Christopher R. Nolan is a partner in the Litigation Section of Holland & Knight concentrating in the areas of admiralty and commercial litigation. He is also chair of the ABA TIPS Admiralty & Maritime Law Committee. His practice focuses on a wide variety of commercial disputes in both federal and state court as well as in domestic and international arbitration, including matters involving: marine casualties with environmental impact, charter party disputes, energy contractual liabilities and indemnities, Rule B attachment applications and defense, international arbitrations, judgment enforcement, Section 1782 discovery applications in aid of foreign maritime proceedings and otherwise, electronic discovery, and the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act and its implications.
Mr. Nolan's recent matters and projects include advising:
- Italian yacht design company in multi-party products liability and personal injury litigation in New York
- U.S. shipowner defense in SMA arbitration concerning cargo contamination
- Party in personal injury U.S. Limitation of Liability Act proceeding in New York
- Companies, banks, hedge funds and investors concerning offshore drilling contract and joint venture indemnity clauses and considerations post-Gulf of Mexico oil spill
- Mexican shipping company in multi-million dollar N.Y. arbitration concerning post-lay pipeline trenching in Gulf of Mexico against dredging company
- Norwegian shipowner concerning multi-million dollar judgment enforcement in the U.S., including the restraint of assets, alter-ego liability issues, escrow agreement litigation and settlement
- PI Club, marine companies, and foreign government entities concerning numerous security cases relating to the attachment of assets under Rule B or arrest of vessels under Rule C around the U.S. and particularly in New York
- Shipowner and P&I Club in court proceedings and SMA arbitration concerning disputes arising under the charter party of a VLCC hijacked by Somali pirates, including compliance with President Obama's Executive Order ("Blocking Property of Certain Persons Contributing to the Conflict in Somalia")
- Foreign country in $1 billion Prestige tanker oil spill casualty dispute against classification society
- Public utilities in litigation of $25 million property damage claim arising from anchor drag against submerged utility electrical cable during marine construction of natural gas pipeline connection from Northport, Long Island, to Hunts Point, New York
- Foreign countries and their instrumentalities concerning Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act challenges and international treaty obligations
- Companies and persons seeking or challenging discovery under Section 1782 in aid of foreign litigation or arbitration
Mr. Nolan also maintains a pro bono case load involving The List Project to resettle Iraqi Allies, KIND (Kids in Need of Defense), persons for the arts and a worker's compensation proceeding arising out of the September 11th tragedy. He received the 2005 Opening Doors for Children Volunteer of the Year Award primarily for leading the Reading is Fundamental program and Goldilocks on Trial mock trial program at Public School 19 in Manhattan. In 2011, Chris led the New York office's 9/11 Day of Service efforts with organizations throughout New York City.
Since 2007, Mr. Nolan has served as a business partner with PENCIL, an organization that builds and supports customized relationships between New York business leaders and principals to inspire innovation and transform New York City public schools. On October 7, 2010, Mr. Nolan participated in the PENCIL Principal for a Day Program at P.S. 19, Manhattan.
During law school, Mr. Nolan interned for The Honorable Anita R. Florio, Associate Justice, Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, Second Judicial Department, and The Honorable Luis A. Gonzalez, The Honorable John P. Collins and The Honorable Alexander W. Hunter, Jr., Justices of the Supreme Court, Bronx County.