Admiralty & Maritime

Details

Our attorneys represent all of the world’s major Protection and Indemnity Clubs, along with top domestic marine insurers, ship owners, ship charterers, freight forwarders, NVOCCs, global cruise lines, marinas, and shipyards. We have secured favorable outcomes in landmark cases involving vessel arrests, cargo seizures, and high-profile maritime collisions.

Our experience spans a broad range of legal challenges includes personal injury claims, marine property damage, oil spills and environmental matters, recreational boating incidents collisions, maritime contract and charter party disputes, detention and demurrage claims, repatriation of foreign stowaways, and vessel arrest and cargo-related seizures. With deep knowledge of the maritime industry’s complexities, our team delivers creative, practical solutions to help clients achieve their goals efficiently and effectively.

With offices strategically located in Savannah and St. Simons Island, two of the Southeast’s busiest ports, we are well positioned to respond quickly to client emergencies and conduct on-site investigations when time is critical.

Our attorneys stay current on the latest developments in maritime law through active participation in key professional and industry organizations, including the Maritime Law Association of the United States, the Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute, and the Propeller Club of the United States.

Experience

• Counseled commercial aquaculture clients on maritime personal injury and Jones Act liability; collaborated on Washington, D.C. lobbying efforts; and assisted in drafting the Jones Act amendment concerning aquaculture workers (46 U.S.C. §30104(b)).

• Advised small and large businesses on Jones Act cabotage compliance, including assisting recreational charter businesses with Coast Guard requirements and serving as specialty counsel in M&A transactions involving the purchase and transfer of marine assets.

• Achieved summary judgment for foreign vessel owners in longshore personal injury matters brought under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (33 U.S.C. §905(b)), involving alleged failure of container vessel equipment.

• Defended a naval architect against a shipbuilder’s breach of contract claim, achieving a defense jury verdict, and successfully prosecuting a breach of contract counterclaim.
• Obtained a declaratory judgment for a marine insurance carrier based on a seaworthiness condition in its policy, and successfully defended that finding on appeal to the Fourth Circuit and on brief to the Supreme Court of the United States.

• Handled the defense of the salvor of the capsized RO/RO (car carrier) vessel GOLDEN RAY in litigation concerning oil pollution claims arising from the wreck removal process.

• Secured summary judgment for the City of Savannah in over 30 personal injury claims following the collapse of a city waterfront dock ramp.

• Successfully argued for exoneration under the Limitation of Liability Act on behalf of a marine construction contractor whose vessel was being used by the wrongful death claimant.

• Represented a container vessel operator in connection with a collision with a fishing boat off the coast of Savannah.

• Guided recreational yacht owners on compliance with U.S. entry requirements, as well as the strategic risks and benefits associated with foreign vessel registry.

Articles

Media