Rob’s entire practice has been focused on the transportation and logistics industry. He has tried more than 80 cases to jury verdict in federal and state courts and has decades of experience representing trucking companies, brokers, logistics companies and their insurance carriers in disputes involving: 

• commercial transportation accidents

• federal and state safety regulations

• freight claims

• insurance coverage disputes

For several insurance companies and regional and national motor carriers, Rob serves as national counsel managing active litigation in 20 to 30 states at any given time. 

Rob has developed a team of lawyers versed in the world of freight claims. The terms Carmack Amendment, Himalaya Clause, and on-hand notice are nothing new here. Rob has also obtained acclaim in pursuing cases for his collection of freight charges from shippers, including government agencies. 

Transportation contracting is an area where Rob concentrates on reviewing and drafting shipping contracts and tariffs. He has defended brokers in negligent selection cases and is on the forefront of arguments related to federal preemption. Broker liability cases are not unfamiliar territory. Rob has handled some of the most serious and noteworthy broker liability cases in the country. 

One of Rob's assets is his ability to advise trucking companies on proactively assessing and addressing risk, both internally and externally, as well as planning for growth and development. 

Independent contractors can be a troublesome area for motor carriers. Rob works with motor carriers to manage contractual relations and negotiate the Federal Regulations and decisions. 

After law school, Rob clerked for Judge Joseph F. Anderson Jr. on the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina. 

Honors & Awards 

• Motor Carrier Insurance Education Foundation, Honorary Member

• Transportation Lawyers Association's Distinguished Service Award, 2011

• South Carolina SuperLawyers, Listed Transportation/Maritime (2009, 2011-2022)

• Named Greenville Best Lawyers Law Lawyer of the Year, Insurance (2014, 2021), Personal Injury Litigation (2016, 2021)

• Listed, The Best Lawyers in America® (Woodward/White, Inc.), Insurance Law, Personal Injury Litigation- Defendants, more than 10 years

• Recognized by Chambers and Partners, USA, as one of South Carolina Leaders, General Commercial Litigation (2014-2020)

• Greenville Business Magazine awards, Legal Elite, Insurance (2013, 2015, 2016, 2018) o Legal Elite, Transportation (2013, 2015)

• Best and Brightest Under 35 (1997)

• Compleat Lawyer Award, University of South Carolina School of Law, 2001

• Recognized by the South Carolina Trucking Association for efforts in protecting the interests of the Transportation Industry, 2004

• American Trucking Association's Safety and Loss Prevention Council Outstanding Contribution Award, 2007

• Martindale-Hubbell's top ("AV") Peer Review Rating

• Thomson Reuters’ Stand-Out Lawyers 2024

Past Speaking Engagements and Recent Publications

• Minnesota Trucking Association’s Management Conference, April 20, 2023

• Captive Connections Meeting, Orlando, FL, April 25, 2023

• Traffic Captive Meeting, Dubuque, IA, May 1, 2023

• Auto Haulers Association of American, Baltimore, MD, May 1, 2023

• Truckload Carriers Association Safety Meeting, San Antonio, TX, June 11, 2023

• JJ Keller Webinar, Event Recorders and Litigation, July 23, 2023 Zoom

• Cottingham and Butler Summit, Broker Liability, Chicago, IL, August 23, 2023

• MCIEF Annual Conference, Insurance and Coverage Issues, October 3, 2023

• TIDA Annual Seminar, FMCSA Regulatory and Enforcement Issues, October 10, 2023

• Georgia Bar Association Seminar, FMCSA Regulatory and Enforcement Issues, October 19, 2023

• SMC3 Transportation University, Contracts and Insurance, July 29, 2021 Zoom

• TEANA Annual Conference, Cleveland, OH, July 24, 2021

• SMC3 Transportation University, Contracts and Regulatory, July 22, 2021 Zoom

• NCTA Management Conference, Charleston, SC, July 19, 2021

• Cottingham Butler, Independent Contractors, May 27, 2021

• Great West Casualty Company, Leadership Conference, Where Liability Meets Corporate Management, May 11, 2011

• ATA Safety Management, Suspected but Unproven Damage, April 28-29, 2021

• SCTA Fall Safety Management Conference, November 13-15, 2020

• Auto Haulers Association of America, Virtual Expo, Motor Carrier Screw Ups, Nashville, TN, October 28, 2020

• Marsh Fleet, Solutions Fall 2020 FS Risk Control Workshop, Regulatory Update, September 23, 2020

• Truckload Carriers Association Annual Meeting, A Trucker’s Worst Day, June 25, 2020

• TLA Webinar, Truck Insurance Coverage Issues, June 2020

• Great West Leadership Conference, Trucking Leadership Symposium, March 4, 2020

• Great West Risk Management, Broker Liability 2.0, February 15, 2020

• Minnesota Trucking Association, Trucking Management Conference, Engagement and Relationships – The Key to Retention, April 18, 2019

• Cottingham & Butler, Transportation Safety Workshop and Independent Contractor Sessions, April 30-May 1, 2020

• True North Webinar, Cargo Claims from 30,000 Feet, May 7, 2019

• Smart Drive, Driving Success Together Conference, Atlanta, GA, May 2019

• TEANA, Liability Issues, The Cost of Freight Claims, July 20, 2019

• 2019 NCTA Annual Management Conference, Impact of Technology on Litigation Panel, July 30, 2019

• TrueNorth Cargo Update, August 28, 2019

• Cottingham & Butler, Contract Pitfalls, October 2, 2019

• MCIEF Annual Conference, Trucking Update, October 3-4, 2019

• Keller Logistics Customer Summit Carrier and Supply Chain Issues, U.S. Industrial Real Estate Market Update, October 9, 2019

• SCTA Fall Management Conference, Being Prepared for a Deposition, November 8, 2019

• Georgia Motor Truck Association, Leadership Conference, Trucking Legal Update, November 21, 2019