Maritime Law Practice Overview

Because of the uniqueness of Maritime and Admiralty Law, it is highly advisable to retain the most knowledgeable and competent maritime law practitioner available. A maritime case handled by an inexperienced shore-side lawyer is a legal mis-match that will adversely affect the outcome. Particularly in the maritime legal arena, “Knowledge is Master” and experience his helmsman. To chart a true course and to bring your cause to safe harbor requires precise legal wisdom of the salty and wet persuasion. In the old days, a person with such wisdom was a Proctor-in-Admiralty — one who practiced only in the admiralty courts and exclusively upon maritime matters.

Since 1982, Tom Schodowski has been recognized as a Proctor-in-Admiralty by the Maritime Law Association of the United States and offers his talents to commercial and private maritime interests in the following areas:

Admiralty and Maritime Law is a legal specialty recognized by all state bar organizations, as well as national and international trade and transport organizations. It is one of only two originally recognized legal specialty areas of the law, the other being patent and trademark law. Admiralty and Maritime Law has original jurisdiction in the U.S. Federal Courts and, until consolidated with civil law in 1966, it had its own unique practice, procedure, and court rules. Many of these unique aspects have been preserved in the current law.

  1. Maritime Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution
  2. Carriage of Goods
    1. Cargo Liabilities Under Bills of Lading
    2. Charter-Parties
  3. Cruise Lines and Passenger Ships
  4. Fisheries
  5. Inland Waters and Towing
  6. Maritime Liens and Mortgages
  7. Marine Insurance
    1. Cargo Insurance
    2. Hull and P & I Insurance
    3. General Average
  8. Marine Torts and Casualties
    1. Martime Personal Injury and Death
      1. Seamen
      2. Longshoremen
      3. Passengers
      4. Offshore Workers
    2. Collision and Allision
    3. Damage To Shore Structures
    4. Pollution Liability
    5. Maritime Products Liability
  9. Outer Continental Shelf Facilities and Operations
  10. Recreational Boating and Marinas
  11. Salvage
  12. Stevedores, Marine Terminals and Vessel Service
    1. Freight Forwarders and Custom House Brokers
    2. Vessel Repairs and Shipbuilding

Definition of Proctor

The designation “Proctor in Admiralty” is of ancient origin and applied to lawyers entitled to handle maritime litigation. The word “Proctor” was derived from the Roman word “Procurator”, which was translated into English as “Proctor” when the Admiralty Courts were set up in England in the 13th century with jurisdiction over disputes within the Royal Navy as well as purely commercial maritime matters. The designation was continued in the American colonies and, until recently, in our federal court system. Back to top.

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July 30, 2010