Our team is seasoned in handling all vessel-related matters for ship owners and P & I managers, including collision, personal injury, cargo, charter parties, pollution, Coast Guard proceedings, crew issues, vessel arrests, salvage, tug and tow, vessel financing and other commercial transactions.

We are experienced in representing and advising both large and small terminal operators in all aspects of their business, including tariff and contract issues, transportation, LHWCA, environmental, Federal Maritime Commission and cargo handling issues.

We represent importers, exporters and freight forwarders with issues ranging from Customs fines, duties and classification issues to cargo damage and transactional issues.

Our clients afloat include ship owners and charterers, underwriters, tug and barge operators, pilots, charter fishermen, and dredging companies, as well as yacht owners and brokers. Our clients ashore include shipyards, terminals, marine lenders, marinas, repair facilities, small energy companies, ship agents, freight forwarders, shippers, and cargo underwriters.

We advise clients involved in maritime transactions, litigation and arbitration. And, we often collaborate with other Vandeventer Black teams as need arises, including attorneys focusing their practices in environmental, international, labor and employment, workers’ compensation defense, government contracting and tax planning. Our transactional experience includes all types of contracts, vessel sale agreements, charter parties, terminal agreements, tonnage contracts, and bills of lading.  We have extensive trial experience in federal courts on the U.S. East and Gulf Coasts, as well as Virginia state courts.  We have engaged in appellate practice in the First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Eleventh and Federal Circuits, as well as in the U.S. Supreme Court. We have an active New York arbitration practice and handle Customs matters before the Court of International Trade in New York.

Several of our attorneys have served as officers of sea going vessels and are actively involved in international, national and local maritime organizations.  Vandeventer Black has attorneys who serve on the Board of Directors of the Maritime Law Association of the United States and on the Board of the Southeast Admiralty Law Institute.    The firm serves as General Counsel to Virginia International Terminals, Inc., the Virginia Pilot Association, Allied Marine Industries, Virginia Maritime Association and Hampton Roads Shipping Association.  We serve as correspondents for most of the P & I clubs in the International Group and represent domestic underwriters including ACE, IMU, CNA and Travelers / St. Paul. We have also served as admiralty counsel to local municipalities and the Virginia Department of Highways in maritime litigation involving bridges, pipelines, ferries and other state-owned maritime facilities.