Primary Contacts

William J. "Bill" Honan
Partner
New York

William J. Honan practices in the Litigation Section and heads the Maritime Practice Group. Mr. Honan has 38 years of experience in maritime law especially related to maritime contracts.

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James "Jim" Hohenstein
Partner
New York

James H. Hohenstein practices in the Litigation Section and focuses primarily in the areas of international and domestic commercial litigation, including charter parties, cargo damage...

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Chester D. Hooper
Partner
Boston

Chester D. Hooper practices in the Maritime Litigation Practice Group and focuses in the areas of collision, the defense of vessel interests against claims for cargo damage, multimodal...

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Maritime & Logistics Contracts

Charter Party and Contracts of Affreightment

Our charter party experience is reflected in our record of achievement in charter party and COA arbitrations.

Of the 3,893 arbitrations reported by the Society of Maritime Arbitrators, Inc. (SMA), Holland & Knight's maritime lawyers have been counsel or acted as arbitrators in 665 cases, more than any other law firm in the United States. Our present complement of charter party attorneys are listed as counsel in more than 200 reported SMA arbitration awards. This is not to suggest that a charter party will end in a dispute, but serves to highlight the firm's historical and present-day experience in providing shipowners or charterers with critical and timely charter party advice.

With admiralty roots dating from 1830, Holland & Knight is a long-term player in maritime law and a partner on whom you can count for advice regarding both charter fixtures and the parties' rights and responsibilities over the course of the charter party.

An Informed Response from Contract Work to Litigation

    • Charter party specialists provide recommendations on contracts of affreightment and time, voyage, and bareboat charters, and have handled myriad charter party disputes in both court and arbitration proceedings.
    • Expert draftsmen, skilled negotiators and experienced litigators rapidly and efficiently identify solutions to current problems, and advise you on how best to respond to the unexpected.
    • If a dispute arises, your claim will be recovered and your interests protected, all in keeping with the merits of your legal and commercial position.


Commodity and Trading Contracts

When working with commodity and trading contracts for oil, grain, ore, and other bulk commodities, it is important to consult maritime attorneys who are experienced in arbitration and meditation before the ICC, AAA, SMA, NAEGA, and UNCITRAL. Litigation or arbitration can be handled with coordinated efficiency by Holland & Knight attorneys working from offices located in the major coastal states.

Maritime Arrests and Attachments

Quickly determining the validity of a claim or defense, as well as the priority of a secured claim, is crucial when representing shipowners or secured creditors in large arrest and attachment proceedings.

Whether you are seeking to attach the assets of an elusive defendant, or to secure the vacatur of a maritime attachment, we have the knowledge and flexibility to respond to your needs. Our attorneys have represented plaintiffs and defendants in many maritime attachment proceedings under Supplemental Rule B. In 2007, more than 50 B-1 attachments were carried out.

Crew Wage Disputes

Since crew wage claims can quickly evolve into "bet the company" disputes, rapid and effective advice is essential in limiting or preventing significant liability. Defending crew wage claims, in particular penalty wage claims brought under the U.S. Wage Statute, and acting as defense counsel in several recent proceedings involving classes of crew plaintiffs, has given us a fuller understanding of the nuances of crew claims relating to special issues attached to maritime law.

Representative Cases

    • defending tanker owners and charterers against market loss and other consequential damages resulting from vessel failing to meet laycan or delivery dates
    • representing vessel owner or charterer in defending frustration of charter claim resulting from vessel breakdown
    • representing shipowners in claims to recover contribution to general average under charter parties and contracts of affreightment
    • representing a shipowner in defending against charterer's claim of unseaworthiness resulting from vessel collision in the English Channel
    • representing shipowners in negotiating many types of charter parties and contracts of affreightment, including specialized agreements relating to non-traditional usages (Olympic Games, motion pictures, etc.)
    • representing shipowners and charterers in seeking to vacate various multi million dollar maritime attachments under Supplemental Rule B in New York federal court proceedings
    • representing shipowner in Jones Act wage disparity and penalty wage class action dispute
    • representing shipowner in vacation/holiday benefit penalty wage claim arising under Bahamian law
    • representing lending institution in maritime lien priority dispute between 27 different creditors
    • representing secured lender in fleet bankruptcy proceeding involving over 20 vessels and $160 million in secured claims