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Overview | Admiralty and Maritime Litigation | Vessel Chartering and Construction, Finance, and Other Marine Transactions | Environmental and Maritime Regulatory Activities
Overview
The Maritime Practice Group at Vinson & Elkins is called upon regularly by domestic and world-wide clients engaged in bluewater and brownwater shipping, offshore maritime activities, marine terminal operations, and intermodal transportation. Lawyers in our Maritime Practice Group represent and advise clients in a diverse array of admiralty and maritime matters, including maritime litigation; vessel chartering, construction, finance, and other marine transactions; salvage disputes; and environmental and maritime regulatory activities. V&E;’s maritime lawyers have extensive experience in the marine industry, both onshore and at sea. Our admiralty attorneys, who include former U.S. Coast Guard licensed mariners, a former marine underwriter, and a former tanker broker, serve as principal admiralty and maritime counsel for major energy companies and a regional port authority.
Admiralty and Maritime Litigation
V&E;’s Maritime Practice Group is comprised of lawyers experienced in litigating complex maritime and offshore commercial disputes, collisions/allisions, marine insurance coverage issues, products liability claims, disputed rights under the laws of salvage and finds, general average, and cargo claims. We are also experienced in defending personal injury and wrongful death suits by marine and offshore workers. Our lawyers have handled maritime casualties around the world, and our capabilities in the investigation and handling of such incidents provides clients with needed information to effectively evaluate and prosecute or defend these claims. We also have experience in arresting vessels and attaching marine assets to protect our clients’ claims and interests. The firm’s maritime lawyers have extensive experience litigating cases sounding in admiralty and general maritime law in both state and federal courts, as well as in alternative dispute resolution settings.
Vessel Chartering and Construction, Finance, and Other Marine Transactions
Vessel Chartering
Maritime Practice Group lawyers are experienced in drafting and negotiating voyage, time, and bareboat charters, as well as in drafting and negotiating client and trade specific special clauses for standard SHELLTIME4, BPTIME, SHELLVOY6, BPVOY4, ASBATANKVOY, and SUPPLYTIME charter forms. Our lawyers also draft and negotiate contracts of affreightment, contracts of carriage and bills of lading, towage contracts, and cargo sales agreements.
Vessel Construction and Repair Contracts
V&E;’s lawyers draft and negotiate contracts for new vessel construction, ship repair, and substantial vessel modifications and retrofittings. Our admiralty attorneys also have experience in resolving disputes arising from offshore construction projects, construction delays, and product/service warranties.
Shipping Finance
We represent clients in various shipping finance transactions, including project financing, Title XI financing, and arranging credit facilities and initial public offerings for ship owner clients. Our Maritime Practice Group also has experience advising clients in lender relationships, and drafting and negotiating mortgages, leases, and other financing instruments for marine assets.
Environmental and Maritime Regulatory Activities
V&E;’s maritime lawyers also represent clients in environmental, regulatory, and maritime security matters before federal and state government agencies, including the United States Coast Guard, the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD), the U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, and the Minerals Management Service (MMS). Our Maritime Practice Group has also assisted clients with international regulatory issues involving the International Maritime Organization (IMO), as well as vessel classification societies and other private, marine industry groups.
Jones Act Issues
Our admiralty attorneys have advised charterers, cargo interests, and vessel owners in conformity and compliance issues arising under the U.S. cabotage laws known as the “Jones Act.” We have also been involved in Jones Act waiver issues associated with special project cargo and hurricane disruptions to offshore drilling and pipeline activity.
Marine Pollution
Our lawyers are experienced in the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA90) and international conventions and laws related to marine pollution and emissions, and have advised and assisted clients in obtaining compensation for expenditures and losses associated with containment and clean-up of an oil spill. We also provide advice to clients on issues arising under the jurisdiction of the National Pollution Funds Center, including issuance and surrender of Certificates of Financial Responsibility (COFRs).
Vessel Documentation
The Maritime Practice Group advises clients on U.S. and foreign regulations and procedures regarding the documentation and registry of vessels in pre- and post- sales transactions.
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