Overview
Locke Lord’s maritime lawyers are recognized locally, nationally and internationally as being among the best in their profession. Our maritime clients include major offshore drilling contractors, large and small oil companies, diving contractors, and most of the world’s major offshore energy insurers. We also represent many companies that have occasional maritime legal problems, such as banks and shippers of cargo.
Maritime Casualties
Locke Lord maritime lawyers have significant experience in handling major maritime casualties. Over the years, the Firm has tried several large cases including involving an allision of an integrated tug/barge unit with a sunken offshore production platform that resulted in the sinking of the barge and tens of millions of dollars of costs arising from the resultant pollution and various aspects pertaining to the dropping of the Petronius South Deck Module by a heavy lift installation crane. Our past
experience includes aspects of the Macondo Oil Spill Incident, offshore construction failures, major ship collisions, offshore blowouts, and similar maritime disasters.
Maritime Insolvency, Restructuring and Collections
Locke Lord represents major worldwide corporate interests in connection with all aspects of insolvency matters and business and contract restructurings related to marine companies and maritime related projects, liens and collection matters.
Marine Insurance
In the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Locke Lord was selected by the world insurance market to advise and coordinate the handling of the immense removal of wreck claims arising from those disasters. The Firm has particular strength and experience in the area of offshore energy insurance coverage.
Maritime Personal Injury
Locke Lord partners have extensive experience in maritime personal injury claims arising out of offshore oil and traditional “blue water” operations, and have represented vessel owners and charterers, drilling contractors, oil companies, boat companies and other service contractors. We have also handled a variety of toxic tort claims arising out maritime activities, including asbestos, silicosis, and benzene exposure cases.
Commercial Maritime Litigation
The Firm’s maritime lawyers are experienced in handling maritime commercial disputes and related matters in the trade, logistics and supply chain regime, and have represented banks, suppliers, insurers, shippers, shipowners and charterers in charter party, bill of lading and other contractual disputes, vessel arrests, attachments of bank accounts and other intangible property.
Maritime Transactional Work
Locke Lord maritime lawyers frequently advise clients and assist in the negotiation of vessel charters, offshore drilling contracts, vessel purchases, contracts of affreightment, ship mortgages, and other maritime commercial transactions.