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"As a truly [multi-]service maritime firm with highly rated practices
in both finance and litigation, Blank Rome also has an important
and distinguished presence in the regulatory arena."
—Chambers USA 2008
"While its strength in New York and American waters in general is well known,
the firm now also operates an office in Hong Kong."
—Chambers Global 2008
"Clients praise 'the lawyers' willingness to assist quickly
and proffer reliable off-the-cuff advice.' "
—Chambers Asia 2009
Blank Rome professionals have been involved in numerous vessel casualties and many of the most significant pollution incidents of the past century, including the Amoco Cadiz, Athos I, Cosco Busan, Exxon Valdez, San Jancito, Morris J. Berman, Torrey Canyon, and Amazon Venture spills. We have a Pollution & Incident Response Team(PIRT) which meets regularly to remain apprised of current developments. The team is ready—24 / 7 / 365—to respond to a major casualty, and we are well equipped to handle the potential civil and criminal consequences. For 24-hour help, please phone +1 212.885.5000 or any of the team members directly.
Shipping remains the most important means of moving goods around the world. With nearly 95% of cargo imported to the United States moving through seaports, maritime law—directly or indirectly—affects businesses around the world. Increased global trade, rising energy costs, ever-stricter environmental regulations, and the threat of terrorism have converged to make this industry change course dramatically. Blank Rome Maritime helps companies find safe passage in turbulent times.
Blank Rome has the largest maritime and admiralty law practice in the United States, and serves the shipping industry around the world. In 2006, the maritime group of Blank Rome combined with the international maritime firm of Healy & Baillie. We now have a talented team of maritime professionals in New York, Washington, DC, Philadelphia, and Hong Kong. Together, we offer substantial benefits to your business. We represent publicly traded and privately owned companies in all aspects of the shipping industry, including:
- ship owners, managers, operators, and charterers
- cargo owners and shippers
- shipyards and waterfront facilities
- marine insurers, including P&I clubs
- financial institutions and private equity investors
- parties in litigation and bankruptcy proceedings
- offshore oil and gas interests
Teamwork
Whether a matter involves vessel or corporate finance; structuring a strategic alliance; interpreting or complying with international laws and regulations; defending against enforcement actions or criminal prosecution; or litigation, bankruptcy, insurance, or tax issues—Blank Rome Maritime has the knowledge and experience you need to get the job done. We draw upon the diverse talents of over 500 attorneys, including over 40 of whom regularly advise the maritime industry, and our unparalleled network of contacts in the industry and government.
Experienced Attorneys, Recognized in Their Fields
Blank Rome’s maritime practice and many of our attorneys are consistently ranked at the top in their practice areas by Chambers Global, Chambers Asia, and Chambers USA. Many on the team are authors or editors of leading maritime textbooks, including Time Charters; Voyage Charters; The Maritime Security Handbook, and the Benedict on Admiralty volumes relating to Salvage, Carriage of Goods by Sea, Charterparties, and Marinas and Recreational Boating. One of our partners teaches admiralty law at New York University Law School, while another teaches ship finance and ship management at the City University of Hong Kong. Several of our attorneys lecture at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy's OPA 90 Qualified Individual Training Program on legal issues related to pollution incidents.
Global Reach
Blank Rome Maritime regularly handles complex, multi-jurisdictional, and international maritime and admiralty matters. Many of our maritime attorneys are fluent or conversant in languages other than English, including Cantonese, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Hindi, Mandarin, Norwegian, and Spanish. Members of the team are admitted to practice in Australia, Canada, Greece, Hong Kong, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Blank Rome Solicitors & Notaries, in Hong Kong, offers maritime services and is well positioned to assist clients in China and throughout Asia and Oceania. Blank Rome is the only U.S.-affiliated maritime practice with a local license to practice Hong Kong law and regularly appears before the Hong Kong courts.
Complementing our Asian and Pacific practices, Blank Rome has a strategic alliance with Brussels-based Interel, a leading European public affairs agency. Through this partnership, we provide a seamless E.U.–U.S. legal and government relations service to companies increasingly impacted by decisions made on both sides of the Atlantic.
Serving You
Blank Rome Maritime has something unique and valuable to offer to help you achieve your goals—a combination of knowledge and experience of maritime-related litigation, defense and arbitration; advocacy and government relations; regulatory compliance; commercial and financial transactions; and environmental law. We look forward to serving you, and helping you secure Safe Passage.
Litigation
Our maritime litigation practice has substantial experience defending criminal, civil, and administrative enforcement actions, insurance disputes, responding to environmental incidents and other casualties, and assisting those subject to government investigations. We also have more experience in maritime arbitration than any other U.S. firm.
Government Relations
Our maritime government relations practice can advise and advocate for you in the complex intersection of law and policy. Blank Rome’s experienced team of attorneys and lobbying and communications professionals can help you navigate these choppy waters and develop comprehensive strategies that lead to successful outcomes. Through our affiliate, Blank Rome Government Relations LLC, we can also provide strategic communications and public relations advice as a nontraditional means of solving problems.
Regulatory Compliance
Blank Rome Maritime’s regulatory compliance practice serves the shipping industry globally. Our services include: regulatory advice for both U.S. and international operations; environmental and other training for shoreside and shipboard employees and compliance program development; defense against civil, criminal, and administrative enforcement actions; and updates and analysis on legislative and regulatory changes.
Commercial Transactions and Finance
Through our extensive maritime and shipping contacts, we often make the initial introductions for companies and investors interested in the mega-deals in this industry, and we have been successful in bringing many deals together. Our maritime commercial transactions and financial services practice structures, negotiates, and documents transactions, addressing the tax and regulatory issues that may arise. We help take companies public, guide buyers and sellers, and assist with bankruptcy and business restructuring.
Environmental
Blank Rome Maritime’s environmental practice has been involved in many of the most significant pollution incidents of the past century, including the Amoco Cadiz, Athos I, Cosco Busan, Exxon Valdez, San Jacinto, Morris J. Berman, Torrey Canyon, Nepco 140, and Amazon Venture spills. We have an incident response team ready to deploy on a moment’s notice. We are well equipped to handle not only the civil consequences of such an incident, but also the potential criminal implications that are, more and more, a reality in today’s world.
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