Norfolk Southern Corp. has beefed up its litigation firepower as it defends itself against an onslaught of litigation stemming from February’s massive toxic-material derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.

Joining the Atlanta-based freight railroad operator this month was Nate Smith, who will serve as general counsel for a legal department led by Chief Legal Officer Nabanita Nag. Smith comes from Tesla, another company that’s no stranger to legal strife, where he’s been associate general counsel and head of general litigation for 17 months.