Steptoe Welcomes Surface Transportation Board and Association of American Railroads Insider: Timothy Strafford

(May 11, 2022, Washington, DC) — Steptoe & Johnson LLP is pleased to announce that Timothy Strafford has joined the firm’s Transportation Practice Group as a partner in Washington, DC. Strafford joins Steptoe from the Association of American Railroads (AAR), where he served for over a decade as Associate General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. Prior to joining the AAR he served as Chief of Staff to the Chairman of the Surface Transportation Board (STB).

At Steptoe, Strafford will advise clients on legislative issues, economic and safety regulatory matters, rulemaking and individual disputes before the STB, appeals in federal court, court actions and arbitrations. His experience also extends to, and he will add value to the firm’s clients on, matters related to federal preemption, communications law and transborder transportation.

“Amid a surge in U.S. freight volume and historic rail investments, it’s never been clearer just how critical railway infrastructure is to a properly functioning supply chain in the United States, and Tim’s arrival couldn’t have come at a more opportune time,” said Steptoe chair Gwen Renigar. “His insider experience in government and with prominent industry groups will solidify our standing as a go-to firm in every major area of rail regulatory activity.”

“Having already worked with several of Steptoe’s clients, joining the firm’s preeminent Transportation Practice Group was a natural next step for me in my career,” added Strafford. “The Group’s Railroad practice is renowned for the depth and quality of its representation before federal agencies, and I look forward to bolstering the team’s impressive and longstanding efforts on behalf of this vital American industry.”

Steptoe’s Railroad practice represents rail carriers in complex commercial disputes before the STB, in federal and state courts, and in arbitration proceedings. Its major representations include high-stakes rail rate, contract litigation and arbitration proceedings, as well as major rail construction/environmental cases and cases involving the pre-emption of state law.

Strafford earned his J.D. from the American University, where he served on the Washington College of Law International Law Review. He earned his B.A. from Rutgers University, New Brunswick.