Jeff is senior counsel in the firm's Transportation practice group, where he handles both commercial and regulatory transportation issues, with a heavy focus upon transportation by rail and truck. Based upon interviews with clients and peers, Chambers USA has recognized him as one of the top leading lawyers nationwide who represent shippers in rail transportation matters.
Jeff represents major utility, petrochemical, mining, agricultural, metals, automotive and other industrial interests. He advises shipper clients and transportation intermediaries on transportation contract matters, service issues, loss and damage claims, hazardous materials liability, rail line purchase and construction, rail abandonments, rail car leases, and a host of related transportation issues. This includes litigation or arbitration, when necessary.
Selected by peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® for 10 years or longer.
Focus Areas
- “Surface Transportation Board Adopts New Reciprocal Switching Rules to Address Inadequate Rail Service,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, May 2024
- “STB Proposes to Improve Shipper Access to Reciprocal Switching to Address Inadequate Rail Service,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, September 2023
- “Congress Takes Action on Rail Safety Following East Palestine Derailment,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, March 2023
- “STB Denies Stay of Arbitration Program Opt-In Requirement; Permits Filing of New Petitions for Stay,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, February 2023
- “STB Adopts New Processes to Make Rail Rate Relief More Accessible to Shippers,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, January 2023
- “STB Proposes to Amend Its Emergency Service Regulations,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, May 2022
- “The STB Denies CN Voting Trust,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, September 2021
- “Executive Order Targets Rail, Ocean and Air Transportation Competition and Unreasonable Practices,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, July 2021
- “STB Adopts New Demurrage Billing Rules,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, April 2021
- “CP and KCS Submit Merger Prefiling Notification and Proposed Procedural Schedule,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, March 2021
- “Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern to Merge,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, March 2021
- “CSX Applies for STB Approval to Acquire Pan Am Systems,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, March 2021
- “STB Rulemaking Could Reduce Captive Rail Shipper Protections,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, January 2021
- “STB Institutes Rulemaking for Small Rate Dispute Voluntary Arbitration Program,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, December 2020
- “Railroads Seek Changes in Revenue Adequacy Determinations,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, September 2020
- “STB Issues Final Rule on Market Dominance Pleadings,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, August 2020
- “STB Authorizes Ex Parte Communications in Final Offer Rate Review Proceeding,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, May 2020
- “STB Issues Demurrage Policy and Direct-Billing Rule; Proposes Billing Requirement Modifications,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, May 2020
- “STB Addresses Application of Demurrage Regulation to Rail Transportation of Exempt Commodities and Boxcar Shipments,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, March 2020
- “STB Acts on Concerns Over Unreasonable Rail Demurrage and Accessorial Rules and Charges,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, October 2019
- “STB Proposes Rail Rate Review Reforms and Announces Revenue Adequacy Hearing,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, September 2019
- “STB Declines to Address Safe Harbor for Railroad Fuel Surcharges,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, September 2019
- “Appeals Court Affirms Denial of Fuel Surcharge Class Certification,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, August 2019
- “STB Issues Notice of Public Hearing for Demurrage and Accessorial Charges,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, April 2019
- “STB Announces Hearing on Railroad Demurrage and Accessorial Charges,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, March 2019
- “AAR Seeks Restrictions on STB Regulatory Authority,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, March 2019
- “Hazardous Materials Shippers May Benefit from Recent Regulatory Changes,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, November 2018
- “STB Stakeholder Meetings on Adequacy of Emergency Service Regulations,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, March 2018
- “STB Issues Final Rule on Expediting Rate Cases,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, December 2017
- “Court Denies Class Certification in Rail Freight Fuel Surcharge Antitrust Litigation,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, October 2017
- “STB Proposes Changes to Ex Parte Communication Rules,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, October 2017
- “Elliott to Depart STB, Leaving Just Two Members,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, September 2017
- “STB Reschedules Listening Session on CSXT Service,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, September 2017
- “STB Postpones CSX Service Hearing,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, September 2017
- “STB Public Listening Session on CSXT Service,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, August 2017
- “STB Proposes Rulemaking to Expedite Rate Review Process,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, April 2017
- “STB Issues Arbitration Procedure Final Rules,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, October 2016
