With significant firm-wide experience, including one of the largest dedicated rail teams in the UK, we think our track record makes us stand out from the crowd.
Whether you’re a procuring authority, train operator, train manufacturer, infrastructure provider or user of rail, you can trust our commitment to providing real value. We put ourselves in our clients' shoes, working hard to make sure we’re focused on the same goals. That’s where our ambitious, innovative approach really makes a difference. We’ve seen what’s worked well as new technology has emerged and regulations have tightened. It means we’re well-placed to ask the right questions and get the right solutions.
We strive not to think in terms of separate legal services. We prefer to build a legal team that responds to individual client and project needs. Our sector group is made up of lawyers with a broad and deep sector and legal understanding,spanning: franchising and concession arrangements (including bids and the legal aspects of preparation for successful bids); major infrastructure and development projects (including rail lines, stations, strategic freight interchanges and depots and consents for new rail infrastructure); rolling stock procurement, leasing and maintenance; competition; dealing with day-to-day operational, commercial, regulatory, property and planning matters; compulsory purchase and eminent domain (including consent orders and compensation); and management of accident claims and all other rail-related disputes.
We’re proud to have provided sensible, straightforward advice to some of the biggest names in the industry. Clients include The Go-Ahead Group Plc (including Govia, Southeastern, Govia Thameslink Railway, Southern and London Midland), Keolis, Bombardier, Abellio, Freightliner, Nexus, Amey, and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.
Compulsory purchase/eminent domain, including consent orders and compensation
Dispute resolution (mediation, arbitration and litigation)
Major infrastructure and development projects
Public finance and bond issuance (tax exempt and taxable)
Rail franchising and concession arrangements
Rolling stock procurement, leasing and maintenance
Examples of work
We have completed equipment finance and leasing deals in the aggregate of more than $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 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 US right now
We have provided corporate, tax and real estate advice to the North Carolina Railroad Company, which owns and manages the 317-mile rail corridor that stretches from Charlotte to the Port Terminal in Morehead City
Overview
Overview
With significant firm-wide experience, including one of the largest dedicated rail teams in the UK, we think our track record makes us stand out from the crowd.
Whether you’re a procuring authority, train operator, train manufacturer, infrastructure provider or user of rail, you can trust our commitment to providing real value. We put ourselves in our clients' shoes, working hard to make sure we’re focused on the same goals. That’s where our ambitious, innovative approach really makes a difference. We’ve seen what’s worked well as new technology has emerged and regulations have tightened. It means we’re well-placed to ask the right questions and get the right solutions.
We strive not to think in terms of separate legal services. We prefer to build a legal team that responds to individual client and project needs. Our sector group is made up of lawyers with a broad and deep sector and legal understanding,spanning: franchising and concession arrangements (including bids and the legal aspects of preparation for successful bids); major infrastructure and development projects (including rail lines, stations, strategic freight interchanges and depots and consents for new rail infrastructure); rolling stock procurement, leasing and maintenance; competition; dealing with day-to-day operational, commercial, regulatory, property and planning matters; compulsory purchase and eminent domain (including consent orders and compensation); and management of accident claims and all other rail-related disputes.
We’re proud to have provided sensible, straightforward advice to some of the biggest names in the industry. Clients include The Go-Ahead Group Plc (including Govia, Southeastern, Govia Thameslink Railway, Southern and London Midland), Keolis, Bombardier, Abellio, Freightliner, Nexus, Amey, and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.
What we do
Asset purchases
Competition
Compulsory purchase/eminent domain, including consent orders and compensation
Dispute resolution (mediation, arbitration and litigation)
Major infrastructure and development projects
Public finance and bond issuance (tax exempt and taxable)
Rail franchising and concession arrangements
Rolling stock procurement, leasing and maintenance
Need legal advice and guidance in Rail?
Our team is able to help provide solutions to you and your organization. Browse through our lawyers and professional staff to find the right attorney near you.
Examples of our work and how we’ve helped companies of all sizes with a wide range of challenges.
We have completed equipment finance and leasing deals in the aggregate of more than $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 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 US right now
We have provided corporate, tax and real estate advice to the North Carolina Railroad Company, which owns and manages the 317-mile rail corridor that stretches from Charlotte to the Port Terminal in Morehead City
Testimonials
"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
‘A very strong transport team covering both the rail franchise and the associated arrangements. The partners have developed their associates well. They more than hold their own against the other heavyweight firms. Excellent delivery.’
Legal 500, 2022
‘The Womble Bond Dickinson team is very much integrated and aligned to my team, listening and contributing to the complex commercial and legal challenges faced in bidding for new contracts. Their approach is open, honest, inclusive, and highly effective in dealing with legal issues and contributing to the wider leadership/strategic challenges.’
Legal 500, 2021
“The advice is well thought through and the team are experienced with a strong focus on their clients.”
Chambers and Partners, 2021
“Very detailed knowledge not just of the law, but also the industry, which makes them invaluable as rail advisers.”
This selection will switch the website from presenting information primarily about the United Kingdom to information about the United States. If you would like to switch back, you may use location selection options at the top of the page.
Contact
Although we would like to hear from you, we cannot represent you until we know that doing so will not create a conflict of interest. Also, we cannot treat unsolicited information as confidential. Accordingly, please do not send us any information about any legal matter until we authorize you to do so. To initiate a possible representation, please call one of our lawyers or staff members.
By clicking the “ACCEPT” button, you agree that we may review any information you transmit to us. You recognize that, even if you submit information that you consider confidential in an effort to retain us, our review of that information will not create an obligation on us to keep it confidential and will not preclude us from representing another client directly adverse to you, even in a matter where that information could and will be used against you.
Please click the “ACCEPT” button if you understand and accept the foregoing statement and wish to proceed.
