Meet the team

The Legal Minds Behind Stellar Draft

Our team brings together contract drafting precision, aerospace regulatory fluency, and a calm hand when the stakes are high. Space law doesn’t reward guesswork, does it? It rewards people who can read a launch agreement, spot a patent risk, and still explain the path forward in plain English.

We keep learning as the field shifts. From emerging orbital traffic rules to intellectual property questions around satellite hardware, our attorneys stay close to the frameworks that shape astronomical ventures. That ongoing education isn’t a slogan. It’s the job.

Three attorneys reviewing launch documents in a modern conference room with a city skyline behind them
Contract review with technical depth
Built for aerospace timelines
Meet Our Attorneys

Experience that fits the mission

Why does that matter? Because the best outcome usually starts before the first draft. Our attorneys know how to shape documents, ask the awkward questions, and keep a venture moving without losing legal precision.

Managing partner speaking with engineers beside a mission timeline board in a glass-walled office

Maya Sterling

Managing Partner

With a background in aerospace regulatory law, Maya leads client matters where launch sequencing, licensing, and risk allocation need to align without drama. She’s the one who can read a dense regulatory filing and still tell you what actually changes for your deal.

Focus areas: launch licensing, FAA and FCC compliance, cross-border venture structuring, and crisis-ready contract strategy.
  • 17 years in regulated industries
  • Orbital operations advisory
  • Client education first

Leo Davenport

Senior Associate

Leo focuses on intellectual property and patent work for satellite technology, from hardware features to software-adjacent claims. If a component is novel, portable, or vulnerable to copycats, he’s already thinking three steps ahead. What protects the invention when the market starts moving?

  • Patent strategy
  • Trade secrets
  • Satellite systems
Senior associate working through patent diagrams at a desk with satellite concept sketches nearby
Contracts counsel marking clauses on a launch services agreement at a walnut desk with a tablet nearby

Ariana Chen

Contracts Counsel

Ariana’s day-to-day work revolves around launch agreements, supply chains, and the fine print that keeps a programme from drifting off course. She likes clean definitions, practical remedies, and language that holds up when schedules slip.

Rafi Mensah

Counsel, Compliance and Research

Rafi pairs legal research with consultation on astronomical ventures, making sure each recommendation reflects current standards, not stale assumptions. Need a fast answer on export controls or agency guidance? He’ll track it down with care.

Our approach

Practising space law with clarity

Complex rules don’t have to feel opaque. We believe a client should understand the risk, the option, and the reason behind every recommendation. That’s how trust gets built, and how better decisions get made.

Precision with a forward view

We draft for the deal in front of us, but we also read ahead. If a clause works only until the next mission milestone, it isn’t good enough.

Client education that sticks

Our attorneys explain licensing paths, IP posture, and compliance obligations in language that your leadership team can actually use. Why bury the answer when a clear one saves time?

Always current on the frontier

Space law changes fast, and so do the deals around it. We keep pace with emerging regulations, mission models, and commercial practices so your documentation doesn’t fall behind the market.

This website uses cookies to enhance your experience and analyze site traffic. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies as described in our Privacy Policy.