Jones
Walker's Admiralty & Maritime Practice Group represents clients
engaged in domestic and international shipping and offshore drilling,
transport, and production activities. Our clients are also engaged in onshore
and port-related activities. We act as principal counsel for inland barge
lines; towboat companies; ocean-going shipping lines; terminal operators;
stevedores; major oil and gas exploration, production, transmission, and
service companies; offshore construction companies; builders of inland and
ocean vessels; offshore platforms; barges, rigs, and pipelines; and hull,
cargo, P&I, and general liability insurers. Because our clients' issues may
arise at any time, members of our group are always on call.
Our
diverse experience with all aspects of the maritime industry enables us to
represent clients in transactional matters and related business operations
issues, as well as in regulatory or government relations issues and in complex,
multi-district litigation, arbitration, and mediation, as described below.
Transactional Experience
Marine
Contracts
With
respect to marine contracts, we have extensive experience in the negotiation
and drafting of charter parties, contracts of affreightment, transportation
agreements, terminal tariffs, berth applications, letters of credit, shipyard
construction and repair contracts, naval architect contracts, and international
sales contracts.
Maritime
Finance
In the
maritime finance area, we are frequently called on to counsel clients in
complex ocean and inland domestic and international vessel acquisitions,
financings, and flagging of vessels. We are very experienced in maritime lien
enforcement, foreclosures, ship seizures, and maritime bankruptcies. In
addition, we have handled billions of dollars in financing and refinancing for
maritime industry clients.
Regulatory and Government Relations Experience
Regulatory
In
addition to U.S. Coast Guard proceedings, we engage in regulatory and administrative
matters involving, among other things, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit
applications, U.S. Customs seizures and classification disputes, and analysis
of conventions and treaties.
Members
of our maritime practice have particular experience handling manning issues
offshore, including matters of immigration, citizenship, and outer continental
shelf exemptions.
Government
Relations
Jones
Walker's government relations practice addresses the many legislative and
regulatory issues of regional, national, and international scope that affect
maritime industry clients. Our highly-experienced staff assists clients by
monitoring federal legislative and executive activities; participating in
regulatory agency administrative proceedings; and preparing, supporting, or
opposing legislative initiatives on behalf of our clients.
To
accomplish these objectives, Jones Walker meets regularly with the most active
policymakers in the White House, on Capitol Hill, and throughout the federal
government. For example, Jones Walker's experience in coalition-building led to
the development of an integrated coalition of 250 inland ports, waterways
companies, shippers, and advocacy groups. The firm now advises this coalition
on everything from organizational matters to strategic communications to
lobbying.
Litigation
Personal
Injury, Death & Property Litigation
We have
extensive litigation experience in matters involving personal injury, death
claims, property damage claims, aviation casualties, claims of Jones Act
seamen, general maritime law claims, indemnity and contribution actions,
Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act, Louisiana Workers' Compensation
Act, offshore drilling rig activities, offshore derrick barge activities,
offshore production platform activities, and products liability litigation.
Collisions
& Environmental Matters
Our
attorneys routinely handle vessel collisions, including investigations and U.S.
Coast Guard proceedings, limitation of liability actions, oil pollution
response and liability, environmental damage claims, and salvage and wreck
removal.
Cargo
Additionally,
we counsel clients concerning bills of lading and matters arising therefrom,
including cargo damage claims, dispatch and demurrage, hazardous cargo,
stevedoring operations, and terminal operations.
Insurance
Jones
Walker's Admiralty & Maritime Insurance practice includes broker's and
agent's liability, cargo liability, charterer's legal liability, employer's
liability, excess liability, insurance fraud, hull and machinery insurance,
pollution liability, protection and indemnity insurance, tower's legal
liability, and wharfinger's liability, among other insurance coverages.
