Rodney Payne and Earl Martin Join Steptoe & Johnson’s Louisville Office

Louisville, KY – Rodney D. Payne and Earl L. Martin have joined the Louisville office of Steptoe & Johnson PLLC. Payne joins the firm as a Member and Martin joins as Of Counsel. Both have joined the firm’s Litigation Department.

“We are happy to welcome Rod and Earl to the firm’s Louisville office,” said Steptoe & Johnson CEO, Christopher L. Slaughter. “Rod’s focus on civil trial work and Earl’s background in business litigation and transactional matters will deepen and expand our firm’s litigation practice.”

Payne has extensive litigation experience with a special emphasis on defending railroads, including the defense of crossing accidents, train derailments, and claims brought pursuant to the Federal Employer’s Liability Act. He is a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers and is admitted to practice in all Kentucky state courts, the United States District Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Kentucky, as well as the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. He earned his law degree from the University of Louisville and his bachelor’s degree from Western Kentucky University.

Martin’s practice includes representing small businesses, individuals, nonprofit associations, and large corporations in litigation and transactional matters, including estate planning and administration, tax law, general corporate, government contracting, and intellectual property. He also has a background in appellate matters with a particular focus on defending railroads and government entities, including municipalities. He is admitted to practice before the Kentucky Supreme Court, the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, and the United States Tax Court. Martin earned his law degree from the Emory University School of Law and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia.

About Steptoe & Johnson

Steptoe & Johnson PLLC is a law firm nationally recognized for its strengths in energy law with more than a century of know-how in the areas of business, labor and employment, and litigation. Steptoe & Johnson has over 400 lawyers and other professionals practicing in 18 offices in Colorado, Kentucky, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, and West Virginia. Visit and connect with us on X (f/k/a Twitter) and LinkedIn.

For more information, contact Ryan Daniels, Chief Marketing Officer, at (614) 456-1647 or by email: press@steptoe-johnson.com.