Terence M. Hynes

TERENCE (TERRY) HYNES focuses his practice in matters involving the transportation industry. Over the past 47 years, Terry has represented clients in connection with more than 100 rail-related transactions and has advised railroads, ocean carriers, logistics providers, private equity firms and financial institutions in connection with mergers and acquisitions, inter-carrier agreements, transportation and logistics arrangements and rail corridor development projects involving both freight and passenger service. He also represents transportation industry clients in connection with commercial, regulatory and appellate litigation.

In 2026, Terry was recognized by Chambers USA as a Senior Statesperson for Nationwide Transportation: Rail (for Railroads), marking his 18th year ranked in the category since 2008. He has also been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® since 2017 in the area of Transportation Law.

“Terry is a giant in the rail industry, with so much knowledge and experience.” 
Chambers USA 2024

Terry has been at the forefront of the development of high-speed passenger rail service in America, serving as counsel to high-speed rail projects throughout the United States and advising clients on the permitting, financing, construction and acquisition of rail lines. He has also been an advocate for regulatory reforms designed to promote private investment in the high-speed rail sector.

Terry has decades of experience in connection with bankruptcy proceedings involving transportation firms. He has represented clients in connection with the successful bankruptcy reorganization of several railroads and ocean shipping companies.

Terry writes and speaks frequently on transportation-related topics, including as the author of a chapter in the book “Debating Reform” (Congressional Quarterly Press 2010), and appears regularly at transportation industry conferences.

Terry’s representative engagements, spanning rail M&A, infrastructure investment, high-speed passenger rail development, and distressed transportation matters, include:

• FTAI Infrastructure Inc. in connection with its acquisition of The Wheeling Corporation and its railroad subsidiaries, a transaction valued at US$1.05 billion (2025).
• Apollo Infrastructure Opportunities Fund II in connection with a US$1.150 billion preferred equity investment in The Watco Companies (2025).
• Pinsly Railroad Co. in its proposed acquisition of Hondo Railway LLC, a short line railroad company in Hondo, Texas (2025).
• Ancala in the formation of short line rail specialist Phoenix Rail and in the subsequent acquisition by Phoenix Rail of Lehigh Valley Rail Management (2025).
• ArcelorMittal Liberia Holding Limited in connection with a development of a railroad in Liberia (2024-Present).
• Norfolk Southern Railway Company in connection with its acquisition of The Cincinnati, New Orleans and Texas Pacific Railway Company, a transaction valued at US$1.6 billion (2023).
• Gulf & Atlantic Railways in its proposed acquisition of the rail assets of Pinsly Railroad Co (2023).
• Macquarie Asset Management and Gulf & Atlantic Railways in connection with the acquisition of Pioneer Valley Railroad Company (2023).
• Macquarie Asset Management and Gulf & Atlantic Railways in connection with the acquisition of four shortline railroads from Midwest and Bluegrass Rail (2023).
• Macquarie Asset Management in connection with its acquisition of RailUSA and its shortline railroad subsidiaries from American Rail Partners, LLC (2022).
• Fortress Transportation and Infrastructure Investors LLC in connection with its acquisition of Transtar, LLC and its six railroad subsidiaries from U.S. Steel Corporation (2021).
• iCON Infrastructure Partners Ltd. in connection with the acquisition of an equity position in Iowa Interstate Railroad (2020).
• Brightline Holdings LLC in connection with its acquisition of DesertXpress Enterprises and the development of a high-speed passenger rail line between Southern California and Las Vegas, NV (2018–present).
• Texas Central Partners in connection with the development of a high-speed passenger rail line between Dallas and Houston, TX (2016–present).
• Fortress Transportation and Infrastructure Investors LLC in connection with the sale of Central Maine & Quebec Railway (2019).
• A consortium of investors in connection with the proposed acquisition of Genesee & Wyoming, Inc. (2019).
• Brightline Holdings LLC in connection with the development of a high-speed passenger rail line between Miami and Orlando, FL (2010–present).
• Fortress Investment Group in connection with the merger of its subsidiary, Florida East Coast Railway, with GMexico de Transportes SA de CV, a transaction valued at US$2.1 billion (2017).
• Fortress Investment Group in connection with sale of RailAmerica and its 40 shortline railroad subsidiaries to Genesee & Wyoming, Inc., a transaction valued at US$1.4 billion (2012).

• Association of Transportation Law, Logistics and Policy
• Sections of Antitrust and Public Utility Communications and Transportation Law of the American Bar Association
• Senior Lecturing Fellow, Duke University School of Law (2009 – 2023)