Respected Conclave Proposes Important Revisions to Chapter 15 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code

Mainbrace | March 2016 (No. 2)

Michael B. Schaedle

Chapter 15 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code enacts the Model Law (the “Model Law”) on Cross-Border Insolvency promulgated by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law, which has been adopted by the United States and 40 other countries. Chapter 15 is designed to enable international reorganization by creating a straightforward means by which foreign debtors can access the American judicial and bankruptcy system to assist foreign courts in their work in reorganizing, rehabilitating, and liquidating those debtors with cross-border interests, including in the United States. Continue reading “Respected Conclave Proposes Important Revisions to Chapter 15 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code”

BIMCO’s Cybersecurity Guidelines: Shipowners’ and Operators’ Risk, Exposure, and Liability

Mainbrace | March 2016 (No. 2)

Kate B. Belmont

Introduction

On January 4, 2016, the maritime industry changed forever. With the release of “The Guidelines on Cyber Security Onboard Ships” created by BIMCO, CLIA, ICS, Intercargo, and Intertanko, the maritime industry acknowledged and recognized that cyber-threats are grave and cyber-attacks are happening. The maritime industry responded to the call for greater education on cybersecurity and greater protections, and created a set of guidelines for shipowners and operators to defend against such attacks. Accordingly, as the BIMCO Cybersecurity Guidelines make clear, shipowners and operators must be proactive in protecting against such threats, and they must be responsive. While the maritime industry has been hesitant to address cybersecurity issues and embrace the new realities of operating in a world heavily reliant on ICT (information and communication technology), with the release and publication of the BIMCO Cybersecurity Guidelines, the maritime industry no longer has its head in the sand. These guidelines have become the new standard against which shipowners and operators will be judged when addressing issues related to cybersecurity onboard ships. Continue reading “BIMCO’s Cybersecurity Guidelines: Shipowners’ and Operators’ Risk, Exposure, and Liability”

Deepwater Horizon Court Ruling Closes the Gap on Responder Immunity

Mainbrace | March 2016 (No. 2)

Jonathan K. Waldron and Lauren B. Wilgus

On February 16, 2016, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana issued a landmark decision with respect to responder immunity. In In re DWH Oil Spill, MDL No. 2179 (ED La, February 16, 2016), the court granted the clean-up responder defendants’ motions for summary judgment with respect to claims asserted against them by plaintiffs who engaged in a variety of clean-up activities and were exposed to oil, dispersants, and other chemicals while doing so as a result of actions or omissions relating to the defendants’ use of dispersants and other response efforts during the Deepwater Horizon incident. Continue reading “Deepwater Horizon Court Ruling Closes the Gap on Responder Immunity”

A Note from the Chair, Maritime and International Trade Practice Group

Mainbrace | March 2016 (No. 2)

John D. Kimball

As we gather for CMA 2016, “Volatility” seems to be the key word for this year. It is the year of the monkey in the Far East. It is a presidential election year here in the United States, with such a wide range of campaign themes and personalities in the running that a state of uncertainty and confusion is understandable both at home and abroad. Stock markets world-wide continue gyrating. And many sectors of the shipping industry seem to be in the mode of simply bracing to get through the year, wishing that 2016 would hurry up so that we can put it behind us. To the extent the work of law firms can be said to serve as an economic indicator, what do we see happening? Our insolvency and restructuring practice continues to be very active. Regulatory compliance continues to have an important role, and we expect that to be a permanent feature of the business. Sanctions issues also remain very active. But the shipping business has been through turbulent seas many times before and the resilient spirit of the people working in this business is remarkable. It is impressive that so many sectors of the shipping business are holding to a long-term positive view. This year’s theme of the CMA is “Local Talent, Global Impact,” and that seems very apt. We look forward to participating in the discussions.

The U.S. Imperative for New Icebreakers

Mainbrace | March 2016 (No. 2)

Joan M. Bondareff and James B. Ellis

Executive Summary

The U.S. Coast Guard, under new guidance from President Barack Obama, is moving forward to acquire one new polar icebreaker for the United States. But the United States, as a leading maritime power and Arctic nation, needs more icebreakers and has yet to determine how to fund these very expensive ships. This article describes the United States’ disappointing history with polar icebreakers and why they are badly needed. Continue reading “The U.S. Imperative for New Icebreakers”

Mulling Sanctions: Will the 45th President Limit Trade with Iran and Cuba?

