Blank Rome LLP

Jeanne Grasso is a member of our Maritime Emergency Response Team (MERT).

Jeanne Grasso focuses her practice on maritime, international, and environmental law for clients worldwide. Ms. Grasso counsels owners and operators of vessels, charterers, cargo owners, and facilities, including manufacturing facilities, both marine-side and inland. Her practice involves:

• regulatory compliance counseling related to the U.S. Coast Guard; Environmental Protection Agency; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; and Maritime Administration, among other federal and state agencies
• internal and grand jury investigations
• defense of administrative, civil, and criminal enforcement actions
• counseling on risk mitigation strategies related to pollution incidents around the world
• maritime environmental compliance and training in connection with federal and state requirements
• pollution incident response
• coastwise trade matters
• identifying administrative and legislative solutions in connection with maritime and environmental compliance challenges

Ms. Grasso writes and lectures extensively on criminal enforcement of environmental laws and Coast Guard regulatory matters.  She also conducts training sessions and assists clients with establishing compliance programs in an effort to avoid enforcement actions.

Prior to joining Blank Rome, Ms. Grasso worked in the Office of Congressional Affairs at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) handling fisheries and oceans matters. She also served as staff to the House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries.

Ms. Grasso is recognized as a leader in shipping and maritime law by Who's Who Legal and is listed in Chambers 2011 as a key contact at Blank Rome’s Washington, DC office for shipping litigation and contentious regulatory issues.

REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS

• Defended vessel owners/operators (cargo vessels, fishing vessels, tug/barges) with respect to allegations of environmental violations in criminal cases.
• Served as on-site company counsel during pollution incidents.
• Served as on-site company counsel during pollution response drills.
• Counseled vessel owners/operators regarding compliance with U.S. Coast Guard and international environmental, safety, and security requirements.
• Advised cargo owners and charterers on risk mitigation strategies in connection with pollution incidents worldwide.
• Conducted internal investigations for vessel owners/operators, terminals, refineries, chemical manufacturing facilities, and pipeline operators related to allegations of non-compliance.
• Sought administrative rulings and handled voluntary disclosures for vessel and facility owners/operators in connection with Coast Guard, Maritime Administration, and coastwise/trade matters. 

COMMUNITY SERVICE & AFFILIATIONS

Ms. Grasso is a guest lecturer at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, where she speaks on legal issues related to pollution incidents for the Academy's OPA 90 Qualified Individual training program. She serves on the Board of Directors and is Secretary of the World Ocean Council. Ms. Grasso is president of the U.S. Chapter of the Women's International Shipping & Trading Association (WISTA) and serves on the Advisory Board of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center. She served on the Board of Governors of the Propeller Club of Washington, DC from 2005-2011 and is a member of the Maritime Law Association.