People

Christian L. Alexander

Attorney

Washington, DC Office
202.955.5600

Education and Clerkships

M.C.R.P., with distinction, University of Cape Town, 2018
J.D., University of Colorado Law School, 2011
Graduate Energy Certificate, University of Colorado Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute, 2011
Resource Editor, Journal on Telecommunications and High Technology Law, 2010–2011
B.A., cum laude, Amherst College, 2006

Bar Admissions

District of Columbia
Colorado

Christian L. Alexander

Christian Alexander helps public and private clients navigate the complex and nuanced interactions between federal, state, local, and tribal law to build healthy, equitable, thriving communities.

Christian’s practice includes a focus on assisting public entities in the development and operation of public transportation and infrastructure projects, particularly passenger rail systems, rail-related infrastructure, and airports. He has significant administrative law experience representing state and local governments before various federal boards and administrations, including the Surface Transportation Board, the Federal Transit Administration, the Federal Railroad Administration, the Federal Aviation Administration, and various state regulatory bodies, as well as litigation experience before federal courts and quasi-judicial regulatory entities. His experience in transportation infrastructure and operations also extends to land acquisition and use, contracting, tenancy and concessionaire issues, labor, civil rights, and funding issues. He has worked on both transit-oriented development and rails-to-trails projects.

Christian has experience with legal issues involving regulating the environment, energy, and land use. His work includes advising clients on federal environmental regulatory processes for public projects, as well as use of public lands. His background also includes working on state and federal energy regulation and policy issues. Christian holds a master’s degree in city and regional planning and a graduate certificate in renewable and sustainable energy studies.

The unique relationship between tribal law and tribal sovereignty and federal and state law poses special opportunities and challenges for tribes, tribal members, and tribal businesses. Christian assists tribal governments regarding issues of tribal sovereignty and governance, and the implications on projects and people in Indian Country. In law school, he assisted in researching climate change mitigation and adaptation on tribal lands and helped initiate a social-entrepreneurial effort to support small-scale renewable energy accessibility on the Navajo Nation. Christian is a proud member of the Hopland Band of Pomo Indians of Northern California.

Representative Experience

Atlanta BeltLine, Inc., Atlanta, Georgia
Assisted Atlanta BeltLine in navigating federal regulatory requirements in connection with acquisition and development of rail corridors for public trail and modern streetcar passenger transit uses

State and Intergovernmental Transportation Authorities
Represented several state and intergovernmental transportation authorities separately before the Surface Transportation Board in disputes regarding the allocation of capital and operational costs between state passenger rail operators and Amtrak

Maryland Department of Transportation
Represented Maryland DOT regarding regulatory status and strategies for use of state-owned rail lines, including freight use, light rail, and public trail use

New York City Economic Development Corporation
Represented NYCEDC and the City of New York before federal regulatory bodies and in negotiations with other parties concerning various rail, rail-trail, and rail-to-harbor projects

Dallas Love Field, Texas
Represented airport sponsor in establishing and defending gate allocation methodology within highly unique federal legislative and regulatory context

City of Phoenix, Arizona
Represented airport sponsor in federal litigation seeking changes to FAA air navigation routes

Professional and Civic Activities / Awards

  • Recipient, University of Cape Town’s Carl Borckenhagen Memorial Prize for Best MCRP Student
  • Recipient, Western Cape South African Planning Institute Prize for Overall Best Student MCRP and MCPUD (Urban Development) Programs
  • Recipient, Western Cape Government Prize for best Regional Planning Project
  • Resident Member, Capitol Hill South Advisory Neighborhood Commission - Planning and Zoning Committee (2013–2015)
  • University of Colorado Law School, Alumni Carrier Profiles - Promising Starts (2013)
  • Elephant Energy, Eagle Energy Program, Volunteer Interim Program Director (2010–2011)
  • Colorado Bar Association
  • District of Columbia Bar Association
  • Licentiate Member, Royal Town Planning Institute (UK)
  • Member, Hopland Band of Pomo Indians

News & Publications

Presentations

Commuter Rail Update
Association of Transportation Law Professionals Annual Meeting
2013–2015
American Public Transportation Association International Practicum on Innovative Transit Funding & Financing
06.16.14

Publications

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Airport Cooperative Research Program
12.03.20
Transportation Research Board's National Cooperative Rail Research Program
February 2016
View All Publications

Education and Clerkships

M.C.R.P., with distinction, University of Cape Town, 2018
J.D., University of Colorado Law School, 2011
Graduate Energy Certificate, University of Colorado Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute, 2011
Resource Editor, Journal on Telecommunications and High Technology Law, 2010–2011
B.A., cum laude, Amherst College, 2006

Bar Admissions

District of Columbia
Colorado