Allison J. Luzwick
Associate
Overview
Allison J. Luzwick is a litigation attorney in Holland & Knight's Richmond and Chicago offices and a member of the Transportation & Infrastructure Industry Sector Group. Ms. Luzwick represents clients in a broad range of international and domestic litigation, regulatory compliance and internal investigations related to complex commercial disputes for corporations and government entities.
Ms. Luzwick focuses her practice on litigation and regulatory matters involving the maritime industry, infrastructure, supply chains and transportation, particularly where these areas intersect with national security concerns. She represents clients in commercial shipbuilding, shipyard operations and port matters, and she frequently advises on federal government litigation, investigations and regulatory issues, including claims before the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) and other executive agencies. Ms. Luzwick's work spans both domestic and international matters, including advocacy, dispute resolution, compliance counseling and strategic risk management.
Prior to entering private practice, Ms. Luzwick served as an officer in the U.S. Navy for 14 years, including seven years as an attorney with the Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps. As a member of JAG, Ms. Luzwick gained extensive trial experience, representing the federal government in jury and bench trials, along with preliminary and administrative hearings. She also advised senior U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) officials on litigation strategy, complex government investigations and regulatory compliance. Most recently, she was the senior attorney for one of the U.S. Navy's 11 aircraft carriers, working extensively with public and private shipyards, the inspector general and federal investigatory agencies.
Prior to joining the JAG Corps, Ms. Luzwick served as a shipboard officer on various surface vessels, earning advanced qualifications in maritime operations, navigation and engineering systems.
While in law school, Ms. Luzwick coached the national moot court team and served as an executive board member for the Veterans Law Association and International Law Society. In addition, she assisted legal aid attorneys in providing services to Chicago's underserved communities.
Ms. Luzwick is committed to serving veterans and their families. She dedicates a portion of her practice to the representation of pro bono clients in court proceedings at all levels. In 2022, she received the DOD Outstanding Volunteer Services Medal in connection with her work nationally with veteran nonprofits.
Representative Experience
- Forfeiture Actions: Defend the property interests of an international oil and gas entity before the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia following the federal civil seizure of company assets
- Nonprofit Advice: Represent members of a nonprofit board in a civil action to enforce the organization's by-laws following improper removal of board members and financial impropriety
- Appellate: Represent third-party amicus curie supporting the independent automotive aftermarket industry and Right to Repair legislation before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
- U.S. Shipping Act Violations Claims: Pursue reparations due to violations of the U.S. Shipping Act and Ocean Shipping Reform Act before the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) on behalf of multinational companies, including a high-end fitness technology company and an electronics and information technology (IT) company
- Internal Investigations: Conducted an internal investigation for a government consulting firm regarding False Claims Act (FCA) concerns and coordinated voluntary disclosure, resulting in a finding of no wrongdoing on behalf of the consulting firm
- Government Investigations: Represented an international bunker trading and fleet fuel management company in U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) fraud investigation; represent multiple companies, nonprofits and individual employees in responding to federal grand jury subpoenas
- Commercial Shipyards and Shipbuilding: Counsel clients on the development and operation of shipyards, shipbuilding and ship repair operations, including navigating federal government grants and contracts, cooperation with the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) and U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), environmental and security considerations, and coordination with state and local governments
- Military Housing and Federal Real Estate: Represent real estate clients through the negotiation and execution of long-term ground leases under the Military Housing Privatization Initiative (MHPI), coordination with DOD authorities and development of projects in pursuit of DOD energy resiliency policy initiatives
Credentials
- Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, J.D., cum laude
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, B.A., Political Science and International Affairs
- District of Columbia
- Illinois
- Virginia
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
- Legal Services Corporation, Emerging Leaders Council, 2023-Present
- American Bar Association, Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section (TIPS), Admiralty and Maritime Law Committee, 2023-Present
- American Bar Association, Section of Litigation, Commercial and Business Litigation Committee, 2022-Present
- Women's White Collar Defense Association, Virginia Chapter, 2024-Present
- Military Officers Association of America, Judge Advocate and Virginia Peninsula Chapters, 2022-Present
- Holland & Knight Pro Bono All-Star Award, 2024
- Meritorious Service Medal, U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), 2022, 2024
- Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, U.S. Navy, 2022
- Charles and Ruth Pollard Scholar, Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, 2015-2017
- Dean's List, Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, 2014-2017
