Best Lawyers in America for Admiralty and Maritime Law

Matthew P. Vafidis is a partner specializing in commercial litigation, with an emphasis on shipping and environmental law. Mr. Vafidis began his legal career as a barrister in London at the Bar of England and Wales, to which he was called in July 1979. Since 1981, he has practiced in San Francisco, first as an associate and partner at a major California law firm, and thereafter as a partner at Holland & Knight and one of its predecessors, an internationally-renowned shipping and aviation ...

Max L. Kelley is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Admiralty and Maritime Law. Max L., who practices law in San Francisco, California, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Max L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Michael J. Ecuyer is a member of the law firm of Gainsburgh, Benjamin, David, Meunier, & Warshauer, L.L.C. Michael is engaged in a civil litigation practice. He practices with an emphasis on the representation of plaintiffs in medical malpractice claims, admiralty or maritime matters, mass torts, FELA claims and personal injury claims. A member of the Louisiana State Bar Association, the New Orleans Bar Association, the Louisiana Association for Justice (Executive Committee), and the Fede...

Of Counsel

Ivan M. Rodriguez is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Admiralty and Maritime Law and Insurance Law. Ivan M., who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Ivan M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Kathleen Charvet brings more than 25 years’ experience counseling and advocating for employer and contractor clients across admiralty, maritime law, Longshore & Harbor Workers’ Compensation, and Defense Base Act matters. She has represented vessel owners, railroads, stevedoring companies, military employers, and insurers in complex litigation and regulatory matters nationwide. Kathleen’s collaborative approach involves expert witnesses, mediators, and courts to secure op...

Steve Herman is special counsel in Fishman Haygood’s Litigation Section. With thirty years of experience, Steve’s primary practice has lately focused on representing both plaintiffs and defendants in commercial, class action, and professional liability cases, and he is often asked to provide expert testimony in such matters. He recently, for example, submitted a series of declarations in support of class counsel’s successful fee petition in the multi-billion dollar Aqueous F...

Dean Robb is a partner in the firm's Honolulu office and is a member of the Corporate & Business Practice Group. He concentrates his practice on corporate business, finance, construction, acquisitions, ocean and maritime activities, administrative law, government procurement, and international transactions. Admitted to bars throughout the Pacific, Mr. Robb also has considerable experience in the U.S. Pacific islands, including Guam, Saipan and Micronesia. He continues an active practice i...

Susan Noe Wilson is a partner in SBSB’s office. A member of the firm’s bench since September 2016, she boasts a legal career spanning more than 30 years and a dozen practice areas, ranging from construction and maritime to energy and insurance, trucking, business transactions and more. Ms. Noe Wilson has handled and tried Jones Act cases, 905(b) claims, coverage disputes, commercial matters and land-based and offshore drilling-related disputes in courts throughout the Gulf Coast r...

Donald C. Adams is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Admiralty and Maritime Law. Donald C., who practices law in Cincinnati, Ohio, has been recognized since 2013. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Donald C. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Grady Hurley is a partner in and co-leader of the maritime litigation, arbitration, and dispute resolution team and co-chair of the Energy, Environmental & Natural Resources Industry Team. Since 1979, he has focused on maritime, oilfield, and energy litigation. Grady has broad-ranging dispute resolution and transactional experience at the intersection of energy and maritime law, including in areas such as offshore energy exploration, production, and distribution, where a range of complex ...

Doug Muller brings considerable experience in federal and state courts, both at the trial and appellate levels. His maritime clients benefit from the professional judgment he has gained over 20 years as an admiralty lawyer and litigator. For his maritime clients, Doug often works with tight deadlines and on very short notice to respond around the clock to those with urgent needs. His broad-based knowledge informs his general maritime practice, in which he represents ship owners, vessel charte...

Robert Vining is a partner in SBSB’s Houston office. A seasoned attorney with expertise spanning more than a dozen practice areas, he is a respected figure in his field who is admitted to the State Bar of Texas, the Louisiana State Bar Association, The Mississippi Bar and in nine U.S. District Courts across the Gulf Coast. Mr. Vining arrived to SBSB in February 2018 and has overseen a prolific law career of more than 28 years. He primarily splits his practice between litigation and tran...

Jim Wright is a partner in the Maritime and Litigation practice groups. He represents clients in a broad range of commercial disputes, regulatory investigations, and criminal cases. Jim has more than four decades of experience as a trial attorney in civil and criminal jury and judge trials in federal and state courts. His areas of practice include maritime, white collar crime, oil and gas regulatory enforcement, environmental, customs, gaming regulatory enforcement, commercial litigation, pro...

Neil Bayer is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Admiralty and Maritime Law. Neil, who practices law in Coral Gables, Florida, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Neil is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Constantine G. Papavizas is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Admiralty and Maritime Law. Constantine G., who practices law in Washington, District of Columbia, has been recognized since 2008. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Constantine G. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.