Matt Warren

About Matt Warren

I co-lead Sidley\'s Rail sector team and focus my practice in the rail industry, where I help businesses and investors navigate a complex regulatory environment in a critical industry. I represent railroads in litigation before federal agencies and federal courts and in a variety of regulatory matters, including proceedings before the Surface Transportation Board, Federal Railroad Administration, and National Transportation Safety Board. I also advise parties to transportation-related transactions and represent parties seeking to secure regulatory approval for transactions.I have been nationally recognized by Chambers USA in the Transportation: Rail (for Railroads) category every year since 2014, where I have been humbled to receive client reviews describing me as “extremely talented” (2023) and “an exceptional and very clear legal writer” (2020).I am the contributing editor for Panoramic: Rail Transport (formerly Getting the Deal Through), a comparative law guide to the legal systems governing rail transportation in various countries. I author the “Global Overview” chapter of this annual publication and co-author the “United States” chapter with others from Sidley Austin LLP’s Rail practice. I have served in this role since 2019Attorney Advertising - Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome

Experience

1. Partner

   Sidley Austin LLP

   Jan 2014 — Present · DC, US

   My engagements for transportation clients include:Surface Transportation Board Litigation: I represent clients in a variety of proceedings before the Surface Transportation Board (STB), ranging from unreasonable practice complaints to petitions for declaratory orders to service complaints. I have extensive experience defending railroads in STB rate reasonableness cases, including nine Stand Alone Cost cases, three cases under the STB’s Three Benchmark methodology and cases invoking the STB’s revenue adequacy constraint as an alternative means of relief. I also represent freight railroads in service-related litigation with rail shippers and in disputes with Amtrak or other freight railroads.Trial and Appellate Litigation: I represent railroads in federal and state courts in commercial litigation and litigation involving federal preemption of state and local law. I also represent railroads in petitions to review agency decisions before federal courts of appeal and in other appellate litigation.Transactions: I advise parties in rail acquisitions and rail line sale transactions and represent parties in STB proceedings to approve transactions. After transactions are approved, I also advise parties on compliance with regulatory conditions placed on those approvals.Rulemakings: I regularly represent parties in rulemakings and public hearings before federal agencies, including the STB, the Federal Railroad Administration and the Department of Transportation. Regulatory Advice: I also counsel transportation providers about strategies for achieving business goals while complying with federal transportation regulations.

Education

• University of Florida

  B.A., with highest honors, History

  1997 — 1999

• Georgetown Law

  J.D., magna cum laude

  1999 — 2002

Skills

• Railroad Compliance
• Surface Transportation Board Litigation
• Pro Bono
• Regulatory Litigation
• Passenger Rail
• Railroad Litigation
• Federal Court Litigation
• Railroad Law
• United States Supreme Court
• Appellate Practice
• Surface Transportation Board Filings
• Freight Rail
• Commercial Litigation