From Contracts to Litigation, We Know the Sea
Our admiralty and maritime lawyers represent clients in a comprehensive range of maritime matters involving commercial vessels, pleasure vessels, shipyards, maritime employment and marine insurance. Some of our attorneys are Board Certified by the Florida Bar in Admiralty and Maritime Law and have backgrounds in engineering and other relevant fields. We participate in maritime organizations and industry groups, and we often write and speak about legal issues affecting the maritime industry.
In a unique area of our practice, our attorneys represent approximately half of the commercial purse seine U.S. flag tuna fishing fleet and the U.S. tuna industry in every aspect of their business (including transactions, regulatory compliance and litigation) from the High Seas to grocery store shelves and everything in between.
When it Comes to Admiralty & Maritime Law,
We’ve Got You Covered.
Transactional
Our attorneys have knowledge and experience in many transactional matters involving the maritime industry. We have assisted with such issues as:
- Vessel financing.
- Vessel insurance.
- Vessel construction and sales.
- Vessel chartering.
- Maritime lien and mortgage foreclosures.
- Shipyard contracts and service agreements.
- Bankruptcy issues.
Tuna, From the High Seas to Stores
Among the many services we provide to the tuna fleet are:
- Bareboat charter agreements.
- Vessel management agreements.
- Joint venture agreements.
- Tuna fishing agreements between sellers of tuna and buyers engaged in the business of purchasing, processing and selling tuna.
- Cannery asset purchase agreements.
- Co-pack agreements.
- Container supply agreements.
We also have experience securing financing for companies and individuals who own tuna purse seine vessels, including negotiating and documenting loans authorized under Title XI of the Merchant Marine Act of 1936 and obtained through the United States Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, and loans obtained through foreign financial institutions and secured with preferred ship mortgages on U.S. flag vessels where the mortgagee is a U.S.-approved vessel mortgage trustee.
Regulatory
Numerous federal, state, local and international regulations govern the behavior of ships, shippers, commercial fishers and other entities that use the seas. We can help you comply with these laws and regulations, including the Jones Act, immigration and customs regulations, and matters related to environmental issues, such as the Oil Protection Act of 1990.
Litigation
In litigation, we have protected our clients’ interests in collision cases, personal injury and wrongful death cases, and limitation actions, as well as claims regarding salvage, cargo damage, letters of credit, bills of lading, transportation fraud, product liability, vessel arrests, USCG investigations and stowaway issues.