Whether operating on land, in the air, at sea or across all three, the transport sector brings with it countless opportunities for growth, as well as a vast number of challenges that must be overcome in order to thrive.
As a leading transportation law firm, Womble Bond Dickinson is perfectly positioned to provide our clients with the support they need to operate successfully on a local, national and global scale. Our transport solicitors are dedicated to expanding transportation businesses whilst tackling the common issues of this fast-paced sector, including the incorporation of emerging technology and operating in accordance with tougher regulations.
A team of specialist transport solicitors
The Womble Bond Dickinson transport solicitors team has broad industry knowledge and decades of experience working within this widespread and constantly evolving sector. With teams of lawyers specialising in everything from aviation law to marine law, as well as road transport law for land-based transportation businesses, our varied transportation law firm is fully equipped to serve all clients.
A partial list of the types of clients served by our transport law solicitors can be found below:
One of the leading aviation law firms, well regarded for assisting in legal matters on behalf of public and private passenger service providers
Our marine law solicitors are experienced serving ship freight operator business, providing insight into marine law and coordinating with the aviation solicitor team for businesses with dual air and sea operations
Clients who provide or manage travel infrastructure, including rail networks, ports and airports can access the support of our transport solicitors
Government bodies and members of the supply chain, such as those responsible for the manufacturing and maintenance of trains, aircrafts or ships, are also supported by our transportation law firm.
Transportation law services
The in-depth and varied sector experience of our transportation law solicitors allows us to deliver proactive legal advice to clients from all corners of the travel sector. With our support in place, our clients are able to focus on getting people, cargo and everything in between where they need to go quickly and efficiently.
Wondering exactly how our transport solicitors can help your company thrive? Womble Bond Dickinson makes every effort to tailor our services to suit your exact needs, creating a strategy from our transport law services that will best tackle the challenges faced by you. View a condensed list of these services below:
Creatively and efficiently solve problems as they arise whilst simultaneously putting measures in place to reduce the likelihood of similar issues rising in the future
Simplify and explain complex legal matters and respond with clear advice
Aid with the expansion of companies from national to international scales
Offer full-service legal practice by supporting clients on major infrastructure investment, devolution, alliancing and smart ticketing
Standing by clients commercial litigation or restructuring.
To access the services of our dedicated transportation law firm, browse through our transport lawyers and professional staff or contact us directly through our get in touch page and we’ll connect you to the transport solicitor best suited to help your business.
Rolling stock procurement, leasing and maintenance
Public finance and bond issuance (tax exempt and taxable)
Compulsory purchase, including development consent orders and compensation
Asset purchases
Charter parties, intermodal transportation contracts and supply chain agreements
Emergency response and representation regarding claims arising from transportation casualties, including shipboard, pierside, and over-the-road personal injuries and death, pollution incidents, collisions, and cargo loss
Jones Act and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulatory compliance
Marine finance transactions
Maritime and trucking products liability and warranty dispute resolution
White collar criminal representation and counsel associated with internal investigations, enforcement actions, grand jury subpoenas and governmental investigations
Facilitating Letter of Credit transactions in international sale of goods, and advising clients with respect to form of documents
Managing big data, smart technology, contactless payments, e-commerce and driverless cars, smart grids, mobile ticketing, e-medical devices and networking
Dispute resolution
Competition.
Examples of work
We have completed equipment finance and leasing deals in the aggregate of over 5 billion dollars with individual transactions ranging from $750,000 to $350 million. Many of these transactions helped to finance transportation assets such as aircraft (corporate and commercial) and rail equipment, as well as locomotives and vessels (barges and tankers)
We regularly advise on both heavy and light rail franchising and concession arrangements.
Recent examples of our involvement include advising Govia on its bids for the Northern and the West Midlands franchises, and advising Transdev on its bid to operate the Manchester Metrolink. We also advised Govia on its successful bid for the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise – the UK's biggest rail franchise – which involved advising on the bid strategy, the franchise agreement and all rolling stock arrangements
We handle casualty and litigation matters arising in ports throughout the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. We have an on-call Emergency Response Team available 24/7 to respond to and investigate casualties and incidents of all types, including collisions, shipboard and dockside personal injuries, cargo damage, pollution and HAZMAT discharges, alleged safety violations, expanded Port State Control inspections, and other shipboard emergencies
We have vast experience advising on all aspects of rolling stock, including procurement. Recent examples include the simultaneous procurement and financing of two new fleets (to be built by Bombardier and Stadler) for Abellio's successful East Anglia franchise bid. The Abellio East Anglia order represents collectively the largest privately-led rolling stock procurement ever seen in the UK. The trains themselves are worth over £1.5bn and, with the associated maintenance arrangements, the total contract value is in excess of £1.8bn
We provide litigation services to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority related to Phase 2 of the Dulles Metrorail Project. It is one of the largest public transportation construction projects taking place in the United States right now
We supported Bristol Airport on planning applications and infrastructure agreements, strategic advice on expansion plans including advice on surface access issues, the night noise quota system, ecological issues, air quality, compulsory acquisition, property and CAA regulation
We acted for Arriva in its successful abuse of dominance claim against Luton Airport, challenging the award by Luton Airport of an exclusive coach concession to a rival operator (Arriva The Shires Ltd v London Luton Airport Operations Ltd [2014] EWHC 64 (Ch))
We serve as General Counsel to an international airport and have provided representation for almost 10 years. Our engagements include a wide range of issues affecting the general aviation business. These issues require us to deal with regulations, directives and documents issued and promulgated by the Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of Transportation
We represent regional airports as bond counsel providing legal services in connection with financings. These representations have resulted in over $1 Billion in refinancing
We provide legal counsel to one of the largest rental car companies in the US.
