Editorial: Shipping in Florida

01 November 2007

One firm stands out in the results – Fowler White Burnett PA. With five lawyers appearing in the final tally, it boasts a greater contingent than any other featured firm. Allan Richard Kelley is a “vastly experienced lawyer who gets the job done”, according to sources. A member of the board of directors of the Maritime Law Association of the US, he is an “excellent litigator”. Charles De Leo is also in the Miami office and was consistently endorsed by some of the practice area’s most prominent figures. De Leo’s practice encompasses maritime, transport and environmental law and he draws his clients from owners, operators, P&I clubs and other marine insurers. His casualty work was brought to our attention and he recently served as a chairman of the Florida Bar’s maritime law certification committee. James Norford Hurley’s work on behalf of P&I clubs was also noted and he also has a strong practice in the recreational boating arena. J Michael Pennekamp is another “experienced” practitioner in the Miami office. Sources call him “young and good” and he is joined in the chapter by “top-tier” Jan Kuylenstierna, another strong litigator who came highly recommended.

Jacksonville firm Moseley Prichard Parrish Knight & Jones is also well represented in these pages, with four individuals listed. James Moseley Sr “should be on any list of Florida’s leading lawyers”, and the number of accolades he received backs this up. Moseley focuses on admiralty and maritime, transportation and personal injury defence law and his litigation credentials were repeatedly noted. James Moseley Jr has a “good client list”, according to one source, while another called him “one of the very best in the state”, covering “all the bases”. His products liability, personal injury and insurance practices were brought to our attention and he works extensively on behalf of P&I clubs and shipowners. The “extremely competent” Robert Parrish also boasts a “top-tier” practice and works on behalf of shipowners and their insurance interests on issues spanning products liability, personal injury defence and serious maritime matters. Parrish is also strong when it comes to pollution litigation, particularly oil spills. Phillip Buhler completes the firm’s quartet and is rated as “one of the finest lawyers in the state”. Buhler’s civil and commercial litigation practice spans insurance defence, admiralty and maritime, environmental, transactions, government regulatory and civil penalty proceedings, and transportation law. With such a highly nominated contingent, the firm inevitably emerges as one of the leaders in the state.

Akerman Senterfitt’s admiralty and maritime practice covers a wide range of contentious and non-contentious matters. Its clients are drawn from the domestic market as well as the Far East, Australia, Central America, the UK, Europe and Scandinavia, and two of its lawyers appear here. The “technically strong” Anthony Cuva’s products liability practice is said to be “top of the line”, representing a number of engine manufacturers. Notable cases include Rolls-Royce v Royal Caribbean Cruises. The “very capable” Margaret Mathews also performed exceptionally well in our research and is reportedly “the go-to person for harbour pilots in the state”.

Lau Lane Pieper Conley & McCreadie PA is a Tampa firm focusing on defence of land and marine-based personal injury, wrongful death and casualty claims. Nathaniel Pieper is “practical and direct”, his practice covering personal injury, collisions, salvage, insurance disputes, recreational boating, ship repair and marine contracts, as well as being increasingly geared towards mediation. David McCreadie is a “no-nonsense lawyer who gets results” and an “outstanding trial lawyer”. Houck Anderson PA also boasts two figures in these pages – Andrew Anderson and Mark Houck. The firm is known for the strength of its admiralty and maritime defence practice and is “well liked by the P&I clubs”, respondents say. Fowler White Boggs Banker’s admiralty and maritime practice covers a broad range of matters involving commercial vessels and pleasure craft. Both David Pope and Allen von Spiegelfeld were consistently endorsed, appearing in our breakdown of the practice area’s elite.

Horr Novak & Skipp PA is a maritime defence firm representing owners, operators and charterers, cargo interests, insurance underwriters, P&I clubs, cruise lines, concessionaires, and marine lenders. The “first-rate” Jonathan Skipp’s name was never far from the lips of sources and he focuses on marine insurance, collisions, environmental damage claims and personal injury defence. Timothy Shusta is the sole nominee from Phelps Dunbar LLP and an “outstanding attorney” according to rivals. Shusta boasts a wide ranging practice that spans insurance, admiralty and maritime, environmental, transactional and tort litigation. George Gabel at Holland & Knight LLP completes our round-up of Florida’s high-flyers. Gabel currently serves as deputy section leader of the firm’s litigation section and is a member of the prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers. A maritime litigator, Gabel’s products liability and personal injury practices were brought to our attention, as was his work on behalf of various international P&I clubs.

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