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New Hampshire Joins Data Protection Trend, Passes Comprehensive Data Protection Law
  1. People

Marc S. Blubaugh

Co-Chair, Transportation & Logistics Practice Group; Vice Chair, Litigation Practice Group
Columbus
T.
614.223.9382
liamE
“I’m passionate about using my deep involvement in the transportation and logistics industry to help my clients succeed and grow.”
“I’m passionate about using my deep involvement in the transportation and logistics industry to help my clients succeed and grow.”

"Marc is probably the pre-eminent transportation lawyer in North America at this time. He has tremendous depth of knowledge across the sector." – Benesch client, Chambers USA

“Marc is extremely well informed, is able to quickly get to the crux of the issues and can seamlessly merge practical with legal knowledge." – Benesch client, Chambers USA

“Marc has a very strong reputation and is a fabulous attorney. He is highly responsive, extremely knowledgeable and gives great guidance.” – Benesch client, Chambers USA

“Marc is very experienced, great at what he does and very focused on these issues.” – Benesch client, Chambers USA

“Marc has fantastic legal skills and responsiveness as well as a fundamental understanding of our business." – Benesch client, Chambers USA

“Marc brings an excellent balance of business experience and legal expertise to every issue." – Benesch client, Chambers USA

“Marc is an industry thought-leader." – Benesch client, Chambers USA

Marc is a trusted advisor to providers and commercial users of transportation, logistics, warehousing and other supply chain services across North America and beyond. A litigator by trade, he regularly consults with clients regarding contracting practices and operating procedures, helps them navigate the changing regulatory landscape, manages internal investigations and advises on best supply-chain practices. Marc also provides strategic and business counsel to help clients minimize liability and just as importantly, position their businesses for growth. A consummate connector and problem solver with deep industry knowledge, Marc routinely finds creative solutions to his clients’ most vexing challenges and their most ambitious objectives.

Over the course of nearly 30 years, Marc has also litigated a wide variety of transportation and logistics-related disputes in state and federal courts nationwide, as well as before regulatory bodies. He represents international and domestic carriers of all modes, freight forwarders, transportation brokers, warehousemen, third-party logistics providers and commercial shippers in a diverse array of surface, air and ocean disputes. These include high-dollar cargo claims, freight charge and pricing controversies, breaches of transportation, logistics and warehousing agreements, prosecution of subrogation claims, insurance coverage disputes, trade-secrets and unfair competition litigation, class action defense and other complex business disputes. He also defends carriers, third-party logistics providers and shippers in catastrophic injury actions arising from the transportation of goods.

Representative Experience

  • Serves as outside General Counsel to the Transportation Intermediaries Association, a not-for-profit trade association that has, for over 40 years, provided leadership, education and training resources, and public policy advocacy to the $343 billion per year third-party transportation and logistics industry.

  • Serves as outside General Counsel to the Intermodal Association of North America, the leading transportation trade association representing the combined interests of the intermodal freight industry, including intermodal and over-the-road motor carriers, railroads (Class I, short-line, and regional), water carriers, stacktrain operators, port authorities, intermodal marketing and logistics companies, and suppliers to the industry such as equipment manufacturers, leasing companies, and technology firms. 

  • Defended a freight broker in a multimillion-dollar claim involving the theft of Bitcoin servers in California obtaining dismissal of all extra-contractual claims despite adverse precedent in the Ninth Circuit, ultimately leading to a highly favorable resolution. 

  • Defended a freight broker and its employee in a seven figure noncompete dispute in Michigan state court brought by the employee’s former employer and ultimately defeating summary judgment using some novel and innovative theories, thereby favorably changing the entire settlement dynamic just weeks before trial.

  • Defended freight broker in a substantial intrastate claim for freight damage in Alaska state court, ultimately obtaining dismissal under the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act in the first decision in the nation finding extra-contractual claims preempted against freight brokers.

  • Defended a publicly traded freight broker in connection with claims arising out of a high-stakes fatal highway accident in Texas and procured a complete victory in connection with a motion to dismiss based upon federal preemption. 

  • Defended a warehouse operator in a nearly $10 million dollar dispute in federal court proceedings in Ohio and Massachusetts over termination of the operator’s relationship with an e-commerce retailer, successfully obtaining a series of favorable rulings regarding the customer’s claims.

  • Defended a fourth-party logistics provider in a warehousing dispute in federal court involving over $5 million of inventory destroyed in a Texas warehouse fire.

  • Defended a distributor in a federal court action arising out of alleged breach of a national distribution agreement with claims involving more than $30 million, involving not only the defense of the claims but prosecution of counterclaims turning on complex jurisdictional and procedural issues, which in turn required significant briefing and Court involvement over matters that could have substantially interrupted or curtailed the distribution of numerous products and their availability in the retail market.