Mainbrace | March 2016 (No. 2)

Stefanos N. Roulakis

The election of the 45th President of the United States could have a drastic impact on the global maritime industry. There are few issues that changed for the maritime industry in the last year of the Obama administration as much as trade sanctions against Iran and Cuba. Continue reading “Mulling Sanctions: Will the 45th President Limit Trade with Iran and Cuba?”

Navigating the Electronic Ocean: An Update on E-Discovery Best Practices

Mainbrace | March 2016 (No. 2)

Jeremy A. Herschaft and David G. Meyer

For any maritime business interest with a connection to the United States, involvement in civil litigation in U.S. courts is likely inevitable. As such, both domestic and foreign businesses should prepare themselves for involvement in U.S. civil litigation before it is thrust upon them. In this regard, no area of current concern generates more discussion (and sometimes angst) amongst our international and domestic clients than “e-discovery,” its costs and scope, and the best practices that companies can adopt to prepare themselves for this unique aspect of U.S. litigation.

In contrast to many foreign legal regimes, it has long been the rule in the United States that, once a lawsuit is filed, the parties to the action exchange essentially all relevant documentary information shortly after the beginning of the case in a period known as “discovery.” The policy rationale for this process is to enable all sides to fully investigate the facts of the case early on and develop their respective legal arguments before trial, which will hopefully encourage settlement once the key facts are isolated. Until the last decade, a maritime lawyer’s factual investigation and discovery plan involved the searches and exchange of boxes, sifting through warehouses full of paper documents, and (through personal experience of the authors!) 2:00 a.m. use of the captain’s copier on the bridge while off- shore during shipboard investigations to collect “hard copies” of pertinent vessel logs.

Those days are essentially over, as modern business practices have almost completely shifted into the electronic arena. Indeed, some commentators assert that more than 90 per- cent of all information today is created and exists purely in electronic form. The maritime industry has followed the trend, with many “traditional” documents such as logs, cargo manifests, and communications now occurring in purely electronic format. As such, the electronic or “e”-discovery of such materials is now a critical concern to the maritime community. How a company manages its electronic records is of vital importance before the moment it actually becomes involved in U.S. civil litigation.

On December 1, 2015, significant amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (“FRCP”)1  went into effect. These amendments included changes to the rules governing e-discovery, which, for purposes of this article, broadly refers to discovery focused on seeking/obtaining electronically stored information (“ESI”) from a litigant. As a preliminary matter, the basic scope of all discovery was amended to re- emphasize focus on a proportionality standard, as follows:

Parties may obtain discovery regarding any nonprivileged matter that is relevant to any party’s claim or defense and proportional to the needs of the case, considering the importance of the issues at stake in the action, the amount in controversy, the parties’ relative access to relevant information, the parties’ resources, the importance of the discovery in resolving the issues, and whether the burden or expense of the proposed discovery outweighs its likely benefit. Information within this scope of discovery need not be admissible in evidence to be discoverable.

Even though the new “proportionality” discovery standard can be viewed as perhaps limiting the scope of discovery, the parties’ obligations to produce relevant material (electronic or otherwise) remains. With this general obligation in mind, the following four topics are general guidelines that companies should consider when preparing for the inevitable.

1. Pre-Litigation Awareness of Your Electronic Footprint

A solid e-discovery strategy begins long before the process server knocks on your door. Modern businesses (regardless of size or location) should first prepare by ensuring before litigation that in-house counsel have an in-depth understanding of the businesses’ specific computer network arrangements, the type of computer systems utilized by the company and its subsidiaries, access to key IT personnel, and how and where key company data is stored. Think of this step like a lifeboat drill—if the lawsuit were filed tomorrow, would you and your in-house counsel know where to go and who to turn to in order to fully understand your data systems? You will likely be required to immediately access those very systems during discovery, so personally having a full under- standing of that architecture now in calm waters will help to avoid problems during the subsequent storm.

