Jane Sutter Starke advises transit authorities in matters related to funding, project development, procurement, regulatory compliance, labor issues, disputes, and advocacy.
Jane is co-chair of Thompson Coburn’s well-respected national public transit practice, which represents public transit agencies; city, county and state governments; transit suppliers, and transit consulting firms in the nation’s largest metropolitan areas.
From finding funding for mass transit systems to advising on procurement, contracting, operating and maintenance services, one could say that Jane’s work helps keep the trains, buses and even alternatively fueled vehicles and fueling infrastructure, efficiently developed and running.
Jane’s previous service as Counsel to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce has given her in-depth knowledge of congressional authorization and appropriations processes and helps her develop successful approaches to funding capital investment projects and vehicle purchases, as well as effectively utilizing her advocacy skills. Clients count on Jane to closely track legislation, help formulate positions and inform their lobbying efforts regarding appropriations and other legislative issues. She regularly represents clients before the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), and the Congress.
In this heavily regulated industry, compliance is an ongoing and shape-shifting activity. Jane helps ensure her clients’ compliance with a host of federal regulations, including the requirements of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), the Department of Transportation (DOT), Buy America requirements, section 13(c) labor protection obligations, process, and disputes, FTA grants, contracting, as well as labor issues and beyond. When necessary, Jane works closely with Thompson Coburn’s renowned litigators to successfully represent transit clients in such matters as environmental litigation, challenges to contracting actions, and disputes and arbitration involving 13(c) labor protection issues.
Among Jane’s qualities that clients appreciate most is her genuine care for the success and support of the transit industry, as well as its benefits to the community and public as much as they do.
- American Public Transportation Association, Past Chair, Legal Affairs Committee; Member of Legislative Committee; Member of Policy and Planning Committee and Zero Emission Fleet Committee
- Capital Investment Grants Working Group
- WTS – DC Chapter
- Rated AV Preeminent® in Legal Ability & Ethical Standards in The American Registry, 2020 -2024, managed and monitored by Martindale Hubbell
- Listed among Top Rated Lawyers in Labor and Employment in 2019 by ALM Legal Leaders
- Co-author, “Transit Labor Protection – A Guide to Section 13(c) of the Federal Transit Act”
Transportation Research Board, June 1995 - Co-author, “The Competitive Access Debate: A ‘Backdoor’ Approach to Rate Regulation”
Transportation Law Journal, Vol. XVI, No. 2, 1988 - Co-author, “Aftershocks of the Loss of the Legislative Veto: Severability and the Need for a Replacement Device”
Pace Law Review, Vol. 7, No. 3-4, 1987
Gardening and yoga: While these outside-of-work activities of mine seem unrelated, they both require focus and dedication to get the desired result — traits that have been so important to my legal practice. I also love traveling in Europe and the UK and the simple, relaxing act of walking my Labrador retriever named Willow.