Businesses operating in the transportation sector are party to some of the most complex contracts, transactions, and logistical undertakings in the corporate world. Moving a shipping container from Taiwan to Texas involves numerous companies, multiple legal regimes, dozens of oversight agencies, and several modes of transportation. One consequence of this complexity is that transportation-related companies are exposed to a long and diverse list of liabilities, ranging from breach of contract and anti-competitiveness claims to personal injury and environmental harms. Transportation clients need litigation counsel who are not simply trial specialists, but are also leading practitioners in transportation and logistics law.
Cozen O’Connor represents clients operating in the transportation fields of maritime, aviation, intermodal, trucking, auto, rail, offshore energy, and logistics. Within these fields, we represent carriers, product manufacturers, ports and terminals, suppliers, operators, lenders, lessors/lessees, insurers, investors, and governmental bodies. Our attorneys regularly appear on behalf of transportation industry clients before state and federal courts, arbitration panels, boards of contract appeals, federal agencies, Congress, and international bodies.
All of our work is founded on a deep knowledge of the various federal and international regulatory and statutory regimes that govern the transportation industry. Whether responding to claims involving sanctions against a foreign country, Marad protocols concerning trade routes, or a catastrophic train derailment, the difference between success and failure in litigation often turns on counsel having mastery of the ever-changing regulatory precepts. Cozen O’Connor’s attorneys combine legal knowledge with tremendous trial experience. We have successfully represented clients in complex transportation litigations worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
Cozen O’Connor also brings an international perspective to this practice, which is invaluable because trade today is undeniably a global activity. Our attorneys interact regularly with foreign government agencies and foreign counsel in the course of resolving multinational disputes. Members of Cozen O’Connor are well versed in foreign treaties and legal regimes, understand international competition codes, and have good rapport with foreign counterparts. We have testified as experts on maritime competition law in proceedings before the European Union Competition Directorate and are often brought in to act as advisors to foreign organizations and law firms.
SERVICE AREAS
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Advise clients in maritime, aviation, intermodal, trucking, rail, auto, offshore energy, and logistics
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Counsel on transportation laws, including those governing antitrust/competition, trade sanctions, and export licensing; environmental obligations and liabilities; and cabotage, citizenship, vessel requirements, towage, salvage, fisheries, and dredging
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Appear before state and federal courts, courts of appeals, federal administrative agencies, administrative law judges, and international and domestic arbitration panels
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Represent clients in complex commercial disputes and government contracting protests
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Defend clients against claims by domestic and foreign regulatory agencies
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Represent clients in claims arising from transportation accidents and disasters