2. Your Data Management and Data Retention Policies

A corollary to understanding your company’s electronic foot- print is to fully understand its data management and data retention policies. To be sure, there is no “one size fits all” approach to data management and retention—what is necessary for an international oil conglomerate may not be the best strategy for a small local tug company or NVOCC. But a common principle is universal: regardless of your company’s size, it is good business practice to have an official data management and retention plan in place now to control if, when, and how data is managed, maintained, and in many cases, appropriately purged and deleted during normal business operations. You may very well be relying on that plan in court to document your company’s “normal” electronic business practices in future litigation.

3. What to Do with Your Data Once Litigation Is Threatened or Pending

Once litigation is threatened or pending, it is critical to quickly identify and access the potential universe of electronic information implicated in the lawsuit and make important strategic determinations ASAP to secure all relevant data from key personnel. One of the first steps in this process is to immediately identify key employees who are likely to be “custodians” of electronic data that may be relevant to the litigation. Keep in mind that in the maritime arena, such custodians may very well include the ships them- selves—they are now often given their own generic e-mails, server designations, etc. (for example, “mvgreenwave@ client.com). Thereafter, it is critical to internally issue a “litigation hold” notice to key personnel advising them of the lawsuit, the relevant areas at issue, and the need to maintain all critical documents (electronic or otherwise). The reason for this strict requirement is that in certain instances, U.S. courts may penalize those parties who lose, misplace, or destroy key evidence (known as “spoliation”).

Clients should avoid spoliation pitfalls at all costs by working with counsel and implementing litigation holds immediately after threatened or pending litigation. This is now particularly important in the electronic realm, because unlike your office file cabinet, many electronic data systems will automatically purge and delete data (such as emails) after a certain time period. Again, having a solid understanding of your company’s systems and liaising with key IT personnel before litigation ensues will enable you to promptly access such systems and suspend normal data purge schedules as necessary once the lawsuit arrives.

4. Discovery Phase Collection Considerations

Very shortly after a complaint and answers are filed in federal court, counsel for all parties are required to participate in a “meet and confer” conference to develop a mutually acceptable discovery That plan now expressly contemplates and must address issues of ESI preservation. The parties will then participate in a preliminary conference with the court, which generally results in the issuance of a scheduling order. FRCP 16(b)(2) now specifies that scheduling orders may provide for the preservation of ESI, as well as include an agreement regarding the inadvertent disclosure of electronically privileged information (often called a “clawback agreement”).

It is important that you and your outside counsel begin planning at the outset for how e-discovery is going to be handled, including educating counsel about your company’s electronic systems and establishing lines of communication between counsel and your key e-discovery personnel. Keep in mind that each e-discovery collection and review is different, and the cost and scope of the project will necessarily depend upon the size and complexity of the case. In some instances, complex review tools (such as computer-assisted “predictive coding” or other types of attorney-assisted review) can be utilized to efficiently search through large portions of data. In other instances, the collection may involve only a small amount of ESI from a few custodians that can then be classically reviewed. The costs for such endeavors necessarily fluctuates depending on the scope and complexity of each case, but fortunately, the market is meeting the demand, and cost effective review platforms are now increasingly common in the industry.

By fashioning a review plan early and working with opposing counsel, your company will be better equipped to navigate the e-discovery process itself. Some of the things your counsel will be assisting with are as follows:

  • Responding to general ESI discovery requests and, as necessary, establishing unique “search terms” and other search parameters with opposing parties to isolate relevant ESI that may be subject to This will entail the collection of ESI materials followed by a review and designation of materials to actually produce in discovery.
  • Dealing with “overly broad and unduly burdensome” discovery requests from opposing counsel, and corollary motion practice to limit discovery, as necessary.
  • Preparation and maintenance of “privileged data” sets to isolate and secure privileged communications, trade sensitive data, or other confidential commercial materials that may be potentially be exposed during discovery.
  • Identification and designation of one or more of your employees representative to serve as a potential FRCP 30(b)(6) witness to confirm and describe your IT foot- print and the parameters and scope of your ESI

The creation, use, and storage of electronic data is now an integral and critical part of every modern business, but costly pitfalls can arise when such information becomes implicated in threatened or pending litigation. Being proactive and taking steps to appropriately plan and prepare for the inevitable is important and can help ensure your company’s safe passage through the electronic ocean we are all now operating in.

