Rawle & Henderson has long been recognized for its admiralty and maritime practice. Philadelphia has been a major port throughout the history of the United States, and our attorneys have been involved in most every aspect of the practice of maritime law.

In the area of maritime personal injury work, the Firm’s practice includes representing shipowners in lawsuits filed by longshore workers, representing owners of all types and sizes of vessels with regard to personal injury claims brought by seamen under the Jones Act and General Maritime Law, and representing cruise line owners in lawsuits brought by passengers for personal injuries sustained on cruises. Rawle & Henderson’s practice also includes litigation arising from scuba diving, recreational boating accidents, and jet-ski operation.

In the casualty arena, Rawle & Henderson is regularly engaged in matters involving cargo damage claims, hull and collision disputes, groundings, dock and pier damage, salvage, General Average, and maritime liens. In the marine environment area, the Firm is involved in matters arising under both federal and state law, including the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and Oil Pollution Act of 1990. This work includes oil and chemical spills and cleanups, and all types of toxic tort and pollution incidents. Rawle & Henderson also assists vessel interests with regulatory and agency issues, including appearances before the U.S. Coast Guard, Immigration and Customs agencies.

Rawle & Henderson’s maritime clients include domestic and foreign shipowners, multi-national offshore drilling companies, and marine underwriters, as well as a variety of local maritime interests, including pier owners, ship repairers, stevedoring companies, steamship agents, and ship suppliers. Rawle & Henderson’s maritime lawyers handle cases in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Delaware, Maryland and West Virginia. The Firm’s maritime lawyers also litigate charter party, insurance coverage, and commercial disputes in a variety of arbitration and alternative dispute resolution settings, both locally, in New York, and London.

MARINE CASUALTIES

• Personal injury / Wrongful death including Jones Act and Death on the High Seas Act
• Collisions / Groundings
• Fires
• Recreational boating accidents

POLLUTION

• OPA ’90 issues
• Environmental contamination
• Lightering and bunkering incidents

CARRIAGE OF GOODS BY SEA UNDER BILLS OF LADING

• Cargo damage
• Documents of title

CHARTER PARTY DISPUTES AND ARBITRATION

• Vessel arrest and attachment
• Freight / Defense

STEVEDORE AND TERMINAL LIABILITY

• Cargo
• Terminal / Warehouse

REGULATORY DISPUTES

• Coast Guard
• Immigration
• Customs