Category: Blank Rome News

Mainbrace Live: All Aboard! Webinar Series

Over the last month, our internationally recognized Maritime & International Trade practice group presented a new series of informative webinars on hot topics in the shipping industry. The series featured up-and-coming talent in the firm with sessions discussing the following critical industry trends:

      • USCG Issues during a Marine Casualty
      • COGSA Fundamentals and Time Bars
      • Decarbonization
      • Insurance Requirements in Ship Financings
      • Jones Act Update and VIDA/VGP Status and Enforcement
      • Maritime Liens
      • Arrest Fundamentals and Acceptable Security Terms
      • State and Federal Court Distinctions and Admiralty Jurisdiction
      • Limitation of Liability

In Case You Missed It…

The Gateway to Federal Court: Admiralty Jurisdiction and Limitation of Liability
VIEW: Recording │ Materials

Maritime Liens and Arrest Fundamentals
VIEW: Recording │ Materials

Maritime Environmental Update and the Role of Insurance in Ship Finance
VIEW: Recording │ Materials

What to Do Following COGSA and USCG Marine Casualty Investigations?
VIEW: Recording │ Materials

Pro Bono Report (2020–2021)

September 2021

2021 Pro Bono Report Cover

Welcome to Blank Rome’s Pro Bono Report (2020–2021), which highlights various pro bono cases, clinics, and projects that our attorneys worked on last year and in recent months to provide equal access to justice in our communities.

In particular, we discuss our significant work surrounding key issues across the country, including the COVID-19 pandemic, racial injustice, and voter protection, as well as work on behalf of immigrants, LGBTQ+ individuals, persons facing homelessness, senior citizens, and small business owners and nonprofits.

Also featured in this report: 

      • Blank Rome’s 2020 Pro Bono Year in Review
      • Summary of pro bono awards presented to our firm and attorneys
      • Blank Rome’s pro bono corporate and community partners
      • Overview of pro bono initiatives and priorities for 2021 and beyond

To download Blank Rome’s Pro Bono Report, please click here.

Blank Rome Highly Ranked in U.S. News – Best Lawyers® 2022 “Best Law Firms”

November 4, 2021

U.S. News - Best Lawyers 2022

Blank Rome LLP is pleased to announce that our firm was nationally ranked in 28 practice areas and regionally ranked in 82 practice areas in the 2022 “Best Law Firms” survey by U.S. News & World Report – Best Lawyers.®

Earlier this year, Blank Rome was also recognized in the 2022 Best Lawyers in America survey, which ranked 117 firm attorneys in the annual categories of “Lawyers of the Year,” “Ones to Watch,” and “Best Lawyers” in 44 practice areas across 11 regions.

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Blank Rome Attorneys and Practices Highly Ranked in The Legal 500 United States 2021

June 2021

The Legal 500 2021

Blank Rome LLP is pleased to announce that our practice groups and attorneys have been highly ranked and recommended in The Legal 500 United States 2021. Researchers at The Legal 500 conduct annual, in-depth market research and gather information from individual law firms as well as feedback from peers and clients to form an objective analysis and prepare comprehensive rankings and editorial of the U.S. legal market.

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Chambers USA 2021 Honors Blank Rome Maritime Attorneys and Practices

BAND ONE: Shipping Litigation (New York) – Nationwide

What the team is known for: “Esteemed practice with significant experience handling high-profile maritime litigation for national and international clients, including P&I clubs, shipping companies and owners. Highly regarded for crisis response and offering additional expertise in alternative dispute resolution. Maintains an excellent reputation for advising maritime industry entities in federal investigations arising from intentional misconduct allegations and casualty events, as well as in a host of cybersecurity issues. Recently active on a range of fuel contamination, cargo loss, salvage and collision cases.”

Strengths: “An impressed client reports: ‘Blank Rome really caters to its clients’ needs, and each of the partners are very savvy and really provide great and succinct advice.’ Sources praise the ‘great team with good associates,’ and highlight their ‘wealth of knowledge.’ Interviewees say: ‘The team really is a leader in the space and really on top of the matters.’”

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Coronavirus (“COVID-19”) Task Force

From supply chain disruption, government-ordered closures, and event cancellations to employee safety concerns, vaccine requirements, and social distancing recommendations, every company is facing its own unique challenges surrounding this ongoing global pandemic. Blank Rome’s Coronavirus (“COVID-19”) Task Force is monitoring this ever-changing situation and is here to help. 

Mainbrace Live: U.S. Maritime Regulatory Update

Blank Rome’s internationally recognized Maritime & International Trade practice group presents a new series of informative webinars covering hot topics in the shipping industry and key insights into 2021 and beyond. Sessions will cover:

    • Sanctions and international trade
    • Offshore wind developments
    • Shipping litigation
    • Maritime regulation
    • Ship finance
    • And more!

For the fourth webinar in our Mainbrace Live series, Blank Rome LLP attorneys Jeanne M. Grasso, Dana S. Merkel, and Stefanos N. Roulakis presented “U.S. Maritime Regulatory Update” on Tuesday, June 22, 2021.

Jeanne, Dana, and Stefanos discussed:

    • The conundrum in ballast water management: VIDA, VGP, and the IMO
    • Ongoing industry challenges as COVID-19 continues
    • Emerging greenhouse gas regulation and shipping

MODERATOR

    • Jeanne M. Grasso, Partner and Co-Chair, Maritime & International Trade Practice Group

PRESENTERS

    • Dana S. Merkel, Associate, Maritime Practice Group
    • Stefanos N. Roulakis, Associate, Maritime Practice Group

To watch a recording of this webinar, please go to the webinar on-demand registration page here.

