DEPARTMENT PROFILE
Blank Rome LLP
Transportation: Shipping/Maritime: Litigation (New York)
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What the team is known for
Esteemed practice with significant experience handling high-profile maritime litigation for national and international clients, including P&I clubs, shipping companies and owners. Highly regarded for crisis response and offering additional expertise in alternative dispute resolution. Maintains an excellent reputation for advising maritime industry entities in federal investigations arising from intentional misconduct allegations and casualty events, as well as in a host of cybersecurity issues. Recently active on a range of fuel contamination, cargo loss, salvage and collision cases.
Strengths
"They are able to provide seamless support across offices on highly complex matters. Their commercial knowledge of the maritime industry is extremely deep."
Work highlights
Blank Rome acted for oil tanker 'Alnic', its owner Energetic Tank and vessel manager Stealth Maritime in ongoing litigation stemming from the major 2017 collision between a Navy destroyer, the USS 'John McCain', and the 'Alnic'.
Notable practitioners
John Kimball frequently assists clients with maritime casualty disputes including ship fires, collisions and sinkings. He is also adept at handling shipping arbitrations.
"John Kimball is quite simply best in class." "John is the preeminent maritime attorney not only in New York, but in the United States."
"John Kimball is quite simply best in class." "John is the preeminent maritime attorney not only in New York, but in the United States."
Lauren Wilgus works on a variety of international maritime litigation matters. Her practice covers charter party disputes, cargo damage and loss and marine casualty investigations including collisions.
"Lauren is fantastic; she's responsive, thoughtful and practical."
"Lauren is fantastic; she's responsive, thoughtful and practical."
Richard Singleton is known for his abilities in shipping litigation and arbitration. He typically assists clients with maritime casualty as well as charter party and contractual disputes. He advises both domestic and international clients.
Thomas Belknap has deep expertise in shipping litigation with significant capabilities in cargo damage claims and contract and salvage disputes.
"A true Ghostbuster - when it's looking really bad, 'Who you gonna call?'"
"A true Ghostbuster - when it's looking really bad, 'Who you gonna call?'"
William Bennett is well known for his strong shipping practice, typically advising clients on maritime casualties resulting from collisions, groundings and sinkings. He is also well placed to handle maritime-related fraud disputes.
"Incredibly savvy, commercially minded and easy to work with."
"Incredibly savvy, commercially minded and easy to work with."
Department Information
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Overview
- Our maritime litigators handle all kinds of shipping disputes -- including arbitration -- all around the world, including for owners, operators, shipyards, charterers, cargo interests, P&I clubs, commercial and investment banks, and private equity funds
- We have vast experience in defending companies and individuals subject to environmental investigations of casualty events or alleged intentional misconduct – many with criminal elements, and involving potential violations of the Clean Water Act and/or the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL)
- Our “Maritime Emergency Response Team” is on call around the clock to respond to pollution-related incidents and vessel casualties. At a moment’s notice, a member of our team will fly to the incident site, and manage potential civil and criminal consequences
- We’re one of few firms advising the maritime industry on the threats of cyber-attacks, how best to protect against breaches, and assisting clients with cyber-audits and investigations
- New York is the largest part of our shipping litigation practice – the largest such practice in the United States, with a strong presence on the East and Gulf Coasts and in Los Angeles
- Our complementary shipping finance practice has worked on several groundbreaking maritime Chapter 11 and 15 cases
- Our strong, complementary shipping regulatory practice in Washington, D.C. also gives us a considerable advantage over other firms
Transportation: Shipping/Maritime: Litigation (New York)
Blank Rome LLP
Location
1271 Avenue of the Americas
New York
New York
USA
NY 10020
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Ranked Lawyers
Chambers Research is conducted by 200 Research Analysts, across 200 jurisdictions and provides nearly 6,000 rankings tables. Annually we collect hundreds of thousands of responses from clients, the majority via in-depth interview. Learn more about our methodology.