Transport
Specialist legal insight that keeps people moving
Transport sector expertise
The UK transport sector continues to transform at pace, driven by NetZero ambitions, ESG targets, decarbonisation of fleets and infrastructure, changing funding models, increased regulatory oversight, digitalisation, and the demands of a post COVID travelling public and workforce. Against this backdrop, operators, authorities, investors, developers and infrastructure owners and managers face a complex landscape of commercial, legal and political pressures including public ownership of non-open access rail services, and franchised bus services/enhanced partnerships.
Freeths’ national Transport Sector team brings together experts from across the firm to help clients navigate these challenges and seize new opportunities. Whether you are responding to industry changes, operating within competition and subsidy control frameworks, planning new infrastructure, managing estates and assets, or addressing HR, IR, health & safety or environmental obligations, we provide the clarity and confidence you need to move forward.
A client base across the transport ecosystem
We act for a broad spectrum of transport sector organisations, including:
- Commercial transport operators
- Airlines, airports and aviation service providers
- Government bodies and regulators
- Combined and local authorities and devolved transport bodies
- Financiers, equity investors and institutional funders
- Infrastructure owners, maintainers and statutory undertakers
- Manufacturers, technology and software providers
- Developers, landowners and retailers
- Organisations throughout the transport supply chain
We also advise clients from other sectors impacted by major transport schemes such as HS2, Crossrail, airport expansion and new highways or station and depot developments. Our integrated approach means we frequently work alongside our Energy, Waste & Sustainability colleagues on renewable energy projects on transport infrastructure, decarbonisation and NetZero initiatives, and regeneration schemes near operational railways, ports and major transport interchanges.
Watch our short animation below to find out more about our expertise:
Our People
The Transport Sector team is led by Michael Bray and Iain Bowler, supported by a network of dedicated sub sector specialists:
Why choose Freeths for your transport legal needs?
Our dedicated team works across major transport modes including heavy rail, light rail and tram, highways, bus & coach, and airports & aviation, providing advice on the full spectrum of contractual, regulatory, operational, commercial and infrastructure issues. We are a full service transport law firm.
Clients choose us because we offer:
- Deep sector insight across all transport modes with highly experienced lawyers that are deeply entrenched in the sector
- A multidisciplinary approach, ensuring seamless advice across planning, real estate, environment, commercial, regulatory, procurement, employment, health & safety and dispute resolution. We operate as a transport team
- Experience supporting domestic and international clients with complex, high value matters in highly regulated environments
- A proven track record on nationally significant transport schemes
- Pragmatic, commercially focussed advice grounded in how the transport sector really works
We advise airports, airlines and service providers on all aspects of aviation operations, commercial agreements and infrastructure, including:
- Major airport redevelopment and expansion
- Concession agreements (retail, advertising, catering)
- Surface access and ground transportation contracts
- Supplier and aviation contracts (IT, PPM, PRM, ground handling)
- Procurement and tendering under UCR and CCR
- Competition law, mergers and market investigations
- Drafting airport by-laws
- Health & Safety Executive investigations, prosecutions and inquests
- NSIP/DCO applications
- Compulsory purchase and compensation
- Supplier members of the Confederation of Passenger Transport
We work with local transport authorities and operators on regulatory, commercial and operational matters, including:
- Enhanced Partnerships and franchising
- Demand responsive transport
- DfT and local grant funding schemes
- Licensing and regulatory compliance
- Ticketing schemes and revenue arrangements
- Technology procurement
- Retail and F&B concessions at bus stations
- Competition and subsidy control advice
Our highways expertise spans construction, operation, regulation and environmental matters, including:
- Fleet and vehicle procurement
- Highway tolling powers and charging regimes
- New roads and highways schemes
- Highways framework agreements
- Low emission vehicles, hydrogen and EV charging infrastructure
- Planning and consenting, including NSIP/DCO
- Environmental regulation and permitting
- Habitats and ecology considerations
Our rail team advises across heavy rail, light rail, tramways, rolling stock and major station developments, including:
- Long‑term maintenance arrangements and asset stewardship
- Rail depot and station leasing, redevelopment and major improvements
- Construction of new tramways and tram depots
- Rail franchising and concessions
- Tram system operation and maintenance
- Rolling stock procurement and maintenance
- Ticketing scheme and revenue allocation disputes
- Corporate M&A in rail and transport technology
- Network Rail asset protection and implementation agreements
- Asset diversions and monitoring regimes for statutory utilities
- Retail and F&B concessions at stations
- NSIP/DCO applications and Transport & Works Act Orders
- CPO and compensation
Who we work with
A selection of clients we have supported includes:
- London Luton Airport
- Bristol Airport
- Transport for London
- Rail for London
- London St Pancras Highspeed (t/a HS1)
- Midlands Highways Alliance
- Merseytravel
- Onur Air
- Porterbrook
- Hitachi Rail Limited
- Travis Perkins Plc
- Various Local Authorities and Transport Bodies
Our accreditations
We are celebrating another year of accreditations and memberships.
Testimonials
"The team is obviously experienced in the subject area and brings a sound commercial perspective to support negotiations."
The Legal 500, 2026
"Freeths is growing as an excellent value for money force in the rail sector. They have a wide range of decent support services and are flexible an...
The Legal 500, 2026
"Pro-active and highly knowledgeable team, able to take a commercial view when required."
The Legal 500, 2026
"Freeths LLP is developing a strong railway orientated team."
The Legal 500, 2026
"Freeths have shown a capability to provide legal support of the highest standard on projects and bring in specialists when required and often at s...
The Legal 500, 2025
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Meet our team
Matt Collingwood-Cooper
Partner
Melanie Stancliffe
Partner
Contact us today
Whatever your legal needs, our wide ranging expertise is here to support you and your business, so let’s start your legal journey today and get you in touch with the right lawyer to get you started.
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