Chambers USA 2021 Honors Blank Rome Maritime Attorneys and Practices

Band One | Shipping Litigation (New York) — Nationwide

What the team is known for: “Esteemed practice with significant experience handling high-profile maritime litigation for national and international clients, including P&I clubs, shipping companies and owners. Highly regarded for crisis response and offering additional expertise in alternative dispute resolution. Maintains an excellent reputation for advising maritime industry entities in federal investigations arising from intentional misconduct allegations and casualty events, as well as in a host of cybersecurity issues. Recently active on a range of fuel contamination, cargo loss, salvage and collision cases.”

Strengths: “An impressed client reports: ‘Blank Rome really caters to its clients’ needs, and each of the partners are very savvy and really provide great and succinct advice.’” “Sources praise the ‘great team with good associates,’ and highlight their ‘wealth of knowledge.’” “Interviewees say: ‘The team really is a leader in the space and really on top of the matters.’”

Continue reading “Chambers USA 2021 Honors Blank Rome Maritime Attorneys and Practices”

Note from the Editor

Thomas H. Belknap, Jr., Editor

When Mainbrace started some 30 years ago, it was a traditional print newsletter that went out by mail. Over the years, the publication has seen many updates in form and format, mirroring the industry-wide evolution from print to digital. This spring, Mainbrace took the next step in its evolution with the launch of our Mainbrace Live virtual webinar series. In April, we hosted two webinars, the first on preparing for the Biden administration’s maritime and foreign policy and the second on providing an update on the offshore wind industry. If you missed these presentations, you can still view them using the links in our Mainbrace Live section below. I also encourage you to register for our upcoming sessions, U.S. Maritime Litigation Trends (May 18) and U.S. Maritime Regulatory Update (June 22). If you miss them, don’t worry—recordings will be posted for later viewing. And keep an eye out for more Mainbrace Live sessions in due course.

As you will see from this latest newsletter issue, we aren’t abandoning or replacing the traditional print version of Mainbrace—we view Mainbrace Live as an addition to our communications toolbox. We are grateful for these opportunities to communicate with our clients and colleagues in the industry, and we hope that you enjoy this latest issue which, we think, dovetails nicely with the subjects covered in our new webinar series. As always, we welcome suggestions for new topics for Mainbrace, and now for Mainbrace Live as well.

MAINBRACE LIVE WEBINAR SERIES

UPCOMING WEBINAR:

U.S. MARITIME REGULATORY UPDATE
June 22, 2021
6:00–7:00 a.m. PDT / 9:00–10:00 a.m. EDT / 1:00–2:00 p.m. GMT

Join Blank Rome maritime attorneys as they discuss the latest U.S. maritime regulatory updates, including:

  • The 8-year conundrum in ballast water management: VIDA, VGP, and IMO
  • Ongoing industry challenges as COVID-19 continues
  • Emerging greenhouse gas regulations and shipping

REGISTER HERE »

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…

PREPARE FOR THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION’S MARITIME & FOREIGN POLICY

Blank Rome LLP and Blank Rome Government Relations LLC maritime attorneys and professionals discussed the outlook for maritime policymaking under the new Biden administration and Congress, as well as its impacts on the global shipping industry, including international trade sanctions, foreign policy, and enforcement trends. VIEW WEBINAR »

U.S. OFFSHORE WIND INDUSTRY UPDATE

Blank Rome maritime attorneys discussed U.S. offshore wind development projects and infrastructure, the Biden administration’s commitments to expand renewable energy, the Jones Act’s impacts on existing and planned offshore wind installation and servicing projects, and pitfalls and opportunities for contractors and service providers looking to enter the industry. VIEW WEBINAR »

U.S. MARITIME LITIGATION TRENDS
Blank Rome maritime attorneys discussed the latest U.S. maritime litigation trends, including the purpose of and criteria for section 1782; judgment enforcement; timeline of a federal case; and spill investigations. VIEW WEBINAR »

Blank Rome Announces 2021 Promotions: Kierstan L. Carlson Elected as Maritime Partner

Effective January 1, 2021, Blank Rome announced the election of Kierstan L. Carlson to partner in the firm’s Maritime and International Trade practice group. In total, the firm elected eight associates and five of counsel to partner, and elevated four associates to of counsel.

In addition to Kierstan, the newly elected partners are Ory Apelboim, Michael J. Barry, Shaun J. Bockert, Melanie S. Carter, Thomas A. Cournoyer, Molly E. Crane, Ryan E. Cronin, Stephanie M. Harden, Martin S. Krezalek, Kevin M. O’Malley, Michael D. Silberfarb, and John P. Wixted. The new of counsel are Samir Ahuja, Kevin M. Eddy, Alexander S. Perry, and Michael P. Trainor.

“We congratulate this outstanding group of talented attorneys on their new roles at Blank Rome,” said Grant S. Palmer, Managing Partner and CEO. “Our firm’s elevation decisions are a long-term investment in the future of Blank Rome, and we are confident that this impressive group of attorneys will continue to promote our culture of teamwork and collaboration while providing exceptional service to our clients.”

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