Our legacy
Standing with railroaders since 1982.
1982
The first FELA case
Jim McEldrew begins representing injured railroad workers, establishing what would become a long-term focus on FELA and rail labor.
1995
National Counsel for the TWU FELA Program
Jim is appointed national counsel for the Transport Workers Union designated attorneys serving its FELA program, expanding the firm’s role within the railroad labor community.
1995-1996
Leadership in Rail Labor Law
Jim serves as President of the Academy of Rail Labor Attorneys, reflecting the firm’s growing involvement in railroad law and labor advocacy.
2000s-2010s
The Practice Expands
As the firm grows, railroad matters develop beyond a single-attorney practice, with additional lawyers and staff supporting FELA litigation and long-standing union relationships.
Early 2020s
A Bigger FELA Litigation Team
By the early 2020s, multiple McEldrew Purtell attorneys are actively handling railroad cases, including John Coyle, Daniel Purtell, Colin Haviland, and Cormick McLaughlin.
Today
A Dedicated National Railroad Injury Practice
McEldrew Purtell continues representing railroad workers and their families nationwide through a dedicated FELA practice built on more than four decades of railroad law experience.
Our Results
Our railroad practice has handled significant FELA matters involving serious injuries, occupational conditions, and workplace deaths.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case depends on its specific facts and legal circumstances.
About McEldrew Purtell’s Railroad Injury Practice
Today, our railroad practice remains a core part of the firm, built on decades of relationships with railroad workers, families, union representatives, and labor organizations. We represent workers across the country while continuing the commitment to rail labor that helped shape the practice from the beginning.
Those long-standing relationships matter. Many railroad workers come to us through coworkers, union contacts, former clients, and families we have represented before, creating a practice that has grown through trust and continuity across generations.
Proud Members
A Practice Built to Last
Railroad law is not a secondary practice area for McEldrew Purtell. It has been part of the firm’s identity for decades and continues to receive dedicated attorneys, staff, resources, and attention.
As the railroad industry changes, the practice continues to evolve with it while remaining focused on the same group of people it was created to serve: railroad workers and their families.
National Representation, Personal Relationships
Our railroad practice represents workers across the country, but the relationships behind those cases remain personal. Railroad employees often work within close-knit crafts and union communities where reputation travels through coworkers, families, and generations.
We take seriously the trust that comes with being recommended within those communities. If you need to speak with someone about a serious railroad injury or FELA matter, contact our railroad team.
Award-Winning Service
