Tom Belknap is a member of our Maritime Emergency Response Team (MERT). Tom Belknap concentrates his practice in the areas of international commercial and insurance litigation and arbitration, with particular emphasis on the maritime industry. Mr. Belknap has been involved in a wide variety of domestic and international maritime, commercial, and insurance matters, including: · international and domestic commercial contract disputes · marine casualty and collision cases and vessel limitation of liability actions · marine insurance disputes, including protection and indemnity, general commercial liability, hull and machinery, and war-risk insurance coverage issues · charterparty disputes, including arbitrations under SMA, AAA, and ad hoc arbitration rules · COGSA and multi-modal cargo damage claims · maritime commercial and "treasure" salvage and general average disputes · maritime attachment (Rule B) and vessel arrest (Rule C) actions · recognition and enforcement of foreign arbitration awards and judgments Mr. Belknap is co-author with partner John Kimball of the annual update to Benedict on Admiralty, Vol. 3A: The Law of Salvage (Matthew Bender). Mr. Belknap has been recognized in Chambers USA since 2009 as a leading shipping litigation attorney. Chambers states: "Thomas Belknap is praised for his 'thoughtful and thorough approach.' He has expertise across a range of matters including contracts and charter party disputes, casualty litigation and insurance coverage." Chambers USA 2011 further notes that he is "'fantastic when it comes to the details of a claim, where you have to go through a complaint, take it to pieces and put it back together again.'" Mr. Belknap was also recognized in the Guide to the World's Leading Shipping and Maritime Lawyers as one of the outstanding practitioners in this field. Representative Matters · Representation of war risk insurer in coverage dispute with member concerning alleged bombing of vessel in Sri Lanka. · Representation of cargo vessel owner in grounding in U.S. Gulf in connection with claims by charterer/cargo. · Represented cargo vessel owner in collision with U.S. Navy nuclear submarine. · Represented natural gas utility in defending two separate claims for damage to electric transmission cables crossing Long Island Sound during marine construction project, and related insurance coverage litigation as "additional assured" under contractor's policies. · Represented international commodities trading company in defense of $60 million suit for allegedly wrongful "poaching" of trading group from competitor. · Obtained New York judgment in favor of owner of vessel being sold for scrap against hull & machinery underwriters for "sue and labor" costs incurred in search and rescue efforts following loss of insured vessel while under tow. · Obtained arbitration award in favor of client vessel owner defeating claim by charterer for alleged failure to supply necessary lifting gear for heavy lift specialty cargo. · Obtained arbitration award and judgment in favor of client vessel owner against charterer for failure to tender cargo under voyage charter. · Obtained summary judgment in favor of Nigerian client seeking to enforce Nigerian default judgment obtained against interior design company in respect of disputes arising out of a contract relating to the construction of a five-star hotel in Lagos, Nigeria. · Represented of freight forwarder in defense of $2 million project lift cargo damage claim. · Numerous Rule B and Rule C matters, both in obtaining and opposing attachments and arrests. Community Service & Affiliations Mr. Belknap is a member of the MLA Committee on Maritime Arbitration and Mediation, a member of the Transport and Arbitration Groups of the Association Internationale des Jeunnes Avocats, and a member of the International Bar Association. Memberships Association Internationale des Jeunes Avocats Connecticut Maritime Association International Bar Association Maritime Law Association of the United States New York City Bar Association Events RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN MARITIME LAW AND PRACTICE
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International Maritime Law Conference: Shipping in the New Financial Era
Stamford, Connecticut
March 26, 2010
Thomas H. Belknap, Jr. THE ROTTERDAM RULES FROM THE U.S. POINT OF VIEW
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Association Internationale Des Jeunes Avocats - Marine Insurance and Transport Seminar
Genoa, Italy
September 25, 2009
Thomas H. Belknap, Jr. PERILS OF THE SEA
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L'Association Internationale des Jeunes Avocats' November Conference
Athens, Greece
November 29 - December 1, 2007
Thomas H. Belknap, Jr. TREASURE SALVAGE: FINDERS KEEPERS?