- “STB Seeks Comments on New Rail Rate Case Methodology,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, September 2016
- “STB Seeks Comments on a Proposal to Facilitate Rail Competition Under New Reciprocal Switching Rules,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, July 2016
- “Class Certification Hearing Format Set in Fuel Surcharge Litigation,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, July 2016
- “STB Seeks Comments on Expediting Rate Cases,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, June 2016
- “STB Initiates Two Rulemaking Proceedings,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, May 2016
- “New Fuel Surcharge Litigation Class Certification Hearing Dates,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, April 2016
- “STB Seeks Comments on Proposed Rail Merger Structure,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, March 2016
- “FMCSA NPRM on Motor Carrier Safety Fitness Determinations,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, February 2016
- “STB Reauthorization Act of 2015,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, December 2015
- “Regulatory Developments – STB Moves Toward Relaxing Ex Parte Communication Ban; FMC Final Rule Modifies Ocean Transportation Intermediary Regulations,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, November 2015
- “Fuel Surcharge Class Certification Hearing Delayed,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, September 2015
- “TRB Report Recommends Significant Rail Regulatory Changes,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, June 2015
- “New Tank Car Standards & Rules for Crude Oil & Ethanol,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, May 1, 2015
- “DOT Addresses Safety of Crude Oil & Ethanol Trains,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, April 2015
- “Rail Transportation: Recent Developments,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, April 2015
- “STB Proposes Performance Reporting, Requests Coal Contingency Plans,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, January 2015
- “STB Retains $4 Million Relief Cap for Small Rate Cases,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, December 2014
- “Expert’s Potential Conflict Delays Fuel Surcharge Litigation,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, December 2014
- “DOT Proposes New Tank Car Standards, Classification Rules & Operational Controls for Crude Oil & Ethanol Transportation,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, July 2014
- “STB to Reconsider Rail Fuel Surcharge Safe Harbor,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, May 2014
- “Federal Court Dismisses Rail Indemnity Tariff Challenge,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, May 2014
- “STB Issues Demurrage Rules,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, April 2014
- “Surface Transportation Board to Examine Core Element of Rail Regulation,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, April 2014
- “Notice of Public Hearing – United States Rail Service Issues,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, April 2014
- “FRA Clarifies Jurisdiction Over Private Track Owners,” Thompson Hine Transportation Update, January 2014
- “Changing Role of Rail Rate Regulation,” Journal of Transportation Law, Logistics and Policy, Vol. 74, No. 3, October 2007
- “Rail Pricing Under Capacity Constraints,” Journal of Transportation Law, Logistics and Policy, Vol. 72, No. 3, October 2005
- “Model Truckload Agreement,” Association Highlights, Vol. 27, No. 6, September to October 2004
- “The Phasing Constraint: Relief to Whom and When?”, Journal of Transportation Law, Logistics and Policy; Vol. 71, No. 4, October 2004
- Co-author, “Transportation,” Fourth Edition of the Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology
- Co-author, “Preemption of Local Regulation of Radio Antennas,” Federal Communications Law Journal, Vol. 46, No. 3, June 1994
- AV® Preeminent Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
- Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2014 to 2025 for Railroad Law and Transportation Law
- Recommended in The Legal 500 in Transportation: Rail and Road-Litigation and Regulation, 2018, 2019, 2021 to 2024
- Selected for inclusion in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Transportation, Nationwide, 2009 to 2024
- Selected to the Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers list, 2011 to 2016
Professional Associations
- Association for Transportation Law Professionals, president 2002 to 2003; secretary, 1999 to 2001
Community Activities
- Eckerd College, National Advisory Council
- The Belvedere Condominium Unit Owners Association, board member
Education
- Georgetown University Law Center, J.D., 1991
- Eckerd College, B.A., 1988, with honors,
Economics
Bar Admissions
- Virginia
- District of Columbia
Court Admissions
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
- Surface Transportation Board Adopts New Reciprocal Switching Rules to Address Inadequate Rail Service,
Transportation Update
, May 2, 2024 - STB Proposes to Improve Shipper Access to Reciprocal Switching to Address Inadequate Rail Service,
Transportation Update
, September 18, 2023 - Congress Takes Action on Rail Safety Following East Palestine Derailment,
Transportation Update
, March 7, 2023 - STB Denies Stay of Arbitration Program Opt-In Requirement; Permits Filing of New Petitions for Stay,
Transportation Update
, February 3, 2023 - STB Adopts New Processes to Make Rail Rate Relief More Accessible to Shippers,
Transportation Update
, January 9, 2023 - STB Proposes to Amend Its Emergency Service Regulations,
Transportation Update
, May 3, 2022 - STB Hearings Include Reciprocal Switching; STB Proposes Small Rate Case Rules,
Transportation Update
, November 18, 2021 - The STB Denies CN Voting Trust,
Transportation Update
, September 1, 2021 - Executive Order Targets Rail, Ocean and Air Transportation Competition and Unreasonable Practices,
Transportation Update
, July 12, 2021 - STB Adopts New Demurrage Billing Rules,
Transportation Update
, April 9, 2021