TLA Committees
As a member of TLA, we hope that you will get involved by becoming active in one (or more) of TLA's 30 committees. Click on the link below to find out more about each committee and how to contact the chair(s) of the committee.
Practice Division
Subject Area Committees
Governmental Affairs Committees
Modal Committees
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Communications
Division
Membership and
Administrative Division
Continuing Legal Education Division
Planning Division
Ad-Hoc Committees
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PRACTICE DIVISION
SUBJECT AREA COMMITTEES
Committee on Alternative Dispute Resolution
Chair: Joseph E. Rebman
Rebman, Linhares & Beachem, PC – 8000 Maryland Ave., Ste. 1060 St. Louis, MO 63105-3762
DESCRIPTION: The goal of the Committee on Alternative Dispute Resolution is to provide members of the Transportation Lawyers Association continued legal education opportunities and updates of federal and state alternative dispute resolution cases as they effect the transportation industry. In addition, the committee promotes alternative means for members to mediate and arbitrate disputes and provides the membership with a list of certified experienced members who are available to the transportation industry.
Committee on Antitrust and Unfair Trade Practices
Co-Chair: Andrew M. Danas
Grove, Jaskiewicz & Cobert - 1730 M St., NW, Ste. 400, Washington, DC 20036 Phone: (202) 296-2900 Fax: (202) 296-1370 E-mail: adanas@gjcobert.com
Co-Chair: Michael Spurlock
Beery & Spurlock Co., LPA - 275 E. State St., Columbus, OH 43215-4330
Phone: (614) 228-8575 Fax: (614) 228-1408 E-mail: mspurlock@BeerySpurlock.com
DESCRIPTION: The mandate of the committee is to develop antitrust topics for the legal education program at the TLA Annual Conference and the Transportation Law Institute, coordinate written articles prepared by committee members for publication in The Transportation Lawyer and solicit information from committee members regarding new legal developments in the antitrust area for dissemination to other members.
Committee on Bankruptcy and Creditors’ Rights
Chair: Daniel D. Doyle
Lathrop & Gage LLP - Pierre Laclede Center, 7701 Forsyth Blvd., Ste. 400, Clayton, MO 63105
Vice Chair: Gary Seitz
Rawle & Henderson, LLP - The Widner Bldg, One South Penn Square, Philadelphia, PA 19107
DESCRIPTION: The Committee on Bankruptcy and Creditors’ Rights offers its members numerous opportunities to meet and interact with other transportation practitioners whose practices include bankruptcy and creditor-debtor law; stay current on relevant legal issues in that field; contribute articles to The Transportation Lawyer on timely topics in the fields of bankruptcy and creditor-debtor law; and participate in continuing legal education panels at TLA conferences. The committee meets annually at the TLA conference in May or June; and also meets by telephone at other times during the year to plan or discuss activities.
Committee on Casualty Litigation Chair: Brian T. Del Gatto
Wilson Elser Muskowitz Edelman & Dicker, 1010 Washington Blvd, 8th Floor, Stamford, CT 06901-2208
Phone: (203) 388-9100 Fax: (203) 388-9101 E-mail: Brian.DelGatto@WilsonElser.com
Vice Chair: David Hall
Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC - 420 20th St., North-Ste. 1600, Birmingham, AL 35205
DESCRIPTION: The Casualty Litigation Committee is devoted to sharing information, strategies and breaking developments for the effective defense of accident litigation filed against the transportation industry. Motor carrier liability, insurance coverage, discovery issues and trial tactics are primary areas of focus.
Committee on Commercial and Business Litigation
Co-Chair: Bruce E. Mitchell
Mitchell & Associates - Lenox Towers South, 3390 Peachtree Road, NE, Ste. 520, Atlanta, GA 30326-1108
Co-Chair: Scott D. Carey
Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, P.C. - 211 Commerce St., Commerce Ctr., Ste. 800, Nashville, TN 37201
DESCRIPTION: The Commercial and Business Litigation Committee monitors, reviews and informs the TLA of business and commercial litigation in the transportation sector, including but not limited to transactional litigation, collection matters, coverage issues, demurrage and detention, contract issues and disputes and restrictive covenants. The committee intends to distribute case summaries, participate in regional and annual seminars, and identify resources such as expert witnesses. We encourage active participation in the sharing of case law and experience to enable the committee to keep all members of the TLA fully informed of developments in civil litigation concerning transportation issues.
