Practice Areas

Admiralty and Maritime Law
This practice area spans the range of maritime issues. Examples include pollution and other regulatory compliance, civil penalties, and traditional admiralty concerns such as
P & I (protection and indemnity) matters, collisions, and the Jones Act.

International Law
Do you know how developments at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) are affecting you or your clients? Would you like to have a voice at the IMO and in other international fora? Do you understand the latest round of international shipping and security requirements? These are just a few examples of how we can help in this practice area. Other examples include advice and representation regarding international pollution liability, ship detention (Port State Control), and other maritime matters with an international aspect.

Maritime Security
Have your clients met their obligations under the Marine Transportation Security Act (MTSA)? Are you sure? Are you stuck between your reading of the requirements and that of a regulator? This rapidly developing practice area presents challenges even for admiralty specialists. Perhaps a former Coast Guard lawyer and maritime inspector is what you need.

Government Relations and Regulatory Issues
Do you need a regulatory issue resolved in your client's favor? Need a merchant mariner's license or document defended? Have you received notice of a proposed civil penalty? Would your clients benefit from having local regulators understand their needs better, instead of considering them the enemy? A former investigator and Hearing Officer has the background to make a favorable outcome far more probable. Perhaps your client's interests require a change to existing regulations. Even if you have in-house experts, your clients might benefit from the insights of a former enforcer of many of the regulations your clients contend with.

Environmental Crimes
Will your compliance management system satisfy the requirements under the Coast Guard's Voluntary Disclosure policy?  Should you be certified to ISO 14001:2004?  Do your clients face a Coast Guard investigation that might turn criminal?  Do you know how to co-operate with an investigation while preserving your clients' rights?  Are you satisfied with your clients' procedures for preventing such problems? We can help!

Consulting
We also offer consulting services such as compliance consulting, risk management, loss prevention, customized training, corporate briefings, conference facilitation, strategic planning, and more.