Best Lawyers in America for Admiralty and Maritime Law
If you had told John Schouest 30 years ago that he would become the leader of a dynamic and multistate law firm, he would have said “no way.” But over time, he realized that providing quality client representation could be achieved in a collegial and respectful environment. He aligned himself with others who felt the same, and SBSB Law was born. John has always been at home on the water. As a young man, he spent summers working at his father’s push-boat company in Louisiana,...
Since being admitted to the California Bar in 1976, John Hillsman has tried more than 100 maritime personal injury cases to verdict or judgment and has represented seamen, fishermen, divers, pile drivers, dredgermen, marine construction workers, tugboat hands, and cruise ship passengers in state and federal courts all over the country, from Seattle to San Diego and Honolulu to Fort Lauderdale. He has appeared at every level of decision, all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court, published seve...
Michael J. Frevola is a litigator specializing in the areas of admiralty and commercial litigation. He has tried cases, argued motions and briefed and argued appeals before federal and state courts. He has represented clients in federal mediations and maritime and commercial arbitrations and has conducted shipboard and overseas investigations in support of maritime litigation and to perform owners' due diligence. In the admiralty and maritime field, Mr. Frevola focuses on Rule B maritime atta...
Attorney John Coletti is a personal injury lawyer based out of Portland who represents clients throughout both Oregon and Washington. Throughout his career, he has won several million-dollar verdicts for his clients. Some of those include a $12 million defective product case and a $5 million defective pain medication pump case. Not only has John obtained large verdicts, but he also has obtained record-breaking and rule-changing verdicts. The Inner Circle of Advocates has selected John as one ...
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...
Marlin K. Green is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Admiralty and Maritime Law and Insurance Law. Marlin K. practices law in Miramar, Florida Best Lawyers has recognized Marlin K. Green since 2024. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Marlin K. Green is held by other lawyers.
Robert S. Stassi is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Admiralty and Maritime Law, Commercial Litigation and Construction Law. Robert S. practices law in New Orleans, Louisiana Best Lawyers has recognized Robert S. Stassi since 2016. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Robert S. Stassi is held by other lawyers.
Jovi Tenev is a partner in the New York office of Holland & Knight and is a member of the Business Law Section. Mr. Tenev serves on the firm's Directors Committee. Mr. Tenev has extensive experience representing financial institutions, investment banks, foreign and domestic companies and airlines in a wide variety of transactions. He practices in all corporate and finance areas, including projects in the U.S. and international aerospace, energy, alternative energy, shipping, offshore dril...
Frank Barry is an experienced maritime and energy litigator with successes involving maritime property damage, marine insurance indemnity and coverage claims. Frank also has achieved successful outcomes in insurance broker E&O claims, and in oil and gas claims such as Legacy Oil, on shore blowouts, and operating agreement litigation. With over 30 years of experience, his reported cases include seminal Louisiana caselaw on gas balancing and preferential rights in mineral law (Fina Oil &...
Bruce G. Paulsen is co-chair of Seward & Kissel’s Litigation Group, chair of the Sanctions Practice Group and has been a partner since 2002. He was named as one of the global Top 10 Maritime Lawyers by Lloyd’s List, in December 2020, and Legal500 2020 reported that Bruce’s “knowledge of this complex industry is unparalleled.” Bruce specializes in handling complex commercial and maritime disputes. Bruce handles finance and securities-related disputes in the sh...
Jason R. Margulies is a board-certified admiralty and maritime lawyer and co-managing partner of Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A. in Miami, Florida. Since joining the firm as a law clerk in 1992 and later becoming an attorney, Mr. Margulies has represented clients in admiralty and maritime law matters , personal injury litigation, and wrongful death claims arising on cruise ships, commercial vessels, and recreational boats. Mr. Margulies handles a wide range of maritime and personal in...
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.
