Executive Summary: Maritime law gives creditors and injured parties remedies that do not exist in most ordinary lawsuits. An action in personam is a claim against a person or company. An action in rem is a claim directly against the vessel or maritime property itself. This distinction can determine whether a claimant can arrest a […]

In my experience across two decades of maritime litigation, the law has always been about territory. We deal with flags – the flag state determines which nation’s laws apply when a dispute arises. Whether we are arguing jurisdiction in an Admiralty Court or determining the rules governing salvage rights, we seek clear boundaries: who owns […]

In my years practicing maritime law, I’ve seen what happens when things go wrong – a collision, a cargo mishap, or a poorly drafted contract. Those are predictable risks; they have clear legal precedents built up over centuries of shipping history. We know where the liability lies because we can point to a physical object: […]

There is nothing better than spending time out with our boys and my husband. The fishing trips are always perfect days. We love that feeling of freedom when we glide across the water on our boat. It makes all those little worries from home just melt away in the sunshine. But even on the most […]

There is nothing quite like being out on the water with your family. The smell of salt air, watching the kids laugh as they try to reel in a decent catch – it’s pure gold. We spend so much time enjoying our beautiful boats and the fishing we do that sometimes we forget about the […]

Look, I run a family business. We’ve been doing this life – the hauling of cargo, the repairs, the keeping the water running – since before some of these fancy tech dreams were even written down. You deal with maritime law every day when you’re out there: a bad tide, a dodgy fender-bender, a shipment […]

Right, settle down. Lads. Listen up. I’ve seen my share of mess in this industry. Seen claims over dodgy cargo, faced off against competitors who think they can cheat a man out of his honest graft. I know how quick it is for legal problems to turn a good family business into nothing but scrap […]

A weak shipping contract is an open door: unpaid freight, damaged cargo, delays, and no clear way to make the other side pay. A strong one shuts that door before trouble starts. This is a straight, practical guide to writing a shipping contract that actually protects you – whether you own ships, book cargo, or […]

In my practice, I often handle the sale of vessels. The first question I ask a seller is, “Is the boat Documented?” If the answer is “No, it just has a Florida title,” the transaction immediately becomes more dangerous for the buyer. Why? because state titles are notoriously easy to forge or “wash” of liens. […]

Executive Summary: Buying a sailboat in the Caribbean or Mediterranean often looks like a bargain—until you try to bring it home. While most buyers obsess over the 1.5% import duty, the real legal risks lie in EPA engine compliance and Jones Act trade restrictions. Failing these checks can turn an asset into a liability you […]