Ranked in 1 Practice Areas

About

Provided by George Kontakis

USA

Practice Areas

George K. Kontakis is a litigation attorney in the firm’s New York office and member of the K&L Gates maritime practice group. His practice encompasses a broad range of domestic and international maritime related matters, both civil and criminal. His civil practice includes environmental compliance, civil DOJ investigations, USCG Voluntary Disclosure applications, charter party disputes, maritime arbitration, P&I and FD&D matters, maritime collisions, spills and casualties, OFAC enforcement and compliance, vessel sales and purchases, insurance coverage disputes, and attachment and arrest proceedings. His criminal practice includes USCG investigations, and DOJ prosecutions, of MARPOL/APPS related crimes, including so called “magic pipe” allegations, and CWA and Ports & Waterways Safety Act violations. He is very experienced with environmental compliance, court ordered third-party auditing and probationary concerns.

George has successfully handled numerous maritime arbitration matters and complex civil litigations. He regularly works with global clients providing advice and strategy in all aspects of these matters. He has significant experience in conducting onboard vessel investigations, have concluded nearly 100 such investigations over the last decade. He frequently interacts with the U.S. Coast Guard and Department of Justice, protecting the rights of vessel owners, operators, and crewmembers. George has concluded numerous plea agreements with the Department of Justice regarding MARPOL/APPS prosecutions, and has been a member of the trial team in several high-profile matters challenging the government’s case. George has also recently closed nearly $500M in vessel and yacht transactions.

Prior to law school, George earned his bachelor of science degree in marine transportation (cum laude) at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point (USMMA), as well as an unlimited U.S. Coast Guard Third Officer merchant mariner’s license and commission in the U.S. States Navy Reserve. Following graduation, George spent several years working as a dry cargo shipbroker with a highly regarded New York based global shipbrokerage firm and as acting Chartering Manager of a New Jersey based vessel Operator. George is also an avid off-shore sailboat competitor, having been awarded The Eugene F. Moran Award upon graduation from USMMA.

Professional Memberships

Maritime Law Association

Connecticut Maritime Association

American Bar Association

New York Bar Association

Education

Hofstra University School of Law

J.D.

2007

United States Merchant Marine Academy (cum laude)

B.S.

2000

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Chambers Guide to the USA

Transportation: Shipping/Maritime: Litigation (New York) - USA - Nationwide

3
Band 3
Individual Editorial
George Kontakis of K&L Gates is well regarded for his advice surrounding environmental compliance in the maritime sector. He also advises on charter party disputes, collisions, and vessel sales and purchases.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Discover other Lawyers at
K&L Gates

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

California

Bankruptcy/Restructuring

4
Michael B Lubic
4
Band 4

Delaware

Corporate/M&A: Alternative Entities

1
Scott E Waxman
1
Band 1
2
Eric N Feldman
2
Band 2

District of Columbia

Healthcare

4
Andy Ruskin
4
Band 4
Insurance: Policyholder

3
Jonathan Cohen
3
Band 3
Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations

6
David Rybicki
6
Band 6

Florida

Bankruptcy Litigation

4
Jeffrey Kucera
4
Band 4
Labor & Employment

4
April Boyer
4
Band 4

Florida: South

Corporate/M&A & Private Equity

2
Clayton Parker
2
Band 2

Illinois

Antitrust

S
Steven M Kowal
S
Senior Statespeople
2
Lauren Norris Donahue
2
Band 2
2
Michael Martinez
2
Band 2
Corporate/M&A

4
Brent Williams
4
Band 4
Environment: Mainly Transactional

3
David Rieser
3
Band 3
Healthcare

2
Limo T Cherian
2
Band 2
Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations

4
Clifford Histed
4
Band 4
Tax

3
Mitchell Weiss
3
Band 3

Massachusetts

Banking & Finance: Corporate & Regulatory

2
Grant Butler
2
Band 2
2
Robert M Tammero
2
Band 2
2
Stanley V Ragalevsky
2
Band 2
20 of 178 results