Sidley Transportation

Sidley welcomes Adam Raviv, who has joined our Regulatory and Enforcement group as global co-chair of the firm’s Automotive and Mobility industry group, and counsel in the Environmental practice in Washington, D.C. Mr. Raviv was most recently Chief Counsel at the U.S. Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). “Adam’s understanding of the NHTSA will help us deepen our relationships in the automotive, mobility, and transportation sectors,” said Kristin Graham Koehler, a member of the firm’s Management Committee and managing partner of Sidley’s Washington, D.C. office. “With new regulations and guidance for autonomous vehicles, Adam will also work closely with others across the D.C. office and the firm in supporting our clients’ deals and investments in this space.” Read more on his arrival to Sidley here: https://bit.ly/3G1rClV.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced a deregulatory initiative aimed at promoting domestic energy production and reducing regulatory burdens, which includes reconsidering numerous regulations related to power plants, the oil and gas industry, electric vehicles, and manufacturing sectors. While ambitious, the initiative faces uncertainties due to lengthy, complex rulemaking processes and expected litigation. Read here for our five key takeaways from EPA’s announcement: https://bit.ly/43Ta5pY.

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) voted to comprehensively revise the maintenance and operation standards and reporting requirements for electric generating asset facilities. Notably, the changes amend the existing general order by applying the general standards for electric generating asset facilities to battery energy storage systems, modernizing technical maintenance and operational standards, and creating new reporting requirements. Read our insights here: https://bit.ly/43QMhTB.

Sidley is representing Geotab, a global leader in connected vehicle and asset solutions, in a joint venture with Vitality, the world’s largest behavioral change platform, to redefine commercial fleet management.   The venture will combine telematics and behavioral science to incentivize and reward driver excellence. By providing fleets with access to an all-in-one behavior change platform, this venture aims to improve driver safety and well-being, reduce risk, and support better road safety. The Sidley team is led by partners Chris Barbuto and Anna Remis. Read more here: https://bit.ly/43j5Rro.

On February 21, 2025, President Trump issued a memorandum on “America First Investment Policy,” which outlines his plans to use foreign investment policy to further decouple the United States from certain “foreign adversaries,” most notably China. The memorandum proposes strengthening restrictions on inbound investment from China and outbound investment to Chinese technology companies. Read here for our five key takeaways: https://bit.ly/4bsWozL.

On February 1, President Donald J. Trump signed three executive orders announcing the imposition of additional tariffs on products of Canada, Mexico, and China. While the additional tariffs on China went in effect on February 4, those set to go into effect for Canada and Mexico have been suspended for one month. Read here for our key takeaways from the executive orders, insights on potentially forthcoming tariffs, and considerations for companies that rely on imports into the U.S.: https://bit.ly/40Xl7bX.

California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) recently published modifications to the short-form warnings required for products under Proposition 65, which can be used starting January 1, 2025, and which will replace the available safe harbor language starting January 1, 2028. Companies should review and update as needed their #Prop65 consumer product and food warnings and start labeling both passenger and off-highway motor vehicle parts as well as recreational marine vessel parts. Read our insights here: https://bit.ly/40ICrQE.

Two deals on which Sidley advised have been recognized at The M&A Advisor’s 2025 Turnaround Awards. The #restructuring of Rite Aid Corporation was named the winning matter in the “Healthcare/Life Sciences Deal of the Year (Over $1B)” category. The Sidley team, led by Dennis Twomey and Elizabeth Tabas Carson, represented Rite Aid’s largest pharmaceutical product supplier, McKesson Corp., in the Rite Aid bankruptcy. The sale of ICON Aircraft, Inc. assets to an affiliate of Dürkopp Adler GmbH was recognized in the “Industrials Deal of the Year (Under $1B)” category. The Sidley team, led by Sam Newman, represented ICON, a California-based manufacturer of light-sport aircraft, in its filing for Chapter 11 protection. Read more on the deals here: https://bit.ly/4jDRXpK.

Sidley represented Ancala, an independent infrastructure manager, in the formation of short line rail specialist Phoenix Rail and in the subsequent #acquisition by Phoenix Rail of Lehigh Valley Rail Management (LVRM). LVRM, Phoenix Rail’s first acquisition, will provide access to three Class I #railroads, situated between major metropolitan areas, including New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C. The Sidley team was led by Brien Wassner, Samantha Seley, and Terry Hynes. Read more here: https://bit.ly/4hwl24v.

On January 16, the U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security published a final rule set to impact the entire U.S. automotive industry, formalizing prohibitions on certain information and communications supply chain transactions for connected vehicles involving hardware and software linked to China and Russia. Read our insights here: https://bit.ly/4hpFHal.