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.
Category: Blank Rome News
Note from the Editor
Thomas H. Belknap, Jr., Editor
When I wrote the introductory note for the December 2020 issue of Mainbrace, I certainly hoped that by this time COVID-19 would be a distant memory. But as I write this, we are once again looking at more uncertainty ahead, and it seems that our collective ability to adapt and adjust will continue to be tested for the foreseeable future.
And on the very topic of needing to adapt, I hope you have been able to catch some of our recent Mainbrace Live webinar presentations. Following the successful launch of this new series in the spring, we presented four panels this fall covering topics as diverse as COGSA, marine casualty investigations, maritime liens and arrests, admiralty and maritime jurisdiction, shipowner limitation of liability, maritime environmental developments, and the role of insurance in ship finance. If you missed them, you can still view the recorded sessions (see the section after our articles below). We are pleased to note that this series has been very well received, so keep an eye out for more sessions next spring.
This issue of Mainbrace complements our recent Mainbrace Live webinar series to some extent, as several of the articles are companion pieces to this fall’s webinar presentations. In addition, we have included a number of other articles likely to be of interest to our maritime clients, on such topics as maritime cybersecurity, EU data transfer considerations, and Chapter 15 of the Bankruptcy Code. We hope you enjoy this issue!
We also take this opportunity to wish everyone a Happy Holiday Season and a healthy and prosperous 2022!
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:
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- 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
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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
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:
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- 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
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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
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.
Continue reading “Blank Rome Highly Ranked in U.S. News – Best Lawyers® 2022 “Best Law Firms””Blank Rome Attorneys and Practices Highly Ranked in The Legal 500 United States 2021
June 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.
Continue reading “Blank Rome Attorneys and Practices Highly Ranked in The Legal 500 United States 2021“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”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:
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- 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:
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- 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
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- Jeanne M. Grasso, Partner and Co-Chair, Maritime & International Trade Practice Group
PRESENTERS
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- 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”