The Chief Counsel is the principal legal advisor to the Administrator and provides executive direction over three divisions: Office of Development Law, Office of General Law, and Office of Safety Law.

The Office Development Law advises FRA’s program offices on legal matters related to FRA’s administration of its federal financial assistance programs, including: 

• Amtrak Financial Assistance 
• Domestic Preference Requirements (Buy America)
• Environmental Law (National Environmental Policy Act, National Historic Preservation Act, Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act)
• Federal Financial Assistance Requirements
• Surface Transportation Board
• Tribal Consultation

The Office of General Law has two branches, Administration and Operations.  

The General Law Administration Branch advises FRA’s program offices on legal matters, including: 

• Equal employment opportunity and other anti-discrimination laws, rules, and regulations
• External civil rights matters, including the Americans with Disabilities Act and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
• Ethics and Standards of Conduct
• Personnel and employment matters, including labor and employee relations, and litigation
• Designates an attorney as FRA’s Administrative Hearing Officer

The General Law Operations Branch advises FRA’s program offices on legal matters, including: 

• Appropriations and authorizations 
• Artificial intelligence data matters not covered by Safety Law or Development Law
• Cybersecurity
• Information law, including the Freedom of Information Act
• Intellectual property
• Federal debt collection
• Federal property (Washington Union Station and Transportation Technology Center)
• Federal Tort Claims Act 
• Privacy Act
• Procurement and acquisitions
• Records management

The Office of Safety Law advises FRA’s program offices on legal matters involving safety issues, including:

• Assists with developing and drafting safety regulations
• Assesses civil penalties for violations of the rail safety statutes and FRA safety regulations
• Provides other legal support for FRA's safety program