Overview
Overview
Transport, logistics, and infrastructure are the triple threads that weave the fabric of UK business together. These essential industries are constantly evolving as they face a whirlwind of challenges.
Economic pressures with fluctuating inflation and the imbalance of imports and exports keep everyone on their toes. Meanwhile, cybersecurity remains a critical focus, as transport and logistics companies fend off increasingly sophisticated cyber-attacks to safeguard their operations.
And then there’s the grand voyage to net zero – a monumental quest where all three have starring roles to play.
It’s a dynamic sector, always on the move both literally and metaphorically. You need legal advice which will help you see clearly through the blur of movement, not add additional lenses of complexity. That’s where our straight-talking legal team comes in. Offering a helping hand on all things transport and infrastructure related.
Your team
Your transport, logistics and infrastructure team
You’ll benefit from a multidisciplinary team; flexible and always getting under the skin of your business to provide sound legal advice that makes a difference.
Want a run-down of our services?
Heavy and light rail franchising, national rail contracts, and concession arrangements
Major infrastructure and development projects, including depot work
Rolling stock procurements, leasing, and maintenance
General procurement law compliance
Bus franchising
Freeport advice
Compulsory purchases, including development consent orders and compensation
Asset purchases
Managing big data, smart technology, contactless payments, e-commerce and driverless cars, smart grids, mobile ticketing, e-medical devices and networking
Dispute resolution matters
Competition law advice.
What’s more, if your operations are transatlantic, our US team is on hand should you need counsel across the pond – covering aviation, marine, and transport infrastructure law.
In need of a transport, logistics and infrastructure lawyer? Look no further.
At Womble Bond Dickinson we have an exceptional team of talented lawyers and business professionals who can offer guidance and find the solutions right for your business. We have both broad and niche expertise across all our UK and US offices.
We have completed equipment finance and leasing deals in the aggregate of over 5 billion dollars with individual transactions ranging from $750,000 to $350 million. Many of these transactions helped to finance transportation assets such as aircraft (corporate and commercial) and rail equipment, as well as locomotives and vessels (barges and tankers)
We regularly advise on both heavy and light rail franchising and concession arrangements.
Recent examples of our involvement include advising Govia on its bids for the Northern and the West Midlands franchises, and advising Transdev on its bid to operate the Manchester Metrolink. We also advised Govia on its successful bid for the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise – the UK's biggest rail franchise – which involved advising on the bid strategy, the franchise agreement and all rolling stock arrangements
We handle casualty and litigation matters arising in ports throughout the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. We have an on-call Emergency Response Team available 24/7 to respond to and investigate casualties and incidents of all types, including collisions, shipboard and dockside personal injuries, cargo damage, pollution and HAZMAT discharges, alleged safety violations, expanded Port State Control inspections, and other shipboard emergencies
We have vast experience advising on all aspects of rolling stock, including procurement. Recent examples include the simultaneous procurement and financing of two new fleets (to be built by Bombardier and Stadler) for Abellio's successful East Anglia franchise bid. The Abellio East Anglia order represents collectively the largest privately-led rolling stock procurement ever seen in the UK. The trains themselves are worth over £1.5bn and, with the associated maintenance arrangements, the total contract value is in excess of £1.8bn
We provide litigation services to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority related to Phase 2 of the Dulles Metrorail Project. It is one of the largest public transportation construction projects taking place in the United States right now
We supported Bristol Airport on planning applications and infrastructure agreements, strategic advice on expansion plans including advice on surface access issues, the night noise quota system, ecological issues, air quality, compulsory acquisition, property and CAA regulation
We acted for Arriva in its successful abuse of dominance claim against Luton Airport, challenging the award by Luton Airport of an exclusive coach concession to a rival operator (Arriva The Shires Ltd v London Luton Airport Operations Ltd [2014] EWHC 64 (Ch))
We serve as General Counsel to an international airport and have provided representation for almost 10 years. Our engagements include a wide range of issues affecting the general aviation business. These issues require us to deal with regulations, directives and documents issued and promulgated by the Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of Transportation
We represent regional airports as bond counsel providing legal services in connection with financings. These representations have resulted in over $1 Billion in refinancing
We provide legal counsel to one of the largest rental car companies in the US.
Testimonials
"The team is second to none in their expertise and knowledge. They are friendly, easy to work with, understanding of your needs and highly responsive – what more could you ask for from a legal team!"
Legal 500 2025
"The WBD Transport Team is exceptionally knowledgeable with particular reference to all issues regarding the railway sector. They understand our business and are able to support all our requirements thoroughly and efficiently."
Legal 500 2023
"The team at WBD is highly skilled, knowledgeable and always available to help. They have a wealth of knowledge in the rail and transport sector and have a broad set of capabilities within the team, so there is always a solution at hand."
Legal 500 2023
"They have excellent expertise within the team, with broad knowledge capabilities."
Chambers and Partners 2023
"The team at Womble Bond Dickinson can handle any piece of work that is thrown at them in the railway sector with great success."
Chambers and Partners 2023
Further information and resources
Energising Tomorrow: Global Energy Transition Outlook 2025
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