Mark T. Coberly
Practice Focus:
Maritime
Maritime Administrative
Customs
Contact Information
Norfolk Office
500 World Trade Center
Norfolk, Virginia 23510
(757) 446-8614
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Mark is a partner with Vandeventer Black and chairs the firm’s Maritime Law Department. He concentrates his law practice in the areas of maritime and related litigation, and shipping-related administrative matters. His federal court trial experience includes major casualties such as collisions, pollution, cargo damage, and serious personal injuries; as well as transactional disputes including charter parties, ship repair contracts, tariffs and towing agreements. He also litigates maritime matters in state court including personal injury defense and transactional matters. Administrative law related to the marine industry such as Coast Guard, Customs and NOAA/NMFS are also areas in which Mark specializes.
His clients include Moran Towing Corporation, The Virginia Pilot Association, and other domestic vessel operators. He serves as General Counsel to the 600 member Virginia Maritime Association and represents P & I Clubs in the International Group.
Mark practices in federal and state court as well as before administrative law judges in proceedings of the United States Coast Guard, Customs, and National Marine Fisheries. He is admitted to practice in Virginia as well as the United States Court of International Trade, the United States Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and the Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia.
Mark received a B.A. (with distinction) from the University of Virginia and a J.D. from Washington & Lee University, where he was a Note and Comment Editor for the Washington & Lee Law Review.
Mark is a member of The Maritime Law Association of the United States, Virginia and American Bar Associations, Virginia State Bar, Virginia Maritime Association and Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute.
Mark has lectured at The College of William & Mary School of Law, Old Dominion University and at the Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute. His publications include Bridgeworkers as Seamen under the Jones Act 34 W & L Law Rev. 445; Maritime Lien Priority and the Ship Mortgage Act, 34 W & L Law Rev. 458; Caesar’s Wife Revisited - Judicial Disqualification, 34 W & L Law Rev. 1201.
He is Vice President of the Board of Trustees for The Hermitage Foundation, and is a former director of the Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute. Mark is AV rated by Martindale-Hubble, is listed in "Best Lawyers in America" in the field of Maritime Law, and was selected as one of Virginia Business’ “Virginia Legal Elite” in the field of Transportation, Admiralty and Intermodal law.