries including airlines, financial services, higher education, healthcare, investment management & private funds, life sciences, real estate, and sports business & media.