Admiralty & Maritime

Companies and individuals involved in brown water activities, such as offshore exploration, pipeline construction, commercial diving, supply boat services, and many other maritime energy activities, also engage our team.  We also address a variety of multinational blue water business concerns, including shipyards, manufacturers, sellers, purchasers, transporters, and insurers of waterborne products.

Personal Injury Actions 

Clark Hill’s maritime team represents vessel owners and operators in claims by workers in the maritime space, including seamen and longshore workers.  Our attorneys have tried cases under the Jones Act and Section 905(b) of the Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act.  Further, Clark Hill has defended other maritime personal injury actions, including claims against vessel agents, terminals, and intermodal chassis equipment operators.  Clark Hill has represented maritime interests in mass tort claims and occupational disease matters.

Collisions/Allisions/Property Damage Claims

Our attorneys have represented vessel operators, pilots, and maritime property owners in collision, allision, and property damage operators.  Our attorneys frequently start working on these matters moments after they occur, including defense of regulatory investigations through trial and appeal of ensuing litigation.  We have a successful track record realizing recoveries for losses arising out of these events.  Clark Hill has been involved with some of the largest maritime causalities in US history.

Cargo Claims

Clark Hill routinely represents carriers and cargo interests in damage claims during carriage.  With a large presence on the Gulf Coast and representing some of the largest tank vessel operators, Clark Hill has experience with claims for petrochemical contamination and other claims arising in this space.

Salvage Claims 

Clark Hill represents some of the largest salvors in the world in significant matters, including the preparation of salvage agreements, presentation of salvage claims, and in matters involving wreck removal.

Maritime Creditors Rights 

Clark Hill has represented various maritime interests in creditor’s rights matters.  Our attorneys have asserted and defended in rem actions under Rules B and Rule C of the Supplemental Admiralty Rules.  We have experience enforcing in personam judgments against maritime property.  We are also experienced in asserting liens in foreign jurisdictions as well as filing liens in foreign vessel registries.

Marine Financing and Commercial Transactions

Our maritime finance and transactional lawyers have handled many large fleet acquisitions as well as fleet mortgages on behalf of owners, purchasers and mortgagees.  We are familiar with eligibility and citizenship requirements for vessel registration.  Our lawyers have also prepared numerous commercial agreements for the provision of goods and services in the maritime sector.