Overview
Allison N. Skopec is a New York-based attorney who is engaged in a broad range of international and domestic litigation, regulatory compliance and transactional matters in the areas of maritime, intellectual property, environment and technology. Ms. Skopec has secured favorable outcomes for clients in both state and federal court actions, as well as in arbitrations and mediations.
With respect to maritime matters, Ms. Skopec has extensive experience with commercial negotiations and dispute resolution involving charter parties, service contracts and other transportation-related agreements. Issues that she has dealt with include demurrage, detention and drayage; civil and criminal investigations and regulatory enforcement matters, including MARPOL enforcement cases involving Annex I, such as oily water separator bypasses and oil record books (ORBs), and Annex VI, which includes comprehensive training for crew on policies, procedures and recordkeeping requirements; as well as errors in navigation and pilotage. She also has experience with transactions and disputes involving the U.S. Coast Guard, Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Maritime Administration (MARAD), including those related to offshore wind, coastwise trade and the Shipping Act. She also has experience with trade sanctions such as Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designations, including successful decommissioning of a ship owner from the SDN list.
Ms. Skopec is experienced in litigating patent, trademark and copyright disputes, including matters involving the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) and its application to new media, privacy and technology issues.
She has also litigated numerous complex commercial disputes, including contract disputes involving internet service providers, technology corporations and individuals. Ms. Skopec maintains an active pro bono practice, including representing individuals seeking immigration asylum/Violence Against Women Act protections, LGBTQ civil rights, parole system reform and environmental law matters. Additionally, she served as a Pro Bono Fellow at the New York Civil Liberties Union in 2018.
Prior to joining Holland & Knight, Ms. Skopec worked as an attorney for an international law firm in its New York City office. During law school, Ms. Skopec was a student attorney for the Tulane Environmental Law Clinic, where she managed administrative and environmental law cases related to the National Environmental Policy Act, Clean Water Act, National Historic Preservation Act and Superfund litigation. She was also the senior online editor for the Tulane Maritime Law Journal and a research assistant for Professor Oliver A. Houck.
Credentials
- Tulane University Law School, J.D.
- Trinity University, B.A., Environmental Studies and Studio Art; Minor in Art History
- New York
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- Maritime Law Association of the United States (MLAUS), Committee on Autonomous Ships and Smart Marine Technology, Secretary, 2021-Present
- MLAUS, Subcommittee on Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS), Secretary, 2021-Present
- American Bar Association Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section (TIPS), Admiralty and Maritime Law Committee, Membership Vice Chair, 2018-Present; Law Student Writing Competition, Vice Chair, 2018-Present
- New York City Bar Association, Admiralty Committee, Secretary, 2021-2023
- Tulane Maritime Law Journal, Alumni Mentor, 2018-Present
- Tulane Public Interest Law Foundation, Tulane University Law School, President, 2016-2017
- Dean Rufus Harris Peer Fellow Program, Co-Founder, 2017
- Her Justice Commitment to Justice Award, 2023
- Tulane 34 Award for Exemplary Leadership, Service, and Academic Excellence, Tulane University Law School, 2018
- Certificate of Specialization in Admiralty & Maritime Law, Tulane University Law School, 2018
- The Martin J. Davies Award for Exceptional Dedication, Tulane University Law School, 2017-2018
- Jackson-Ryan Pro Bono Advocate Award, Tulane University Law School, 2018
- American Bar Association, Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section (ABA TIPS), Admiralty and Maritime Law Committee (AMLC) and Gard National Writing Competition, Winner, 2017, 2018
- English
- German