In the turmoil of the last few months, it is good to have a few moments of glory to cheer about. Whilst here in the UK we seem to be a little short of positive news at the moment, you have to get inspiration where you can. A couple of events in the US recently have given Americans something to be hopeful about, maybe some of that will rub off; let’s hope so. The incredible landing of Flight 1549 on the Hudson River last week turned the pilot into a national hero and served as a tasty aperitif to the ianuguration of Obama as President in the home of the brave. A partner from top 100 US firm Venable, James Hanks, Jr. was on the flight and gave an intriguing account to the AM Law Daily .

" For James Hanks, Jr., it’s been an eventful week.

It started with a dip in the frigid Hudson River last Thursday. The 65-year-old Venable corporate partner was one of the 155 people on board US Airways Flight 1549. Hanks is now back in Baltimore juggling client matters, teaching assignments at Cornell and Northwestern , and an upcoming trans-Atlantic flight to Austria to visit his wife and daughter.

The Am Law Daily caught up with Hanks after he returned from a trip to Chicago for a chat about his practice, teaching, and adventures in aviation…

Jim, thanks for taking the time. I take it you were in New York last week on business?

Yes, I was attending a client’s stockholders meeting as well as on a panel for a PLI program . And after that I left for LaGuardia Airport to fly to Charlotte for more business.

When did you realize on that flight that things had gone horribly wrong?

About 90 seconds after takeoff there was this kind of small explosion or loud crack or snap–it seemed like a single sound–and then some smoke began to come into the aircraft.

I’d imagine that was a bit disconcerting.

Right. That caused me to turn on the air above my seat. [The smoke] dissipated but more worrisome was the fact that there was no sound at all, which I knew meant that the engines had shut down.

How long before you were in the drink?

Click to read the rest of the interview.