Indianapolis-based national law firm whose Supply Chain, Transportation and Logistics practice advises carriers, brokers, shippers and logistics companies on regulatory, contract, labor and litigation matters.
Services
Who it serves
Overview
Barnes & Thornburg LLP is a national law firm headquartered in Indianapolis. Its Supply Chain, Transportation and Logistics practice represents logistics businesses, carriers, brokers, manufacturers and shippers that move freight by truck, ocean, air and rail, from large international transportation companies to small and mid-sized suppliers.
The firm describes the practice as cross-disciplinary, drawing on its corporate, litigation, labor and employment, environmental, intellectual property and government relations lawyers. When the firm announced the group's formation, it said the group brought together more than 40 attorneys from multiple practice areas across its offices at the time.
The firm's transportation blog posts have covered topics such as California's AB 5 and how it applies to motor carriers, which is a live issue for carriers using owner-operators.
Compare with other Transportation Attorneys providers: Cozen O'Connor, Clark Hill and Fox Rothschild, or see all Transportation Attorneys.
Services
Regulatory and government. The practice page lists licensing, rate and finance matters, federal contracting, bidding and procurement, permitting and complaints before federal regulators. The firm's Washington, D.C. office and Federal Relations Group help on legislation.
Environmental. Work with DOT, FAA, EPA and state agencies, hazardous materials transport, underground storage tank remediation, facility permitting and cleanup.
Corporate. Financing, growth strategy, mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures; review and preparation of transportation contracts, equipment leases and ocean carrier contracts; and real estate deals for terminals, land and offices.
Litigation. Commercial disputes, supplier and distribution disputes, employment litigation, product liability, wrongful death, cargo security and vehicle and premises accidents. The page says the firm has 180 litigators.
Labor and employment. Collective bargaining and union matters, wage and hour, discrimination claims, OSHA, FMLA, reductions in force and non-compete agreements.
Other. Insurance claims and coverage, employment-based immigration, and intellectual property and data security.
Who it is for
This practice fits carriers, brokers and shippers whose legal needs reach beyond pure freight law into corporate, employment, environmental and government relations work. A carrier facing a union campaign, an AB 5 question for its owner-operator program and an equipment financing deal at the same time could keep all of that in one firm.
The practice page does not name freight claims or FMCSA enforcement as standalone services, so a broker or carrier whose main need is cargo claims or safety rating work should ask which attorneys handle that day to day.
Shippers and manufacturers that buy a lot of freight can also use the practice for their side of the relationship: carrier and broker contract programs, terminal and warehouse real estate, and environmental or hazmat questions tied to their shipping operations. Logistics companies planning an acquisition or a capital raise can use the corporate team, which the practice page lists alongside the transportation contract work.
How working with them works
Barnes & Thornburg does not publish fees for transportation work. Engagement typically starts with a conflict check and an engagement letter. The practice page lists attorneys connected to the group, and the firm publishes alerts and blog posts on transportation and supply chain topics that can help you identify the right contact.
Because the practice draws from several departments, expect to work with a relationship attorney who brings in specialists for employment, environmental or litigation issues as needed. Ask early who your main point of contact will be.
A practical way to start is a short scoping call about one defined project, such as reviewing your broker-carrier agreement or your owner-operator lease, so you can see how the team works and what it costs before handing over larger matters.
Questions to ask before you sign
Who is the lead attorney for transportation clients, and which of the group's lawyers handle freight claims, broker-carrier disputes or FMCSA matters specifically?
Do you represent any party on the other side of my matter, or my key customers and carriers?
How is work billed when several departments are involved? Ask for rates by attorney level and whether you will get one consolidated budget.
For owner-operator programs: how would you review my independent contractor agreements for AB 5 and similar state laws, and what would it cost?
Which states are your attorneys admitted in, and which office would lead my work?
Company background
Wikipedia reports that Barnes & Thornburg was formed in 1982 by the merger of two Indiana firms, Barnes, Hickam, Pantzer & Boyd of Indianapolis (founded 1940) and Thornburg, McGill, Deahl, Harman, Carey & Murray of South Bend (founded 1926). It is headquartered in Indianapolis.
Wikipedia lists about 850 attorneys and 26 offices across the United States, with offices opened since 2009 in cities including Boston, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta, Minneapolis and Columbus. The firm's logistics and transportation group was announced as a newly formed, cross-practice group of more than 40 attorneys.
Sources
Information compiled from public sources. Last verified November 2026. Confirm details directly with the company.
