The American Lawyer named Paul Schnell, Brandon Van Dyke and Dohyun Kim among its Dealmakers of the Year for their representation of Union Pacific Corporation in its pending combination with Norfolk Southern Corporation.
In a profile, The American Lawyer called the transaction the largest railroad merger in U.S. history, noting that it required “navigating uncertainties that stemmed from the first-ever attempt to complete a transaction under revised railroad merger rules dating to 2001,” among other challenges.
As Mr. Schnell noted in the profile, the transaction will create a fully integrated transcontinental railroad — something first advocated by Abraham Lincoln over 160 years ago.
“It’s transformative when you think of the potential it has to impact the U.S. economy, the U.S. supply chain, even enhancing national security,” Mr. Schnell said. “It really is an impactful transaction of significant consequence.”
Read the article: “The 2026 Dealmakers of the Year,” March 2026.