Blank Rome Welcomes More than 100 Attorneys from Dickstein Shapiro in D.C. and NY

Mainbrace | March 2016 (No. 2)

Blank Rome LLP is pleased to announce that more than 100 attorneys and additional staff from Dickstein Shapiro LLP’s New York and Washington, D.C., offices have joined the Firm.

As a result of this deal, Blank Rome offers its combined client base expanded and enhanced capabilities. The Firm now has more than 620 attorneys across 14 offices; a more robust presence in Washington, D.C., that is more than triple its prior size and includes prominent insurance coverage and government contracts practices; an expanded, leading intellectual property group, both in terms of size and experience; and greater strategic depth in other core areas, including corporate and finance, real estate, and litigation. Continue reading “Blank Rome Welcomes More than 100 Attorneys from Dickstein Shapiro in D.C. and NY”

The Latest on the Ballast Water Conundrum

Mainbrace | March 2016 (No. 2)

Jeanne M. Grasso and Dana S. Merkel

The challenges faced by the maritime industry in implementing international and domestic ballast water requirements continue unabated. These challenges may be getting even more challenging in the next year or so.

Internationally, new ratifications to the International Maritime Organization’s (“IMO”) International  Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments (“Convention”) mean the Convention is very close to entering into force. In the United States, which is not party to the Convention, the U.S. Coast Guard (“USCG”) issued a revised policy addressing extensions for the installation of ballast water treatment systems and, shortly thereafter, rejected an “equivalency request” from four ballast water treatment system manufacturers, which would have helped alleviate the need for these extensions, which now number more than 4,000. In addition, the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) acted arbitrarily and capriciously in drafting the ballast water provisions of its Vessel General Permit for Discharges Incidental to the Normal Operation of Vessels (“VGP”), thus creating more uncertainty. Continue reading “The Latest on the Ballast Water Conundrum”

Risk-Management Tools for Maritime Companies

Mainbrace | March 2016 (No. 2)

Compliance Review Program

Blank Rome Maritime has developed a flexible, fixed-fee Compliance Review Program to help maritime companies mitigate the escalating risks in the maritime regulatory environment. The program provides concrete, practical guidance tailored to your operations to strengthen your regulatory compliance systems and minimize the risk of your company becoming an enforcement statistic. To learn how the Compliance Review Program can help your company, please visit www.blankrome.com/  compliancereviewprogram.

Maritime Cybersecurity Review Program

Blank Rome provides a comprehensive solution for protecting your company’s property and reputation from the unprecedented cybersecurity challenges present in today’s global digital economy. Our multidisciplinary team of leading cybersecurity and data privacy professionals advises clients on the potential consequences of cybersecurity threats and how to implement comprehensive measures for mitigating cyber risks, prepare customized strategy and action plans, and provide ongoing support and maintenance to promote cybersecurity awareness. Blank Rome’s maritime cybersecurity team has the capability to address cybersecurity issues associated with both land-based systems and systems onboard ships, including the implementation of the BIMCO Guidelines on Cyber Security Onboard Ships. To learn how the Maritime Cybersecurity Review Program can help your company, please visit www.blankrome.com/cybersecurity or contact Kate B. Belmont (KBelmont@BlankRome.com, 212.885.5075) or Steven L. Caponi (Caponi@BlankRome.com, 302.425.6408).

Trade Sanctions And Export Compliance Review Program

Blank Rome’s Trade Sanctions and Export Compliance Review Program ensures that companies in the maritime, transportation, offshore, and commodities fields do not fall afoul of U.S. trade law requirements. U.S. requirements for trading with Iran, Cuba, Russia, Syria, and other hotspots change rapidly, and U.S. limits on banking and financial services, and restrictions on exports of U.S. goods, software, and technology, impact our shipping and energy clients daily. Our team will review and update our clients’ internal policies and procedures for complying with these rules on a fixed-fee basis. When needed, our trade team brings extensive experience in compliance audits and planning, investigations and enforcement matters, and government relations, tailored to provide practical and businesslike solutions for shipping, trading, and energy clients worldwide. To learn how the Trade Sanctions and Export Compliance Review Program can help your company, please visit www.blankromemaritime.com or contact Matthew J. Thomas (MThomas@BlankRome.com, 202.772.5971).

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