Co-Chair: Robert E. Spears
The Spears & Robl Law Firm-104 Cambridge Avenue, Decatur, GA 30030
Co-Chair: Robert D. Moseley
Smith Moore Leatherwood, P.O. Box 87, Greenville, SC 29602-0087
DESCRIPTION: The focus of TLA’s Freight Claims Committee is to keep its members informed of current developments in freight claim and related issues and litigation for all modes of transportation, so that we may better advise and protect the interests of our clients. We seek to accomplish this goal by encouraging use of our forum for questions and novel issues, preparation and circulation of summaries of relevant decisions, legislative developments, citations and pleadings, in-person round-table discussion of recent cases and developments at our Annual Meeting and at the Transportation Law Institute and through general networking among committee members.
Committee on Labor and Human Resources
Chair: F. Barham Lewis, Jr.
Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, PC - One Allen Center, 500 Dallas, Ste. 3000, Houston, TX 77002
Vice Chair: Erin Williams
Sedgwick, Detert, Moran & Arnold, LLP - 1717 Main St., Ste. 5400, Dallas, TX 75201
DESCRIPTION: This committee’s principal purpose is to communicate with TLA members on Labor and Human Resource issues which impact the transportation industry. To meet this objective committee members will provide timely written updates/articles and present programs to TLA members which deal with employment-related matters. The committee goals will be met by publishing articles in The Transportation Lawyer and presenting part of the Legal Education Program at the TLA Annual Conference and/or Transportation Law Institute.
Committee on Logistics and E-Commerce Chair: Tamara B. Goorevitz
Franklin & Prokopik, PC, Two North Charles Street, Ste. 600, Baltimore, MD 21201
Vice Chair: Justin Olsen
Olsen Skoubye & Nielson, LLC - 999 E. Murray-Holladay Rd., Ste. 200, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
DESCRIPTION: The mission of the Committee on Logistics and E-Commerce is to foster interest among the members of TLA in the law and legal decisions affecting transportation logistics and transportation e-commerce; to facilitate the education of the members of TLA concerning the laws and legal decisions affecting transportation logistics and transportation e-commerce; to encourage its members to submit legal articles for publication in The Transportation Lawyer and in The Transportation Law Journal pertaining to transportation logistics and transportation e-commerce; and to encourage its members to make presentations at TLA conferences and seminars and at Transportation Law Institutes pertaining to transportation logistics and transportation e-commerce.
Governmental Affairs Committees
Committee on Canadian Transportation Law
Chair: M. Gordon Hearn
Fernandes Hearn LLP - 155 University Ave., Ste. 700, Toronto, Ontario M5H 3B7, Canada
DESCRIPTION: The Canadian Transportation Law Committee will monitor transportation law related developments in Canada and identify those that are likely to be of broad interest to the members of TLA, and pursue avenues for timely information sharing. In addition, the committee will provide a forum for networking among those members of TLA that have an active and ongoing interest in the trends and developments in Canadian transportation law; encourage the membership to make regular and timely submissions to the editors of The Transportation lawyer on issues and developments in the Canadian transportation law forum; and consider and undertake other related and compatible activities on an ad hoc basis.
Committee on Federal Legislation, Agency Practice, and Security
Co-Chair: Kenneth E. Siegel
Strasburger & Price, LLP - 1800 K St., NW, Ste. 640, Washington, DC 20006
Co-Chair: Henry E. Seaton
Seaton & Husk - 2240 Gallows Rd., Vienna, VA 22182
Phone: (703) 573-0700 Fax: (703) 573-9786 E-mail: heseaton@aol.com
DESCRIPTION: This committee reviews pending bills relating to the funding of federal transportation regulatory agencies and projects as well as licensing, safety and fitness, and other regulatory statutes affecting carriers and shippers of goods, except for trade security issues; and monitors substantive and procedural developments at federal agencies which affect transportation. Of particular interest are precedent setting adjudications and rulemakings before the FMCSA, STB, OSHA, FMC and other agencies which affect the operations, duties and obligations of the various transportation modes which TLA members represent.
Committee on International Trade and NAFTA
Co-Chair: Virginie Masse
Cain Lamarre Casgrain Wells, 580 Grande Allee Est., Bureau 440, Quebec, QC G1R 2K2, Canada
Co-Chair: Carlos Sesma, Jr.
Sesma, Sesma &. McNeese, S.C., Idaho No. 14, Col., Napoles, Mexico,
DF 03810, Mexico
DESCRIPTION: The committee’s purpose is to provide information and advice to and a forum for members on international transportation/trade issues: comparative analyses on national laws impacting international transportation issues including taxation, employment, immigration, workers’ compensation, independent and dependent contractors, labor relations, hours of service and drug testing; international customs and trade restrictions affecting global and national transportation industry efficiency, competitiveness and security; and international and national transportation liability regimes.
Committee on State Regulatory Issues
Chair: Eric W. Beery
Beery & Spurlock Co., LPA - 275 East State St., Columbus, OH 43215 -4330
DESCRIPTION: The mandate of the committee is to appraise the membership and interested parties of the status of motor carrier regulation by the respective states.
