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Admiralty and Maritime

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Environmental

Thompson Coburn’s environmental attorneys represent maritime clients in environmental audits and litigation matters in state and federal courts and before administrative agencies. Our attorneys counsel clients in connection with environmental issues associated with business acquisitions and sales, including the identification, evaluation, allocation and management of environmental risks and liabilities associated with the acquisition and divestiture of vessels and shipping businesses.

We work with our shipping clients, including oil companies, on a variety of environmental laws and help clients understand and comply with the myriad state and federal environmental laws applicable to vessels and the shipping industry. We advise clients on issues relating to the Oil Pollution Act (OPA), the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (Clean Water Act). We also assist in the development and implementation of environmental compliance programs to reduce the risk of potentially significant fines, penalties and criminal proceedings.
Partners
Bay, William R.
Bock, Cherie Stephens
Brown, Eileen P.
Buchholz, Edward J.
Dean Jr., Warren L.
Dorwart, Donald B.
Farmer, John S.
Kaiser, Matthew
Krumholz, Marjorie F.
Lawton, Richard L.
Massey, Raymond L.
McGowan, Thomas Sean
O'Keefe, Michael D.
Sonderegger, Paul T.
Stoltz, Gerald D.
Strassner, Peter S.
Struble, B. Matthew
Associates
Gammell, Orisia K.
  • AEP River Operations
  • AET UK Limited
  • American Commercial Lines LLC
  • Export-Import Bank of the United States
  • Cargill Grain
  • General Ore
  • Global Marine Transportation
  • Energizer
  • GATX Corporation
  • K-Sea Operating Partnership, L.P.
  • The Great Lakes Group
Admiralty Litigation
Represented a client before the U.S. Supreme Court in successfully challenging the Federal Maritime Commission’s jurisdiction over state port authorities.
Represented a marine repair facility in jury trial to verdict involving a Jones Act case, brought by a paralyzed worker, arising out of collapse of a crane boom. This trial was in one of the most litigious venues in America.
Represented a riverboat casino in trial to judgment in U.S. District Court in a limitation of liability action following a mid-river collision between the casino and a towboat pushing a cement barge. The trial involved multimillion-dollar claims for hull damage, personal injuries and business interruption.
Represented towboat company in litigation in Indiana federal court that successfully secured full insurance coverage and outstanding legal fees in coverage dispute.
Successfully secured limitation of liability in collision with railroad bridge on the Mississippi River in Eastern District of Missouri.
Secured judgment in charterer’s favor in multimillion-dollar arbitration over chartered barges that were allegedly damaged during term of the charter.
Environmental
Represented a domestic shipowner in the acquisition of the shipping business of a Great Lakes-based operator, including the purchase of six bulk carriers. This transaction involved legal issues relating to the discovery and removal of mercury contamination prior to closing.
Finance
Represented lessors in lease financing of offshore supply vessels.
Represented a U.S. bank in fleet mortgage financing and subsequent sale of debt to third-party financial institution.
Represented a U.S. bank providing acquisition financing and associated lines of credit for a family-owned tug and barge business.
Ports
Represented a foreign-based shipping company in negotiating vessel construction contracts with major international shipyards in Korea, Japan and China.
Regulatory Matters
Led a coalition that successfully lobbied Congress in connection with the reform of Subpart F relating to the taxation of foreign-based company shipping income and represented clients in the enactment of the alternate tonnage tax regime for U.S.-flagged vessels operating in international trade.
Represented a foreign shipowner in performing due diligence necessary to evaluate a U.S.-based shipping business for a possible acquisition.