Fletcher & Sippel LLC is a thirteen-attorney law firm located in Chicago, the rail hub of America. Our practice is concentrated on serving clients in the rail industry and the railroad supply business.
Fletcher & Sippel LLC is unique in that we are the only law firm that caters specifically to rail clients and that can address nearly every legal problem a railroad is likely to face. We have experienced business counselors, trial attorneys, regulatory counsel and labor negotiators. Other law firms may have a group of attorneys who handle rail matters, but invariably they focus on one or two aspects of railroad legal affairs and do not deal comprehensively with the business of railroading, whether it be structuring acquisitions, counseling operating and marketing officers or litigating injury and commercial claims.
We are unique in another way too. Because we work extensively with mid- to small-sized railroads, we need to deliver value for the fees we charge. The value comes from a team of lawyers with literally over a century of combined experience practicing railroad law � and three of whom combine to bring over 50 years of in-house railroad experience. Not only do we bring together broad expertise in railroad law, but our long experience has given us a knowledge of the industry and a network of contacts at railroads, shippers, suppliers, labor unions and governmental bodies which is unparalleled.
The reasonableness of our fees stems from the prevailing rates in Chicago, which are lower than those charged by our competitors on the East Coast, our modest offices and relatively low overhead, and our cost consciousness. Having worked with the entrepreneurs of the short-line industry, and with the ever-shrinking workforces and cost structures of the Class I railroads, we have adopted our clients' focus on value, while providing the highest level of service.
In this twenty-first century, we don't need to be physically located in Washington, D.C. to have an effective presence at the STB, NMB, FRA or other federal agencies with which railroads must deal. On the other hand, our Chicago location is conveniently accessible for all our clients.