Modal Committees
Committee on Admiralty and Maritime TransportationChair: Steven W BlockFoster Pepper PLLC – 1111 Third Ave., Ste. 3400, Seattle, WA 98101-3299
Phone: (206) 447-7273 Fax: (206) 749-2109 E-mail:
sblock@foster.com
Vice Chair: Robert L. ReebMarwedel, Minichello & Reeb, PC - 10 S. Riverside Dr., Ste. 720, Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: (312) 902-1600, ext. 5685 Fax: (312) 902-9900 Email:
rreeb@mmr-law.com
DESCRIPTION: The Admiralty and Maritime Transportation Committee was created to help the members keep up to date on admiralty and maritime law and developments, especially in relation to other modes of transportation and intermodal transactions, and to attract and service attorneys with interest or partial interest in that area and to encourage them to write articles and notes for The Transportation Lawyer.
Committee on AviationChair: Peter A. McLauchlan Gardere Wynne Sewell, LLP - 1000 Louisiana, Ste. 3400, Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (713) 276-5730 Fax: (713) 276-6730 E-mail:
pmclauchlan@gardere.com
DESCRIPTION: The Aviation Committee serves three functions: to assist members with questions relating to aviation law; to provide articles and lectures to the membership in a continuing education role; and to be a resource for referrals to experts and counsel with aviation skills throughout the world.
Committee on Motor Carrier TransportationCo-Chair: Hillary Arrow BoothDongell Lawrence Finney, LLP, 707 Wilshire Blvd, 45th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90017
Phone: (213) 943-6100 Fax: (213) 943-6101 E-mail:
hbooth@dflawyers.com
Co-Chair: Robert M. Spira Yormick & Associates Co LPA - Fifth Third Center, 600 Superior Ave E - Suite 1300, Cleveland, OH 44114
Phone: (216) 928-3474 Fax: (216) 479-6801 Email:
rspira@yormicklaw.com
DESCRIPTION: The Committee on Motor Carrier Transportation is charged with monitoring the ever-evolving industry of highway transportation for hire. Members maintain an up-to-date and working knowledge of all facets of the industry and are often looked to for their expertise in this specialized area of law. The committee provides a network of practicing attorneys in multiple jurisdictions able to educate and represent clients on issues unique to motor carrier operations.
Committee on Rail Transportation
Chair: William P. ByrneHolland & Knight, LLP, 50 N. Laura St., Ste. 3900, Jacksonville, FL 32202
Phone: (904) 798-5408 Fax: (904) 358-1872 E-mail:
william.byrne@hklaw.com
Vice Chair: Robert B. Ledoux, Jr.Florida East Coast Railway - 7411 Fullerton Dr. Ste 100, Jacksonville, FL 32256
Phone: (904) 614-0400, Email:
robert.ledoux@fecrwy.com
DESCRIPTION: The Committee on Rail Transportation is comprised of TLA members who have an interest in transportation by rail. A purpose of the Rail Transportation Committee is to keep its members abreast of current developments in the rail industry. In addition, the Rail Transportation Committee is committed to educating all TLA members by submitting material for publication in The Transportation Lawyer presenting speakers at TLA’s Annual Conference.
Marc S. Blubaugh
Benesch, Freidlander, Coplan & Aronoff, LLP - 41 S. High St., Suite 2600, Columbus, OH 43215
DESCRIPTION: The mission of the Publicity Committee is to raise the profile of TLA, both in the transportation industry and with other members of the legal profession. To that end, the Publicity Committee works to identify mechanisms and forums through which to promote the organization, its activities and its members, and then follows through as appropriate.
Computer & Technology Committee
Chair: David L. Dephtereos
Law Offices of David L. Dephtereos - 191 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06880
Phone: (203) 221-2852 Fax: (203) 221-2853 E-mail: david@dephtereoslaw.com
DESCRIPTION: The committee’s goal is to improve communications among TLA members and with the general public through the use of technology through the TLA website in particular. The committee is responsible for maintaining, updating and expanding the capabilities of the TLA website. The committee works with the TLA Executive Director, committee chairmen and TLA members to update information that is available on the website, including directories, the Brief Bank, links to other websites, and upcoming education events. The committee also strives to advise the membership of new sources of information that are available on the Internet, in particular at government and other transportation-related websites.
Committee on Memorials/History
Co-Chair: Richard H. Champlin
2300 NW 56th St., Oklahoma City, OK 73112-7704
Phone: (405) 842-8253
Co-Chair: David B. Schneider
Law Offices of David B. Schneider, P.C. - P.O. Box 1147, Oklahoma City, OK 73101
DESCRIPTION: The TLA History and Memorials Committee is the custodian of memories of the organization. Richard Champlin, past president and long time chairman of the committee has written two informal “histories” of the group, the latest version is available on the website. Included in its mission, the committee is charged with publishing memorials of deceased members in The Transportation Lawyer. The committee would appreciate being notified of the death of any member preferably not by the decedent.
