Our Team
Franceska Schroeder
Franceska Schroeder is the Managing Member of Schroeder Law PLLC, a Washington, D.C. firm that focuses on space and national security law. Clients turn to Ms. Schroeder for help with complex issues involving licensing and regulation of spacecraft and launch projects, compliance with U.S. export controls and economic sanctions, drafting and negotiating commercial and government contracts, liability and risk management, and legislative and policy matters.
Ms. Schroeder’s clients include aerospace and defense contractors, satellite manufacturers and operators, launch services providers, systems engineering firms, software companies, insurance brokers and underwriters, and investors in high-technology projects. She is Legal Counsel to the American Astronautical Society and has served as a Private Sector Advisor to the U.S. Delegation to the Legal Subcommittee of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. In 2012, Ms. Schroeder was appointed to the NASA Advisory Council’s Commercial Space Committee and in 2014 was elected a Fellow of the American Astronautical Society. Ms. Schroeder also is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Nebraska School of Law, where she co-teaches a course on Space and Satellite Business Law.
Education
J.D., American University, Washington College of Law
Executive Editor, American University Journal of International Law and Policy
B.A., Tufts University, magna cum laude
Bar Admissions
District of Columbia
Memberships & Affiliations
American Astronautical Society
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
District of Columbia Bar Association
International Academy of Astronautics
National Defense Industrial Association
International Aviation Women's Association
International Institute of Space Law
Women in Aerospace
Women in Defense
Accolades
• Elected Fellow of the American Astronautical Society, March 2014
• Served on the NASA Advisory Council Commercial Space Committee, 2012-2014
• Selected “IP Star” by Managing Intellectual Property, 2013-2018
• Named to the Capital Pro Bono High Honor Roll, June 2012
• Elected Corresponding Member of the International Academy of Astronautics, August 2003
Lauren Baydalek
Lauren Bydalek is an Attorney with Schroeder Law PLLC where she assists with matters in the commercial space and national security fields, including regulatory compliance, risk management, export controls, contract drafting, administrative law, and more.
In addition to working for Schroeder Law PLLC, Lauren also serves as the Associate Director for Nebraska's Space, Cyber, and National Security Law Program, where she runs the day-to-day operations of the program. As a third-year law student she served as an intern at the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals with Judge Grasz, where she had the opportunity to help author a published opinion.
Ms. Bydalek earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Nebraska, where she was active in the Space, Cyber, and Telecommunications Law Program and Club. She was a contributing expert to the Community of Interest on Vulnerabilities and Resilience within the European Centre of Excellence on Countering Hybrid Threats, where she also co-authored internal working papers on space issues. She also competed twice with the Nebraska Manfred Lachs Moot Court Team, achieving a quarter-final finish. She now coaches the Nebraska team in her capacity as Associate Director of the program.
Education
J.D., University of Nebraska College of Law
B.M., Music Composition - University of Nebraska
Bar Admissions
Nebraska
Memberships and Affiliations
• Nebraska State Bar Association
• ABA Forum on Air and Space Law
Accolades
• Contributing Research, European Centre of Excellence on Countering Hybrid Threats, 2021
• Dean's Honors Scholarship, 2019-2022
• University of Nebraska Honors Program, 2014-2018
• Regent's Scholarship, 2014-2018
• Dean's List, 2014-2018
Clark Thomas
Clark Thomas is an Associate with Schroeder Law PLLC where he assists clients in the commercial space and national security fields with matters regarding regulatory compliance, risk management, insurance, export controls, contract drafting, administrative law and more.
Prior to joining Schroder Law PLLC, Mr. Thomas interned with Garmin International’s intellectual property team where he advised on product patentability and drafted documents for copyright enforcement. As a third-year law student he served as the Secretary of the International Committee for the National Space Society tasked with advocating space policy development before governing bodies including the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Use of Outer Space and the U.S. Space Council.
Mr. Thomas earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi where he completed a concentration in Air and Space Law while serving as Managing Editor of the Journal of Space Law. His inspiration to facilitate the sustainable development of space comes by way of his studies in Geology at the University of Missouri where he was a nationally ranked springboard and platform diver and team captain of the university’s NCAA Swimming and Diving team.
Education
J.D., University of Mississippi School of Law – Center for Air and Space Law
B.S., Geological Science, University of Missouri
Bar Admissions
Missouri
Memberships and Accolades
• Stephen A. Gorove Excellence in Space Law Award, 2022
• National Space Society – Secretary, 2022-2023
• Journal of Space Law – Staff/Managing Editor, 2019-2023
• NCAA All-American/All-SEC Team, 2015, 2016
• SEC Academic Honor Roll, 2012-2016