Overview
Linda Stein represents clients, primarily in the railroad industry, in complex civil litigation and arbitration as well as regulatory proceedings before the Surface Transportation Board (STB). She has significant experience representing rail clients in contract disputes as well as antitrust matters in court and arbitration. She has extensive experience representing clients in rail control proceedings, unreasonable rule or practice proceedings, railroad line construction proceedings, rate reasonableness proceedings, and rulemaking proceedings before the STB. Her clients appreciate her deep understanding of the rail industry, including her in-depth knowledge of the commercial side of the business and her long-standing relationships within the industry, which allow her to develop effective litigation strategies. As practice group leader of the firm's nationally ranked Transportation Group, Linda is recognized for her ability to provide solutions to the challenges that her clients face in this highly regulated industry.
Linda co-authored a chapter on "Administrative Agencies" in Successful Partnering Between Inside and Outside Counsel, a treatise published by Thomson Reuters. She has co-authored annual updates to this chapter from 2017 through 2022.
- District of Columbia
- US District Court, District of Columbia
- US District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
- US Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, District of Columbia
- J.D., Harvard Law School, 1983, cum laude
- B.A., Wellesley College, 1980, with honors, Phi Beta Kappa
Representative Matters
- Represents BNSF, one defendant, in In re Rail Freight Fuel Surcharge Antitrust Litigation (MDL I, MDL II), multi-district litigation in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in which the plaintiffs is seeking significant damages. The district court denied class certification in the original putative class action in October 2017. The district court granted summary judgment for the defendants, dismissing the cases in their entirety, in June 2025. Plaintiffs have filed an appeal.
- Represents a rail carrier in an acquisition of control proceeding at the STB.
- Successfully represented a railroad in multiple private arbitrations involving breach of contract matters.
- Successfully represented BNSF against Cargill in a rate reasonableness proceeding at the STB in which Cargill sought nearly $30 million in damages for a supposed overpayment of fuel surcharges.
- Successfully represented a noncarrier at the STB in a proceeding in which the STB decided in less than 2 months that it did not have jurisdiction over the proposed operations, which allowed the noncarrier to complete track construction in a timely manner.
- Represented Tongue River Railroad Company in its application to construct and operate a rail line at the STB.
Speaking Engagements
- "Railroad Recent Developments," ABA-IRIS Semi-Annual Council Group Meetings, 2004-2023, 2025
- "Modal Updates – Railroads," ATLP 93rd Annual Meeting, June 26, 2022
- "Modal Updates Part II," ATLP 90th Annual Meeting, June 11, 2019
- "Freight and Passenger On Time Performance," Passenger and Freight Railroads Unite Conference, March 14, 2019
- "STB Regulatory Issues and Possible Ways to Handle Through Informal Means," Railroads + Shippers = Solutions, Washington, DC, October 2, 2018
- "Regulated Industry M&A Transactions: Special Considerations and Recent Developments," American Bar Association, January 17, 2018
- "Appellate Litigation," 88th Annual Association of Transportation Law Professionals, Austin, TX, June 26, 2017
- "FERC Regulations 101: Oil, Gas, LNG and Rail," Kinetic, September 29, 2015
- Moderator, "New Rules for High-Hazard Flammable Trains," American Bar Association, May 27, 2015
News & Publications
Press Releases
Steptoe Practices and Attorneys Earn High Rankings in the Legal 500 United States 2025
June 11, 2025
Publications
Patrick J. Fuchs is Designated as STB Chairman; Michelle Schultz is Designated as Vice Chairman
February 2025
By: Linda S. Stein, Anthony J. LaRocca, Peter W. Denton, Tim Strafford, Sally Mordi, Tara A. Woods, Maia Danna
Publications
The Board Approves CSXT's and CPKC's Acquisitions of MNBR Lines
Association of Transportation Law Professional's Railroads Blog
November 2024
By: Linda S. Stein, Anthony J. LaRocca, Peter W. Denton, Tim Strafford, Sally Mordi, Tara A. Woods, Maia Danna
Publications
STB Chairman Martin J. Oberman Retires; Robert E. Primus is Designated as STB Chairman
Association of Transportation Law Professional's Railroads Blog
June 2024
By: Linda S. Stein, Anthony J. LaRocca, Peter W. Denton, Tim Strafford, Sally Mordi, Tara A. Woods, Maia Danna
Publications
Association of Transportation Law Professional's Railroads Blog
April 2024
By: Linda S. Stein, Anthony J. LaRocca, Peter W. Denton, Tim Strafford, Sally Mordi, Tara A. Woods, Maia Danna
Publications
The Board Extended Employment Data Reporting
February 2024
By: Linda S. Stein, Anthony J. LaRocca, Peter W. Denton, Tim Strafford, Sally Mordi, Tara A. Woods, Maia Danna
Noteworthy
- Chambers USA, Transportation: Rail, Nationwide (2018-2025)
- Legal 500 US, "Leading Lawyer," Transport: Rail & Road - Litigation & Regulation (2024-2025)
- Legal 500 US, Industry Focus: Transport, Rail & Road - Regulation (2018-2019)
- Legal 500 US, Industry Focus: Transport, Rail & Road - Litigation (2019)
- Best Lawyers in America, Transportation Law (2015-2022, 2024, 2026)
- Chair, American Bar Association - Infrastructure and Regulated Industries Section (ABA-IRIS) (August 2023 – August 2024)
- Chair of Railroad Committee, ABA-IRIS, (2004-2023)
- DC Fellow, American Bar Foundation (2007-present)
- Member, American Law Institute (2021-present)
- Chair of Hearing Committee, Board of Professional Responsibility of the District of Columbia (2008-2010)
- Hearing Committee Member, Board of Professional Responsibility of the District of Columbia (2004-2008)
Professional Affiliations
- Member, American Law Institute
- Fellow, American Bar Foundation
- Association of Transportation Law Professionals
- American Bar Association, Infrastructure and Regulated Industries Section
- Chair (2023-2024)
- Chair Elect (2022-2023)
- Vice Chair (2021-2022)
- Chairman, Railroad Committee (2004-2023)
- Council Member (2007-2010)
- Vice Chair, Long Range Planning Committee (2009-present)
- Vice Chair, Writing Competition Committee (2004-2023)
- Vice Chair, Membership Committee (2009-2017)
- Liaison, Commission on Racial & Ethnic Diversity in the Profession (2008-2019)