Raymond A. Atkins

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RAYMOND ATKINS, former General Counsel of the Surface Transportation Board (STB), leads Sidley’s Transportation practice, which is recognized by U.S. News and Chambers USA as one of the nation’s top-tier practices. A successful appellate advocate and trusted legal and economic policy advisor, Ray advises clients on a wide range of transportation issues, as well as issues involving administrative law, appellate litigation, antitrust, complex litigation and federal preemption.

With over 20 years of experience, Ray combines a Ph.D. in economics with his legal background to offer innovative solutions to challenges posed in modern regulated industries. Recent representative matters include:

Appearing for the railroad industry in a two-day hearing before the STB over proposals to impose utility-style rate regulation on the industry

Successfully arguing before the Supreme Court of Indiana over the unconstitutionality of a state statute that sought to manage railroad operations

Advising clients in consumer-protection investigations by the Federal Trade Commission

Representing a client in a complex, multi-million dollar transportation contract dispute in federal district court

Representing a railroad in arbitration over the fair-market value of a fiber optics lease