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Society of Maritime Arbitrators
New York City
October 17, 2007
Thomas H. Belknap, Jr. MOVING GOODS IN A SECURITY-CONSCIOUS WORLD: NAFTA AND BEYOND
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L'Association Internationale des Jeunes Avocats Annual Congress, Toronto, Canada
August 21-25, 2007
Thomas H. Belknap, Jr. Publications MAINBRACE
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December 2011 (No. 3)
Brian A. Bannon, Thomas H. Belknap, Jr., Jeremy J.O. Harwood, Richard V. Singleton II, Charles E. Wagner and Alan M. Weigel MAINBRACE
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September 2011 (No. 2)
Thomas H. Belknap, Jr., Joan M. Bondareff, Jeanne M. Grasso, Gregory F. Linsin, Kristi Lynn Swartz, Jonathan K. Waldron, et al. TREASURE SALVAGE CASES
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Maritime Reporter
September 2011
Thomas H. Belknap, Jr. MAINBRACE
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March 2011 (No. 1)
Thomas H. Belknap, Jr., Joan M. Bondareff, Susan B. Flohr, Jeanne M. Grasso, John D. Kimball, Duncan C. Smith, et al. BEWARE RISE IN CLAIMS FOR CARGO HEDGING LOSSES
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Lloyd's List
February 16, 2011
Thomas H. Belknap, Jr. NOTES FROM THE EDITOR: ANOTHER YEAR
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December 2010 (No. 4)
Thomas H. Belknap, Jr. MONEY FOR NOTHING: MARITIME SALVAGE FOR FUN AND PROFIT
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July 2010 (No. 3)
Thomas H. Belknap, Jr. BLANK ROME CONGRATULATES OUR MARITIME ATTORNEYS FOR THEIR RECOGNITION IN CHAMBERS 2010
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July 2010 (No. 3)
Thomas H. Belknap, Jr., Jack A. Greenbaum, John D. Kimball and Jonathan K. Waldron NOTES FROM THE EDITOR: THE EXPANSION OF ADMIRALTY JURISDICTION
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July 2010 (No. 3)
Thomas H. Belknap, Jr. MONEY FOR NOTHING: MARITIME SALVAGE FOR FUN & PROFIT
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Maritime Reporter
June 2010
Thomas H. Belknap, Jr. NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
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March 2010 (No. 2)
Thomas H. Belknap, Jr. THE ROTTERDAM RULES
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January 2010 (No. 1)
Thomas H. Belknap, Jr. NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
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January 2010 (No. 1)
Thomas H. Belknap, Jr. THE END OF WINTER STORM: THE SECOND CIRCUIT DECIDES THAT "BENEFICIARY" WIRE TRANSFERS ARE NOT ATTACHABLE PROPERTY UNDER RULE B AND THAT IT IS "PROBABLE" THAT "ORIGINATOR" WIRE TRANSFERS ARE LIKEWISE NOT ATTACHABLE1
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Maritime Developments Advisory
October 2009 (No. 20)
Thomas H. Belknap, Jr., Jack A. Greenbaum, Jeremy J.O. Harwood and Richard V. Singleton II RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN RULE B ATTACHMENT PRACTICE IN NEW YORK
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July 2009 (No. 3)
Thomas H. Belknap, Jr. MEET BLANK ROME
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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. NOTES FROM THE EDITOR: TIMING IS EVERYTHING
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March 2009 (No. 2)
Thomas H. Belknap, Jr. NOTES FROM THE EDITOR: RULE B EXPLOSION
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January 2009 (No. 1)
Thomas H. Belknap, Jr. NOTES FROM THE EDITOR
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October 2008 (No. 3)
Thomas H. Belknap, Jr. AFTER THE CASUALTY: COLLECTING AND PRESERVING EVIDENCE
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October 2008 (No. 3)
Thomas H. Belknap, Jr. NOTES FROM THE EDITOR: NEW YORK VS. LONDON ARBITRATION
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July 2008 (No. 2)
Thomas H. Belknap, Jr. COLLECTING AND PRESERVING EVIDENCE
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Maritime Reporter
June 2008
Thomas H. Belknap, Jr. NOTES FROM THE (NEW) EDITOR: THE MORE THINGS CHANGE, THE MORE THEY STAY THE SAME
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April 2008 (No. 1)
Thomas H. Belknap, Jr. U.S. CHOICE-OF-LAW CLAUSE ALLOWS BUNKER SUPPLIER TO ENFORCE LIEN AGAINST VESSEL FOR BUNKERS SUPPLIED IN NON-U.S. PORT
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Maritime Developments Advisory
March 2008 (No. 10)
Thomas H. Belknap, Jr. SECOND CIRCUIT DECISION AFFECTS COGSA LIABILITY FOR SHIPMENT OF DANGEROUS CARGO
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Maritime Developments Advisory
March 2008 (No. 7)
Thomas H. Belknap, Jr. TREASURE SALVAGE-FINDERS KEEPERS?
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June 2007 (No. 2)
Thomas H. Belknap, Jr. TREASURE SALVAGE-FINDERS KEEPERS?
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Maritime Reporter / Marine Technology Reporter
June 2007
Thomas H. Belknap, Jr. DRAFTING A U.S. ARBITRATION OR MEDIATION CLAUSE
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May 15, 2003
Thomas H. Belknap, Jr. News A NEW LEGAL LANDSCAPE AS RULE B CHILL SETS IN
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February 5, 2010
Thomas H. Belknap, Jr. RULE B CLAIMS FLOOD ADDS TO TURMOIL FROM DOWNTURN
[Media Coverage]
December 22, 2009
Thomas H. Belknap, Jr. BANKS SQUEEZE NY ASSET GRABS
[Media Coverage]
July 30, 2009
Thomas H. Belknap, Jr. and Jeremy J.O. Harwood LAWYERS VERSUS BANKS
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July 30, 2009
Thomas H. Belknap, Jr. NEGOTIATING RULE B THROUGH NOVEL RULING
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February 13, 2009
Thomas H. Belknap, Jr. VULNERABLE SHIP-OWNERS AND OPERATORS FLOOD NEW YORK TO AVOID RULE B LAWSUITS
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January 23, 2009
Thomas H. Belknap, Jr. FAIRPLAY: "RULE B" FILINGS FLOOD NY
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January 7, 2009
Thomas H. Belknap, Jr. NEW YORK ARBITRATION
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July 29, 2008
Thomas H. Belknap, Jr. Recognition CHAMBERS USA 2011 RECOGNIZES MORE BLANK ROME ATTORNEYS AND PRACTICES
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June 10, 2011
Thomas H. Belknap, Jr., Thomas E. Biron, Fred Blume, J. Caleb Boggs III, Kevin J. Bruno, David W. Carickhoff, et al. CHAMBERS USA 2010 RECOGNIZES MORE BLANK ROME ATTORNEYS AND PRACTICES
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June 11, 2010
Thomas H. Belknap, Jr., Thomas E. Biron, Fred Blume, Ernest W. Chung, Scott F. Cooper, Steven Dubow, et al. CHAMBERS USA 2009 RECOGNIZES MORE BLANK ROME ATTORNEYS AND PRACTICES
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June 2009
Thomas H. Belknap, Jr., Thomas E. Biron, Fred Blume, Scott F. Cooper, Steven Dubow, Bonnie Glantz Fatell, et al. |