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Practice

Transportation

Our multimodal Transportation practice works with the world’s leading transportation companies to solve the industry’s most complex regulatory and business issues, across all modes, around the globe.  Our team combines top-tier aviation and surface transportation practices with extensive transportation experience in each of the world’s major markets.

We are at the forefront of regulatory and emerging technology issues and represent companies from all transportation modes—including automotive, aviation, drones, trucking, rail, and maritime shipping—before all the relevant federal regulatory agencies, with an emphasis on:

  • Safety, environmental, and other regulation of transportation industry manufacturers, including:
    • Federal vehicle and motor carrier safety requirements and investigations by the National Highway Transportation Agency (NHTSA) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)
    • Environmental regulation of vehicles and engines by U.S. and California authorities (EPA and the California Air Resources Board CARB)
    • Safety regulation of rail car manufacturers by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)
    • Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Department of Transportation (DOT) regulation of manned aircraft and drone manufacturers
    • Autonomous vehicle regulation by federal and state authorities

  • Regulation related to transportation infrastructure projects (e.g., environmental and historic preservation reviews and approvals by U.S. transportation authorities including DOT, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), FAA, and PHMSA; transportation agency participation in public-private partnership (P3) projects; federal grants; FAA noise and environmental requirements; Maritime Administration (MARAD)/Coast Guard (USCG) licensing of port projects, etc.).

  • Economic and safety regulation of transportation operators and facilities including: accident investigations by the FAA, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), FRA, and NHTSA; Surface Transportation Board (STB) economic regulation of rail operations; FRA and PHMSA regulation of rail car owners and shippers; FAA regulation of airlines and airports, and commercial drone operators.

Representative experience

Advising companies on cutting-edge issues related to autonomous driving, including state and federal regulatory developments, incident investigations, and treatment of emerging technologies.

Representing several auto manufacturers involved in the Takata airbag safety crisis, filing required reports, providing regulatory counsel, consulting with NHTSA officials, and negotiating recall parameters.

Assisted CNN to secure the first-ever FAA waiver to legally fly UAS (drones) in the U.S. for news gathering and reporting activities over people.

Advising a leading automotive manufacturer regarding exports of automobiles to Cuba and establishing operations on the island.

Advised Aeromexico in connection with negotiations of a joint-venture alliance agreement with Delta Air Lines, and obtaining approval and the grant of antitrust immunity for the joint venture.

Representing the Association of American Railroads in efforts to deploy Positive Train Control.

Coordinating defense of a car shipping sector player in an international cartel investigation involving the EU, U.S., Japan, Canada, and other jurisdictions.

Spearheaded Carnival Cruise’s Cuba ecotourism initiative and obtained ground-breaking licenses from OFAC and BIS for operating vessels in Cuba.

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