Transportation, Trucking, Bus, Railroad, Marine, Rapid Response, Logistics: SmithAmundsen

Practice Contacts

Lew Bricker

SmithAmundsen knows trucks. And buses and boats, and everything else that moves freight and people. We have been in the trenches with the transportation industry for more than 30 years handling everything from transactions to litigation, regulatory compliance to labor and employment, class actions to risk management, accident rapid response to insurance services and so much more. We partner with the transportation industry on local, regional and national legal needs, we educate business owners and operators and we lead groups dedicated to the field.

Litigation: We offer experienced, skilled and practical counsel to the commercial transportation industry. Our attorneys represent transportation and logistics businesses in personal injury, property loss, cargo loss and damage, subrogation, workers’ compensation, discrimination and harassment, wage and hour, Jones Act, FELA, insurance coverage and commercial claims in the ﬁelds of trucking, logistics services, motor coach (specialized passenger transport), maritime, bus, railroad and aviation. Our attorneys have tried hundreds of cases to verdict in multiple jurisdictions.

Business and Transactions: Our team understands business. We are actively involved in sophisticated mergers and acquisitions transactions for both publicly traded and private transportation companies. We routinely draft, analyze and revise commercial contracts involving the issues that face our clients daily including: independent contractors, brokers, vendor partners, equipment leases, real estate and union agreements to name a few. We counsel and partner with our clients on best business practices, corporate governance and operational structures.

Insurance Services and Consulting: We provide risk avoidance and transference counseling and advice on day-to-day issues and practices, handle regulatory compliance issues and represent you during agency. Our consulting services are not only comprehensive, but cost-effective and structured to meet each client’s individual needs. Our attorneys understand the insurance and financial responsibility requirements and needs of transportation and logistics companies and their insurers in today’s complex business environment.

Rapid Response: SmithAmundsen’s Rapid Response Team responds to incidents and crises 24/7 throughout the Midwest. We know that incidents do not always occur during the business day and our clients receive immediate attention when the unwanted occurs. Our team includes experienced transportation, OSHA, labor and employment and insurance attorneys as well as investigators and expert specialists.

Areas of Practice

We advise professionals on issues which include:

Trucking

Broker and Logistics Provider Liability
Cargo and Freight Loss and Damage
Consumer Fraud Class Action Lawsuits
Corporate Services and Commercial Transactions (Corporate Finance; Venture Capital and Private Equity; Business Organization and Design and Formation; Independent Contractor; Corporate Governance and Compliance; Mergers and Acquisitions; IP Protection and Licensing; Commercial Contracts; Joint Ventures and Strategic Alliance Agreements; and Insurance Matters)
Commercial Transactions
Data Privacy
Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) Compliance and Defense of Class Action Lawsuits
FMCSR and DOT Regulations Compliance and Audits
Hazardous Materials
Independent Contractor/Employee Status
Insurance Coverage and Regulations
Intermodal Activities
Labor & Employment Issues and Human Resources Services (Wage and Hour; Employment Liability Claims; Immigration; Labor Union Disputes; Owner Operators; Independent Contractors/Employee Status Reviews; Misclassification Issues; Discrimination and Harassment; Drug Testing; Medical Cannabis; Employee Benefits/ERISA; Employee Handbooks; Policies and Procedures; Hiring; Firing; Discipline; and HR Consulting)
Logo/Placard Liability
State and Federal Agency Compliance and Audits
OSHA Compliance and Audits
Personal Injury
Real Estate
Risk Mitigation, Subrogation and Risk Transfer Review
Safety Procedures
Workers’ Compensation

Motor Coach/Bus/SPECIALIZED – passenger carriers

Corporate Services and Commercial Transactions (Corporate Finance; Venture Capital and Private Equity; Business Organization and Design and Formation; Independent Contractor; Corporate Governance and Compliance; Mergers and Acquisitions; IP Protection and Licensing; Commercial Contracts; Insurance; and Joint Ventures and Strategic Alliance Agreements)
Data Privacy
FMCSR and DOT Regulations Compliance and Audits
Independent Contractor/Employee Status
Insurance Coverage
Labor & Employment (Wage and Hour; Employment Liability Claims; Immigration; Labor Union Disputes; Independent Contractors/Employee Status Reviews; Misclassification Issues; Discrimination and Harassment; Drug Testing; Medical Cannabis; Employee Benefits/ERISA; Employee Handbooks; Policies and Procedures; Hiring; Firing; Discipline; and HR Consulting)
State and Federal Agency Compliance and Audits
OSHA Compliance and Audits
Personal Injury
Product Liability
Real Estate
Risk Mitigation, Subrogation and Risk Transfer Reviews
Safety Procedures
Workers' Compensation