  • Defended and obtained dismissal of various officers, directors, principals, and corporate affiliates of a motor carrier in an action arising out of a fatal highway accident for which the plaintiff was seeking to pierce the corporate veil and impose alter ego liability.

  • Litigation
  • Health Care Litigation
  • Fraud Investigation, Prosecution & Defense
  • Insurance Coverage
  • Personal Injury & Wrongful Death Defense
  • Product Liability & Mass Tort Litigation
  • Real Estate Litigation
  • State & Federal Discrimination Claims
  • Construction
  • Construction Litigation
  • Corporate Compliance & Regulatory Enforcement
  • Metaverse/Web 3.0, Blockchain & Smart Contracts
  • Corporate Compliance
  • Regulatory Enforcement/Advocacy
  • Transportation & Logistics
  • Dispute Resolution
  • General Transportation
  • Operating Relationships
  • Regulatory Compliance
  • Not-for-Profit
  • Not-for-Profit/Litigation
  • Additive Manufacturing-3D Printing
  • Air Transportation
  • International Trade & Supply Chain Management
  • Case Western Reserve University, 1994, B.A.
    • magna cum laude
    • Phi Beta Kappa
  • Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, 1997, J.D.
    • summa cum laude
    • Order of the Coif
    • Associate Editor, The Ohio State University Law Journal
    • Executive Director, The Ohio State University Appellate Advocacy Council
    • Michael F. Colley National Trial Team
  • Ohio
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • Ranked Band 1 Nationally for Transportation: Road (Carriage/Logistics), Chambers 2018-2025
  • Listed, The Best Lawyers in America® 2008-2025: Transportation Law
  • Named, Lawyer of the Year in Transportation Law by The Best Lawyers in America® 2020 and 2025
  • AV®Rated, Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review
  • Listed, Ohio Super Lawyers, Transportation/Maritime, 2011, 2015-2025
  • Listed, Ohio Super Lawyers - Rising Stars, 2005
  • Board Member of the Year, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), Central Ohio Chapter, 2019
  • Recipient, Transportation Lawyers Association's Distinguished Service Award
  • Listed, Martindale-Hubbell Top Rated Lawyers' in Health Care 2013
  • Listed, Martindale-Hubbell Top Rated Lawyers' in Transportation 2013
  • Member, American Bar Association
  • Member, Columbus Bar Association
  • Member, Ohio State Bar Association
  • Past Chair, Benesch Mentoring Program
  • General Counsel, Intermodal Association of North America
  • General Counsel, Transportation Intermediaries Association
  • Past President, Breakthrough T1D 
  • Member, Board of Directors for the American Logistics Aid Network 
  • Past President, Columbus Roundtable for the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals
  • Past President and Member, Transportation Lawyers Association
  • Member, Executive Committee of the Transportation Lawyers Association (Voting 2008-2016/Non-Voting 2016-present)
  • Member, Canadian Transportation Lawyers Association
  • Member, International Warehouse Logistics Association
  • Member, Delta Nu Alpha (Transportation Fraternity)
  • Member, Ohio Trucking Association (Membership Committee)
  • Member, Columbus Importers and Brokers Association
  • Member, Columbus Transportation Club
  • Member, Medmarc Medical Device Liability Defense Panel
  • Member, American Trucking Associations
  • Member, International Association of Defense Counsel 
  • Member, Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association
  • Member/Trustee, Leadership Council, American Diabetes Association (2002-2004)
  • Trustee, National Audubon Society, Columbus Chapter (2001-2004)
  • Member, Transportation Review Advisory Council Ranking Group Committee (2004)
  • Grader, Ohio State Board of Bar Examiners (1998-2006)
  • Admissions Representative, Case Western Reserve University Alumni Admissions Program (1997-present)
  • Co-Chair, St. Paul Silent Auction (2012-2013)
  • Member, National Home Delivery Association

Highlights

Articles and Presentations
November 13, 2025
Transportation Law Update | Marc S. Blubaugh
October 29–30, 2025
2025 CIFFA Conference | Marc S. Blubaugh
October 9, 2025
Demurrage and Detention Billing After WSC v. FMC

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News
October 5, 2025
Law360 Quotes Co-Chair Marc Blubaugh on Supreme Court Broker Negligence Case Pivotal for Trucking
October 3, 2025
FreightWaves Quotes Marc Blubaugh on SCOTUS Review of Broker Liability Case
September 29, 2025
FreightWaves Highlights Benesch Partner Marc Blubaugh in Coverage of Supreme Court Broker Liability Case

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Beyond the Office
Favorite Quote
“Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.” – Winston Churchill
Favorite Vacation
Trip to Italy (Rome, Florence, and Venice) with my wife and four children.
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