Canadian Railway Acquires Iowa Northern Railway
News
December 6, 2023
On December 6, Jenner & Block client Canadian National Railway Company (CN) closed on its acquisition of Iowa Northern Railway Company, a critical transportation network operating approximately 275 miles of track serving a mix of agricultural and industrial shippers in Iowa. The transaction involved the deposit of the controlling equity of Iowa Northern into a voting trust at closing, pending approval by the US Surface Transportation Board to the transaction.
The terms were not disclosed. This press release includes more details, including this statement by CN President and CEO Tracy Robinson: “We look forward to the opportunities our combined network will provide customers, farmers, and our partners to respond to the needs of their existing and new markets. By enabling all of us to play an even more important role in this critical supply chain and densifying our southern network, we are accelerating sustainable, profitable growth.”
CN is one of the world’s 500 largest public companies by market capitalization (approximately $72.3 billion).
The deal team comprised Corporate Partners Martin Glass and Jeremy Casper and Associates Bill Erlain and Miguel Suarez, with critical support from Partners Steve Siros, Matt Renaud, Emma Sullivan, Michelle McAtee, Geoff Davis, Jan Larson, and Madeleine Findley; Associates Maliha Ikram, Katherine Funderburg, Abe Salander, and Daniel Robertson; Practice Counsel Katya Lewandowska; and Paralegal Jiwon Kim.
Related Attorneys
Related Capabilities
© 2026 Jenner & Block LLP. Attorney Advertising. Jenner & Block LLP is an Illinois Limited Liability Partnership including professional corporations. This publication, presentation, or event is not intended to provide legal advice but to provide information on legal matters and/or firm news of interest to our clients and colleagues. Readers or attendees should seek specific legal advice before taking any action with respect to matters mentioned in this publication or at this event. The attorney responsible for this communication is Brent E. Kidwell, Jenner & Block LLP, 353 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654-3456. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Jenner & Block London LLP, an affiliate of Jenner & Block LLP, is a limited liability partnership established under the laws of the State of Delaware, USA and is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority with SRA number 615729. Information regarding the data we collect and the rights you have over your data can be found in our Privacy Notice. For further inquiries, please contact dataprotection@jenner.com.
News
December 6, 2023
On December 6, Jenner & Block client Canadian National Railway Company (CN) closed on its acquisition of Iowa Northern Railway Company, a critical transportation network operating approximately 275 miles of track serving a mix of agricultural and industrial shippers in Iowa. The transaction involved the deposit of the controlling equity of Iowa Northern into a voting trust at closing, pending approval by the US Surface Transportation Board to the transaction.
The terms were not disclosed. This press release includes more details, including this statement by CN President and CEO Tracy Robinson: “We look forward to the opportunities our combined network will provide customers, farmers, and our partners to respond to the needs of their existing and new markets. By enabling all of us to play an even more important role in this critical supply chain and densifying our southern network, we are accelerating sustainable, profitable growth.”
CN is one of the world’s 500 largest public companies by market capitalization (approximately $72.3 billion).
The deal team comprised Corporate Partners Martin Glass and Jeremy Casper and Associates Bill Erlain and Miguel Suarez, with critical support from Partners Steve Siros, Matt Renaud, Emma Sullivan, Michelle McAtee, Geoff Davis, Jan Larson, and Madeleine Findley; Associates Maliha Ikram, Katherine Funderburg, Abe Salander, and Daniel Robertson; Practice Counsel Katya Lewandowska; and Paralegal Jiwon Kim.
Related Attorneys
Related Capabilities
© 2026 Jenner & Block LLP. Attorney Advertising. Jenner & Block LLP is an Illinois Limited Liability Partnership including professional corporations. This publication, presentation, or event is not intended to provide legal advice but to provide information on legal matters and/or firm news of interest to our clients and colleagues. Readers or attendees should seek specific legal advice before taking any action with respect to matters mentioned in this publication or at this event. The attorney responsible for this communication is Brent E. Kidwell, Jenner & Block LLP, 353 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654-3456. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Jenner & Block London LLP, an affiliate of Jenner & Block LLP, is a limited liability partnership established under the laws of the State of Delaware, USA and is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority with SRA number 615729. Information regarding the data we collect and the rights you have over your data can be found in our Privacy Notice. For further inquiries, please contact dataprotection@jenner.com.
News and Insights
Publications
In New York Law Journal, The True Lender Doctrine and the OppFi Decision
Partners Jeremy Creelan, Michael Ross, Megan Poetzel, and Laurel Loomis Rimon, and Associate Molly Oberstein-Allen authored an article for the New York Law Journal examining the "True Lender" doctrine in light of a May 2026 California decision that provides the most detailed judicial framework to date for evaluating bank-nonbank lending partnerships.
July 1, 2026
Event
Partner Michael Vernick to Speak at NACUA's 2026 Annual Conference
On July 1, Partner Michael Vernick will speak on a panel at the National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA) 2026 Annual Conference in Nashville.
July 1, 2026
Publications
In Employee Relations Law Journal: What Happens When ERISA Disability Deadlines Slip
Partner Joseph Torres along with Associates Emma O'Connor and Christopher LeWarne, authored an article for the Employee Relations Law Journal analyzing a significant Fourth Circuit decision with substantial consequences for ERISA disability plan administrators.
June 23, 2026