Practice Areas
Railroad Economic Regulation (Surface Transportation Board)
Railroad Safety Regulation (Federal Railroad Administration)
Railroad Contracts (including railcar leases)
Natural Gas Regulation (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission)
Maritime Law (ports)
In Memoriam – Donald G. Avery (1943-2022)
Slover & Loftus LLP
Slover & Loftus LLP celebrates the life of Donald G. Avery, a firm member for over 40 years who passed away on September 18, 2022. Don is remembered as a superb attorney, an honest colleague and a community leader.
Don joined the firm after a successful term as counsel for Amtrak, and quickly mastered the intricacies of railroad economics, cost accounting and railroad operations. This expertise proved invaluable to the firm’s many clients who depended on fair and accurate regulation of railroad pricing and services to meet the needs of their customers, including millions of electric utility ratepayers. Don also was a pioneer in the modern development of regional or “short line” railroads, which today are an integral part of the Nation’s rail network. In the early 2000s, Don led the creation of the Little Rock & Western Railroad, one of the first of this new breed and a model for dozens of new small rail carriers that emerged over the decade. In addition to his work in the railroad sector, Don was an expert in the field of natural gas transportation transactions and regulation, and successfully represented major gas pipeline customers and consumers in important proceedings before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
Within Slover & Loftus LLP, Don was a kind and guiding mentor to young attorneys working to develop their litigation and negotiation skills, and always was a source of constructive criticism and warm encouragement. The same empathy and selfless supportiveness flourished outside of his professional life, in his work on behalf of his community. A musician and singer, Don contributed to his church choir, and participated regularly in outreach efforts to supply food and comfort to those less fortunate. The Red Cross also was a consistent beneficiary of Don’s generosity.
Don was predeceased by his loving wife Rosemary, and is survived by his sons William, James and John, and multiple grandchildren. The members of Slover & Loftus LLP honor the memory of our partner and friend.