Katherine Bourdon is a transportation attorney focusing her practice on regulatory matters surrounding passenger and freight railroads. Katherine has experience counseling public entities on the federal regulations and obligations associated with large and small transit and rail projects. Katherine has represented local governments and transit agencies in matters before the Surface Transportation Board and U.S. federal courts.  Katherine routinely advises her clients on issues related to federal preemption and railroad operations; obligations associated with the use of federal grant funding; environmental requirements related to transit projects; and developments in the rail and transit industry. Most recently, Katherine counseled transit agencies and airports on legal issues associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.    

Prior to joining the Firm, Katherine served as an attorney and congressional liaison at the Surface Transportation Board, providing counsel to stakeholders on decisions, governing law, and procedures, as well as managing the written correspondence with Congress and assisting with Congressional inquiries.  

Previously, Katherine worked as an infrastructure associate at a national law firm, where she represented rail clients on a variety of regulatory and contract matters.  She also served as a Law Clerk and Staff Attorney at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces.

Representative Experience

City of Atlanta
Represented the City of Atlanta in federal regulatory proceeding associated with private development of a historically significant site

Commuter Rail Division of the Regional Transportation Authority (d/b/a Metra)
Represented Metra in a dispute with a Class I freight railroad regarding transportation obligations and federal preemption

Metro-North Commuter Railroad 
Represented Metro-North before the Surface Transportation Board in a Adverse Discontinuance Proceeding 

Prior to joining the Firm, Katherine:

• Counseled passenger railroads on contract and regulatory matters
• Advised members of the public regarding Federal railroad regulatory matters
• Provided guidance to Federal regulators on railroad industry trends and activities
• Acted as a Federal government liaison in disputes between freight railroads and railroad shippers