When I first contacted Lee Seham, I was terrified that my aviation career was over. Another attorney had mentioned AIR21 but after an unsuccessful experience with that attorney, I knew I needed someone who truly understood both aviation and AIR21.
I learned about Lee from Karlene Petitt. In her book, she talks about how, if you keep your eyes open, the right people will come into your life when you need them. That really stuck with me, because looking back, I genuinely feel like that is exactly what happened here.
From the very beginning, Lee made me feel like my case mattered. Even though I know he has many clients and an incredibly busy practice, he always made me feel like I was a priority. He understood not only the legal side of what I was facing, but also how the aviation industry works and how stressful these situations can become for pilots professionally and personally.
What surprised me was how available he was. There were times I received emails early in the morning or over a weekend when I fully expected I would not hear anything until Monday. I never felt like I was waiting in line behind a hundred other clients, and during a very stressful time that meant more than I can adequately express.
Equally impressive was his ability to stay calm during moments when I absolutely was not. Somehow, even during stressful moments, he still managed to inject humor into the process and keep me grounded. He never made promises he could not guarantee, but I always felt like he was several steps ahead and fully in control of the strategy.
I used to jokingly call him my “star attorney,” but honestly there was truth behind the joke. He gave strong advice and direction while still making it clear that the final decisions were mine. “You’re the boss here” became one of his favorite sayings throughout the process.
More than anything, I appreciated that I never felt like just another file on someone’s desk. I genuinely felt like Lee cared about protecting my future and helping me move forward with my career and life. I know he invested far more time and effort into my situation than many attorneys would have, and I will always be grateful for that.
By the end of everything, I honestly felt like I had gained not just an attorney, but also a friend. He may even end up getting a Christmas card.
If you are an aviation professional dealing with an AIR21 or other career-threatening employment issue, I cannot recommend Lee Seham highly enough.
Captain F
