Brett Esber practices in the areas of international and domestic commercial transactions, corporate law, and finance, with a particular emphasis on representing companies involved in the maritime industry. His experience related to the maritime industry includes:
· vessel construction and finance
· vessel charters and contracts of affreightment
· mergers and acquisitions
· joint ventures
· vessel acquisitions and sales
· corporate structuring and transfer pricing issues
He also represents shipping companies before the U.S. Maritime Administration and the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission.
Mr. Esber is a frequent speaker and writer on issues related to the maritime industry.
Representative Matters
· Oil major in risk assessment of shipping activities related to crude oil and chemical trading activities.
· Vessel owner and operator in negotiation and closing of $250 million asset-backed revolving credit facility.
· U.S. flag operator in $275 million leveraged lease financing of container vessels.
· U.S. shipyard and leasing company in $850 million transaction to build and charter product tankers for operation in the U.S. domestic trades, including negotiation of senior secured credit facility.
· Privately-owned tug/barge operator in all commercial and finance aspects of fleet renewal and expansion program, including negotiation of shipbuilding contracts, financing and charter agreements.
· International liner shipping company in investigation before the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission.
· U.S.-based auto parts manufacturer in joint venture with German auto parts manufacturer to jointly manufacture and sell auto parts in Europe.
· German-based diesel engine manufacturer in joint venture with U.S. defense contractor to submit bid to re-engine the M-1 Abrams tank.
· Non-U.S. based fruit company in U.S. transfer pricing audit.
· Bermuda-based shipping company in $250 million transaction involving construction and cross-border lease financing of refrigerator cargo vessels.
· Bermuda-based shipping company in joint venture with Danish shipping company to establish and operate eight-vessel Trans-Pacific service.
Events
THE ROLE OF PRIVATE EQUITY-AN INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT SOURCE OF CAPITAL FOR SHIPPING
[Event]
Marine Money 12th Annual Ship Finance Forum
The Harvard Club, New York City
November 10, 2011
Brett M. Esber
INVESTMENT BANKING SUMMIT-DEALS THAT CAN GET DONE TODAY
[Event]
24th Annual Marine Money Week
New York City
June 23, 2011
Brett M. Esber
CAN IPOS CREATE VALUE FOR COMPANIES AND SHAREHOLDERS?
[Event]
Marine Money Greek Ship Finance Conference
Athens, Greece
October 13, 2010
Brett M. Esber
THE STATE OF COMMERCIAL BANKING-COMPETITION RETURNS
[Event]
23rd Annual Marine Money Week
New York City
June 23, 2010
Brett M. Esber
SHIPPING AND BANK FINANCING
[Event]
4th Annual Capital Link Invest in International Shipping Forum
New York City
March 25, 2010
Brett M. Esber
STRATEGIES FOR SUSTAINED RETURNS: TOP COMPANIES EMPLOYING UNIQUE BUSINESS MODELS TO SMOOTH THE SHIPPING CYCLES
[Event]
Marine Money's 9th Annual Marine Finance Forum
New York City
October 16, 2008
Brett M. Esber
INVESTMENT BANKING & THE EQUITY CAPITAL MARKETS
[Event]
Marine Money Week
New York City
June 19, 2008
Brett M. Esber
NEW EU REGULATION GOVERNING SHIPPING POOLS-STRATEGIC SOLUTIONS
[Event]
8th Annual Marine Finance Forum
October 17-18, 2007
Brett M. Esber
MARINE MONEY: SELECTED CASE STUDIES OF THE AWARD-WINNING TRANSACTIONS
[Event]
20th Annual Marine Money Week, New York City
June 21, 2007
Brett M. Esber
THE LEASE FINANCE STATUTE AND INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF THE U.S. MARITIME INDUSTRY
[Event]
Marine Money International's 7th Annual Marine Finance Forum-Americas
New York City
September 18, 2006
Brett M. Esber
Publications
FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION DECIDES TO LIFT TARIFF RATE PUBLICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSED NVOCCS
[Alert]
Maritime Developments Advisory
February 2011 (No. 3)
Tara L. Leiter and Brett M. Esber
PRESIDENT OBAMA ANNOUNCES A NEW OCEAN POLICY, NATIONAL OCEAN COUNCIL, AND FINAL FRAMEWORK FOR COASTAL AND MARINE SPATIAL PLANNING
[Alert]
Maritime Developments Advisory
July 2010 (No. 7)
Joan M. Bondareff, Brett M. Esber, Jeanne M. Grasso, Duncan C. Smith and Jonathan K. Waldron
MEET BLANK ROME
[Alert]
Mainbrace
July 2009 (No. 3)
W. Cameron Beard, Thomas H. Belknap, Jr., Brett M. Esber, Jeanne M. Grasso, Jack A. Greenbaum, Jeremy J.O. Harwood, et al.
