Reynolds named FRA's chief legal counsel

Gerald Reynolds has been named chief counsel for the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), the agency announced yesterday.

As the principal legal adviser to FRA Administrator Ronald Batory, Reynolds is responsible for overseeing all FRA legal matters. This includes providing counsel on freight and passenger-rail issues, including those related to safety and financial assistance programs. He also manages the FRA's legal department, which consists of 50 attorneys and staff.

Reynolds has extensive federal and private-sector legal experience. Prior to joining the FRA, he served as a top legal expert for three major utility companies, including five years as general counsel, chief compliance officer and corporate secretary for a large Kentucky utility, FRA officials said in a press release.

From 2004 to 2010, Reynolds served as chairman of the U.S. Civil Rights Commission. In addition, he has served as a deputy associate attorney general at the U.S. Department of Justice and assistant secretary for U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights.