Overview
Gunster's cross-disciplinary Transportation Group is composed of lawyers with legal talent and business acumen laser-focused on managing risk, solving problems, and helping clients achieve their growth and market dominance goals.
Why Us
Immersed in the industry with decades of experience and an insider’s perspective, we are well-versed in the myriad issues and challenges our clients confront and are efficient and "big picture" driven with a long track record of successfully addressing the issues our transportation sector clients face.
Fully integrated with our practice-focused teams, including employment, corporate, environmental, construction, regulatory and litigation, we deliver a 360-degree viewpoint with customized solutions and strategies. Our work is informed by our understanding of the industry to assist clients in avoiding and managing risk and leveraging opportunities to their full advantage.
Our Clients
Our clients include a diverse range of transportation-related businesses, including:
- Logistics companies
- Freight forwarders
- Aviation manufacturers
- Rail and motor carriers
- Shipping companies
- Transportation technology providers
- Public and private transportation authorities
How We Help
Our Transportation Group lawyers are experienced in every facet of the industry – transactions, regulatory matters, litigation/dispute resolution, finance, infrastructure, technology and security, international trade, corporate governance and all areas related to shipping. Clients benefit from our strategic business counsel, training, and risk mitigation advice in managing day-to-day operations, carriage of goods, delays, demurrage, logistics, cargo damage and loss claims, infrastructure development, employment and labor issues, tariffs and various other issues.
We have helped create transportation-focused companies, untangled complex land use, zoning, permitting and environmental issues, and secured funding, project finance, and public bonds on significant infrastructure and transportation-related development projects in the U.S. Our lawyers have resolved operational challenges, handled numerous cargo-related issues, and regulatory matters, and have negotiated and enforced facilities and all other types of contracts.
In addition, we frequently support clients with transportation-related needs, helping companies move equipment or goods throughout the world. Well-versed in domestic and international supply chain matters, we advise and assist clients with regulatory compliance and enforcement with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Transportation Security Administration and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, as well as on FDA-regulated products, detained or refused merchandise and petitions for removal of FDA Import Alerts.
If and when disputes arise, our skilled attorneys work to resolve issues as swiftly and effectively as possible. We have prevailed for clients in significant litigation in federal, state trial and appellate courts, including at the U.S. Supreme Court, and in arbitrations and administrative forums around the U.S. Leveraging our understanding of opposing counsel’s perspectives and arguments, we anticipate our opponents’ strategies and arguments to attain positive outcomes for our clients.
We have achieved winning results in niche areas that few other firms are equipped to handle, including claims asserted under the Carmack Amendment, Shipping Act of 1984, Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, and Federal Maritime Commission cases.
Our Services
We regularly represent clients in regulatory compliance, project development and land use, litigation, corporate and transactional matters, employment and labor, and intellectual property matters.
Regulatory Compliance
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
- Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
- Federal Maritime Commission (FMC)
Project Development and Land Use
- Environmental and land use permits
- Development, construction, and design contracts and structure
- Funding and finance arrangements
- Real estate transactions
- Leasing arrangements
Litigation and Dispute Resolution
- Complex commercial litigation
- Class action defense
- Contract disputes
- Licensing and investigations
- Antitrust and competition
Corporate and Transactional Services
- Mergers and acquisitions
- Corporate governance
- Private equity investments
- Strategic alliances
- Due diligence, negotiation and deal structuring
Employment and Labor
- Employee disputes
- Executive Compensation
- Contractor compliance
- Labor
Intellectual Property
- Trademark and copyright infringement
- Trade secrets protection
- Technology licensing agreements
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Leaders in the Field
Gunster attorneys are former appointees to the state and federal offices regulating their industry, including the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration and have well-established and effective working relationships with regulators and government agencies. Our lawyers have served in the following roles including:
- Chief counsel, U.S. Customs
- Miami-Dade County Commissioner
- Board member and chairman of the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (TriRail)
- Florida state senator, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and member of the Senate Transportation and Economic Development Appropriations sub-committee
- Panel counsel to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration
Industry Engagement
Gunster attorneys are active in many transportation-related industry associations including:
- Association of Transportation Law Professionals
- Transportation Lawyers Association
- Florida Trucking Association
- Conference of Freight Counsel
- Florida Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association
- American Bar Association – various transportation and international sections
- Globalaw