MARITIME INTERESTS REAP NEW BENEFITS IN STIMULUS BILL
[Alert]
Maritime Developments Advisory
February 2009 (No. 4)
Joan M. Bondareff, James B. Ellis II, Brett M. Esber, Jeanne M. Grasso and Jonathan K. Waldron
THE ALTERNATIVE TONNAGE TAX
[Article]
MarineNews
June 2006
Brett M. Esber and Joseph T. Gulant
CHANGES TO U.S. TAXATION OF SHIPPING INCOME
[Article]
Marine News
October 2005
Brett M. Esber
TWO NEW RULES OFFER COMMERCIAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR OCEAN CARRIERS
[Article]
Lloyd's List
February 23, 2005
Brett M. Esber
NEW ALTERNATIVE TONNAGE TAX AVAILABLE TO OPERATORS OF QUALIFYING VESSELS
[Alert]
New Maritime Developments Update
December 2004
Brett M. Esber and Christopher M. Guth
FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION ISSUES NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING REGARDING NVOCC SERVICE CONTRACTS
[Alert]
New Maritime Developments Update
November 2004
Brett M. Esber
ADDRESSING SECURITY REQUIREMENTS IN PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENTS
[Article]
MarineLink.com
October 5, 2004
Brett M. Esber
IRS ISSUES FINAL REGULATIONS REGARDING TAXATION OF INCOME FROM THE INTERNATIONAL OPERATION OF SHIPS AND AIRCRAFT
[Alert]
New Maritime Developments Update
September 2003 (No. 17)
James B. Ellis II, Brett M. Esber and Joseph T. Gulant
News
INVESTMENT BANKERS KEEN TO REMAIN POSITIVE
[Media Coverage]
July 21, 2011
Brett M. Esber
BLANK ROME REPRESENTS TRUSTEE IN SEEKING $25M FROM SHIPPERS
[Media Coverage]
July 12, 2011
Jeremy J.O. Harwood, Marc E. Richards, Jeremy A. Herschaft, Brett M. Esber, Duncan C. Smith and Tara L. Leiter
BANKS GET TOUGH OVER SHIPPING DEFAULTS
[Media Coverage]
February 26, 2010
Brett M. Esber
Cases and Deals
$250 MILLION TO FINANCE FLEET RENEWAL AND EXPANSION
[Deal]
January 2008
Brett M. Esber, R. Anthony Salgado, Conor T. Warde and Thomas Z. Cheplo
A vessel owner and operator in negotiation and closing of a $250-million asset backed revolving credit facility to finance fleet renewal and expansion program.
FINANCING FOR TEN PRODUCT TANKERS
[Deal]
February 2007
Brett M. Esber, R. Anthony Salgado, Scott R. Smith, Thomas Z. Cheplo and Conor T. Warde
A vessel owner in the negotiation of a $770 million loan credit facility to buy 10 product tankers for the Jones Act trade.
SALE AND LEASEBACK OF TUG AND BARGE UNIT
[Deal]
April 2006
Brett M. Esber, R. Anthony Salgado and Thomas Z. Cheplo
The sale and leaseback of an articulated tug and barge unit for $49 million.
$280 MILLION LEASE FINANCING FOR CONTAINER SHIPS
[Deal]
April 2006
Brett M. Esber, R. Anthony Salgado and Thomas Z. Cheplo
A $280 million lease financing for container ships.
SALE AND LEASEBACK OF TUG AND BARGE UNIT
[Deal]
February 2006
Brett M. Esber, R. Anthony Salgado and Thomas Z. Cheplo
The sale and leaseback of a tug and barge unit for $45 million.
FINANCING FOR FLEET RENEWAL AND EXPANSION PROGRAM
[Deal]
January 2006
Brett M. Esber, R. Anthony Salgado and Thomas Z. Cheplo
A borrower in the negotiation and closing of a $120-million asset backed revolving credit facility to finance a fleet renewal and expansion program.
FINANCING CONSTRUCTION OF STERN WHEEL CRUISE VESSEL
[Deal]
January 2006
Brett M. Esber and R. Anthony Salgado
A borrower in the negotiation and closing of a $45-million U.S. government guaranteed bond issuance to finance the construction of a vessel.
$350 MILLION FINANCING FOR PRODUCT TANKERS
[Deal]
August 2005
Brett M. Esber, R. Anthony Salgado and Thomas Z. Cheplo
A borrower in the negotiation and closing of a $350-million credit facility to finance the acquisition of product tankers.
ONE OF LARGEST U.S. COMMERCIAL SHIPYARD ORDERS IN DECADES
[Deal]
Second Quarter, 2005
James B. Ellis II and Brett M. Esber
$850 Million Transaction for Jones Act Tankers
Recognition
BLANK ROME RECOGNIZED AS "BEST MARITIME & SHIPPING LAW FIRM" BY WORLD FINANCE
[Ranking]
January-February 2012
Jonathan K. Waldron, John D. Kimball and Brett M. Esber
MARITIME LEASING DEAL OF THE YEAR
[Award]
February / March 2007
Brett M. Esber