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.

News

• Jones Walker Attorneys Speak at LSBA Annual Meeting and LSBA/LJC Summer School
• Tillery and Hebert Participate in GNOBFA Seminar
• Duncan Elected President of Audubon Commission
• Jones Walker Announces New Board of Directors Members and Partners

Events

• "Making the Hard Decisions in the Face of Adversity: Bush v. Orleans Parish School Board"
• "Ethical Ways to Respond to Mass Casualty"
• "Maintenance and Cure and Punitive Damages"
• "Professionalism and Ethics in the Handling of the Personal Injury Litigation Matter—from Incident to Settlement or Judgment—Start to Finish"

Publications

• "Sub-Chapter M From a Defense Lawyer's Perspective: How Your Liability and Litigation May Change in an Inspected World"
  Greater New Orleans Barge Fleeting Association 30th Annual River and Marine Industry Seminar, InterContinental New OrleansApril 26, 2012
• "Admiralty and Maritime Law"
  Robert B. Acomb, Jr. and John J. Broders
  Business and Commercial Litigation in Federal Courts, 3rd ed., Chapter 77, Section of Litigation, American Bar Association, January 2012
• "EPA Blows the Man Down"
  Stanley A. Millan
  E*Lert, January 7, 2009
• "Overview of General Maritime Law Including the Jones Act"
  Jefferson R. Tillery , August 2008