Overview
Linda Stein represents clients in regulatory proceedings before the Surface Transportation Board (STB), as well as complex civil litigation and arbitration. She has extensive experience representing clients in rate reasonableness proceedings, unreasonable rule or practice proceedings, railroad line construction 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.
She also represents clients in contract disputes and other commercial litigation, when the need arises.
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.
- 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.
- Represents BNSF in high profile proceedings at the STB, including a proceeding initiated by the agency to obtain interested parties’ comments on how to ensure that the STB’s rate complaint procedures are accessible to grain shippers.
- Represented Tongue River Railroad Company in its application to construct and operate a rail line at the STB.
Speaking Engagements
- "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 Receives 28 Practice Rankings, 34 Individual Awards in Legal 500 US 2023
June 14, 2023
Press Releases
Steptoe Receives 25 Practice, 72 Individual Mentions in Chambers USA 2023
June 1, 2023
Press Releases
Steptoe Receives 27 Practice, 72 Individual Mentions in Chambers USA 2022
June 3, 2022
Press Releases
Steptoe Receives 24 Practice, 71 Individual Mentions in Chambers USA 2021
May 20, 2021
Press Releases
Steptoe Receives 125 Individual Mentions in Best Lawyers in America 2021
August 20, 2020
Noteworthy
- Chambers USA, Transportation: Rail, Nationwide (2018-2024)
- Legal 500 US, "Leading Lawyer," Transport: Rail & Road - Litigation & Regulation (2024)
- 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)
- Chair, American Bar Association - Infrastructure and Regulated Industries Section (August 2023 – August 2024)
- Chair of Railroad Committee, American Bar Association - Infrastructure and Regulated Industries Section, Communications and Transportation Law (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)