ALLISON DAVIS focuses her practice on the rail industry. She is a member of Sidley’s Transportation practice, which has been recognized by U.S. News and Chambers USA for over a decade as one of the nation’s top-tier practices. Allison advises her clients on a variety of transportation topics, including preemption, licensing requirements, regulatory compliance, and federal court review of agency action. Allison represents railroads in connection with rulemaking and other proceedings before federal agencies, such as the Surface Transportation Board (STB) and the Federal Railroad Administration. Allison also advises parties in rail or bus acquisitions and rail line sale transactions, and counsels clients on compliance with federal transportation regulations.
Prior to joining Sidley, Allison was the Director of the Office of Proceedings at the STB, an independent federal agency that regulates the interstate freight and passenger railroad industry, as well as certain pipeline carriers, motor carriers, and water carriers. During her 10 years of government service with the STB, Allison led numerous complex rulemakings, licensing cases, and adjudicatory proceedings, including multimillion dollar rate disputes and reasonable practice disputes. She provided legal and policy guidance to the Board on various aspects of STB law, including preemption, unreasonable rates, unreasonable practices, freight and passenger rail construction projects, and M&A.