ADMINISTRATION AND MEMBER SERVICES DIVISION
Committee on Recruitment and Member Services
Chair: Fritz R. Damm
Scopelitis, Garvin, Light, Hanson & Feary, PLC, 535 Griswold St, Ste. 1818, Detroit, MI 48226 Phone: (313) 237-7400 Fax: (313) 963-7425 E-mail: fdamm@scopelitis.com
DESCRIPTION: The Committee on Recruitment and Member Services is specifically devoted to broadening the base of TLA membership. The Membership Committee strives to broaden that base both in terms of numerosity and diversity. The Membership Committee is constantly seeking new members, along with organizational groups with which to liaison, to generate new members. The Membership and Recruitment Committee continues to urge all members to let us know about any prospects.
CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION DIVISION
Committee on 2012 Regional Seminar-ChicagoChair: Steven B. NovyChilton Yambert Porter & Young, LLP, 150 S. Wacker, Ste. 2400, Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: (312) 460-8000 Fax: (312) 625-8262 E-mail:
snovy@cyp-law.com
Vice Chair: Steve CantyChilton, Yambert & Porter, 150 S. Wacker St., Ste. 2400, Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: (847) 625-8200 Fax: (847) 625-8262 E-mail:
scanty@cyp-law.com
Committee on 2012 Annual ConferenceChair: John F. Wilcox, Jr.Dysart, Taylor, Lay, Cotter & McMonigle, PC - 4420 Madison Ave., Kansas City, MO 64111
Phone: (816) 931-2700 Fax: (816) 931-7377 Email:
jwilcox@dysarttaylor.com
2012 Transportation Law Institute (Planning Committee) Chair: Jeffrey R. SimmonsRyley Carlock & Applewhite - One N. Central Ave., Ste. 1200, Phoenix, AZ 85004-4417
Phone: (602) 440-4804 Fax: (602) 257-6904 Email:
jsimmons@rcalaw.com
Committee on WebinarsChair: Eric L. ZaludBenesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff - 2300 BP Tower, 200 Public Square, Cleveland, OH 44114-2378
Phone: (216) 363-4178 Fax: (216) 363-4588 Email:
ezalud@bfca.com
2012 Annual ConferencePatrick K. McMonigleDysart, Taylor, Lay, Cotter & McMonigle, PC, 4420 Madison Ave., Kansas City, MO 64111
Phone: (816) 931-2700 Fax: (816) 931-7377 E-mail:
pmcmonigle@dysarttaylor.com
2013 Annual Conference M. Gordon Hearn Fernandes Hearn LLP - 155 University Ave., Ste. 700, Toronto, Ontario M5H 3B7, Canada
Phone: (416) 203-9500 Fax: (416) 203-9444 E-mail:
gord@fernandeshearn.com
Committee on Constitution and Bylaws
Chair: Mark J. Andrews
Strasburger & Price, LLP -1800 K St., NW, Ste. 640, Washington, DC 20006
DESCRIPTION:
This committee furnishes the Executive Committee with assistance and advice on drafting proposed or approved amendments to the Association’s bylaws and considers and makes recommendations on issues relating to the legal structure and governance of the Association.
Corporate Counsel Committee (Inside Counsel) Co-Chair: Sandra K. Hiller
Dart Transit Company, P.O. Box 64110, St. Paul, MN 55164-0110
Co-Chair: Roderick J. Fracassi
Con-Way Inc., 2211 Old Earhart Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48105
DESCRIPTION: TLA’s Corporate Counsel Committee’s main goal is to increase corporate counsel’s active and continuing membership in TLA. Our committee serves as the “home team” for in-house members within TLA’s preponderance of litigator-members. We strive to facilitate liaisons between our members and appropriately specialized and located transportation firms. We encourage our members to consult and share with one another best practices and tricks of the in-house trade. Last but not least, we keep the litigator-members informed as to what we, as in-house counsel, need from our outside counsel.
Chair: Michele Davis
Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, PC, 10 South Broadway, Ste. 2000, St. Louis, MO 63105,
Vice Chair: Charles E. Riley, IV
Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn, LLP - 1100 Poydras St., Ste. 3000, New Orleans, LA 70130
DESCRIPTION: The Young Lawyers Committee’s primary goals are to facilitate the involvement of new members in TLA, promote interaction between new/younger members with the veteran/seasoned members of TLA and to foster relationships among the new/younger members that will create life long involvement with one another and commitment to TLA.