Get to know Blank Rome Maritime team members Matthew J. Thomas and Carmella R. O’Hanlon.
Matthew J. Thomas
How did you begin your career in the maritime industry, and what early experiences shaped your professional path?
I started in the maritime industry in the early 1990s, right out of law school, as a staff attorney and international affairs head at the Federal Maritime Commission. As a young person I was thrown into the thick of a number of major shipping regulatory and policy issues, including liner competition law; ports regulation; bilateral trade fights over market access with Japan, China, and other countries; and multilateral efforts to rewrite the rules for shipping at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and World Trade Organization. Those experiences were the foundation for my private practice career over the last 25 years.
What issues within the maritime industry are you focused on right now?
Right now, I’m focused on the intersection of shipping and geopolitics, especially in areas such as trade sanctions and the recent Section 301 case on China’s shipping and shipbuilding sectors.
Can you share some of your recent successes?
The Blank Rome Maritime group has successfully defended several of the most notable maritime sector targets of U.S. trade sanctions. This has only been possible due to the extraordinary depth of talent and extensive experience demonstrated by the Blank Rome team. I’m very proud to be part of a group that can provide such excellence and breadth of U.S. legal service to the shipping and trading sectors—everything ranging from the most complex and sensitive regulatory and political issues to the most challenging casualties and disputes, to the most complex transactions.
Carmella R. O’Hanlon
How did you get into maritime law?
I have always been interested in foreign policy and international affairs. Coming out of law school, I knew that I wanted to be a litigator and build an international practice.
I started out as a generalist working on a wide range of corporate litigation and government investigation matters. Completely by chance, a significant portion of the cases I worked on were maritime litigation and economic sanctions matters. I found myself immediately gravitating towards both practices, and I realized that they complemented each other well.
What do you find most interesting about the maritime industry?
The maritime industry is the driving force of the world economy. It is significantly influenced by, and in turn exerts substantial influence on, international affairs. This has been made even more evident in the past few years following the impact of the COVID pandemic, the ramp-up of U.S. economic sanctions on Russia and Iran, the proposed tariff increases, and the Office of the United States Trade Representative (“USTR”) port fees on Chinese owned or operated vessels.
But despite the major role the maritime industry plays in the world economy, the industry itself is small and incredibly close-knit. I love getting to know colleagues across the world who work in this industry.
What trends are you following at the moment?
I am closely following the increase in sanctions against Iran and Russia, and the recent focus on Venezuela by the Trump Administration. Relatedly, I am following reporting on the various methods dark fleet actors utilize to attempt to evade U.S. sanctions. I am also paying attention to any updates on the U.S.-China relationship and its impact on the suspension of the USTR port fees.
How does our deep experience in the maritime industry provide us with a competitive advantage?
I have seen firsthand that Blank Rome is a one-stop shop for companies in the shipping industry. Our team’s capabilities cover nearly all aspects of the industry and we have the contacts to get us to the right people when needed. Combined with the strengths of the other practice groups and industry teams at our firm, we are able to handle just about anything that comes our way, which makes us nimble and ready to respond when our clients are faced with crisis situations.
What do you like to do outside of your legal practice?
I love seeing plays, musicals, and live music. I also enjoy reading, traveling, cooking, and trying new restaurants.
This article is one in a series of articles written for Blank Rome’s MAINBRACE: January 2026 edition.