Betty Jo Christian

Partner

• bchristian@steptoe.com
• vCard
• Washington Office

Betty Jo Christian is a partner with the Washington office of Steptoe & Johnson LLP, where she is a member of the Regulatory & Industry Affairs Department.  Prior to joining the firm, Mrs. Christian served as a Commissioner of the Interstate Commerce Commission.

Transportation Law
Mrs. Christian's major focus is transportation law. She represents railroads, motor carriers, shippers and other parties in a wide variety of regulatory and court proceedings.  Recent cases have involved railroad mergers and acquisitions, financial restructuring, federal preemption issues and federal constitutional issues.

Mrs. Christian also advises transportation companies concerning regulatory aspects of a wide variety of transactions, such as tender offers, rail line sales and equipment financing.  She regularly counsels clients with respect to Surface Transportation Board and Department of Transportation matters.

Appellate Litigation
Mrs. Christian practices extensively before the US Courts of Appeals throughout the country, state appellate courts and the US  Supreme Court.  Recent cases that she has argued before the Supreme Court involved issues such as the constitutionality of state "flow control" laws and the constitutionality of state venue requirements as applied to out-of-state corporations. She regularly counsels clients with respect to appellate litigation strategy and practice.

Noteworthy

• Listed in Best Lawyers of America 2008 for Transportation Law
• Ranked, Chambers USA 2007, America's Leading Business Lawyers; National Transportation: Rail
• Listed in Washington, DC, Super Lawyers 2007 for Transportation/Maritime Law
• Commissioner, Interstate Commerce Commission, 1976-1979
• Associate General Counsel for Litigation, Interstate Commerce Commission, 1971-1976
• Transportation Woman of the Year Award, 1972 Outstanding Younger Federal Lawyer Award, 1964

News

• Steptoe Wins Victory in the US Supreme Court
• Best Lawyers in America Honors 43 Steptoe Attorneys
• Chambers and Partners Names Steptoe A Leading Firm in 22 Practice Areas
• 17 DC Attorneys Listed in Super Lawyers 2007
• Best Lawyers in America 2007 Lists Steptoe Attorneys
• Over 20 Make 2007 Best Lawyers in America: DC List

Professional Affiliations

• President, Association for Transportation Law, Logistics and Policy, 1995-1996
• American Bar Association - Section of Administrative Law (Past Chairman - Transportation Committee) - Section of Public Utility Law (Past Chairman - Railroad Committee)
• Transportation Research Forum
• American Law Institute
• American Academy of Appellate Lawyers
• Administrative Conference of the United States, 1977-1995