Andrew Port

Maritime

Environmental & Toxic Tort

Product Liability

Asbestos, Talc & Silica

Transportation

Andrew “Andy” Port focuses his practice on maritime, product liability, and complex commercial litigation matters. Andy has more than 40 years of experience representing clients in the maritime industry, many of whom he has advised for decades.

Andy represents vessel owners, operators, charterers, and underwriters in matters involving wrongful death and personal injury claims, vessel collisions, cargo claims, hull damage, oil spill investigation and cleanup, charter party disputes, commercial contract disputes, toxic torts, and occupational disease litigation. He has substantial experience litigating in both federal and state courts and is recommended counsel by the International Group of P and I Clubs for occupational disease claims.

Andy represents more than 30 shipowners in California asbestos, hearing loss, and chemical exposure litigation and serves as National Maritime Counsel for a Fortune 500 company. His practice also includes representation of fishing and excursion craft operators and their underwriters in casualty litigation, as well as vessel interests in attachment and arrest proceedings.

In addition to his maritime work, Andy has represented consumer product manufacturers in design defect litigation, contract matters, and product literature development, and has represented contractors in construction defect litigation. His product liability experience includes representation of manufacturers of motor vehicles, construction equipment, outdoor cooking appliances, luxury yachts, container cranes, herbicides, dental appliances, and other products.

Andy has drafted industrial hygiene, abatement, and training programs for clients across various industries. He also negotiates and drafts commercial agreements, including purchase and sale agreements and berthing agreements, and represents clients before administrative tribunals such as the U.S. Department of Labor and the California Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board. He serves as Managing Partner of the firm’s Walnut Creek office.

Maritime Law Association of the United States — proctor member

Defended a Group of 12 shipowners in an AML claim for formaldehyde exposure brought by a longshoreman.

Represents numerous shipowners in their California occupational and environmental disease litigation.

Represented vessel interests in an allision between a tanker and a major highway bridge.

Defended vessel owner against claims for delay in delivery of cargo arising out of the 2015 West Coast Port slowdown.

Investigated and handled numerous claims for hull damage and cargo loss.

Defended a group of clients in a claim for lung damage caused by inhalation of welding fumes.

Defended foreign vessel interests in a catastrophic injury case involving a heavy lift crane.

Defended a major pleasure vessel manufacturer in wrongful death and injury claims allegedly arising out of design defect.

Represented and obtained dismissals via motion practice in a group of 38 asbestos cases that arose in MDL 875.

Investigated and represented vessel interests in crew desertion and stowaway matters.

National Maritime Counsel for a Fortune 500 corporation.

National Coordinating Counsel on asbestos cases for an international ocean carrier.

Obtained recovery for the owner of a vessel that sunk at berth.

Drafted safety, industrial hygiene and training policies, procedures and programs for major ship owners.

Represented ocean carrier in a lawsuit involving the loss of a multi-million dollar piece of drilling equipment.

Defended logistics provider in a catastrophic injury lawsuit involving industrial equipment.