Best Lawyers in America for Admiralty and Maritime Law
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State
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.
Walter Maestri is a maritime attorney working in the offshore fields representing companies that have contracts with oil and gas interests in the Gulf of Mexico. Whether representing the actual platform owner or the service industries that provide support to the oil and gas industry, he defends those companies against personal injury actions, property damage loss, lost oil and gas revenues, or other claims that may arise from operations in the Gulf. Working in partnerships with his clients, W...
David C. Rash is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Admiralty and Maritime Law, Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs, Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs and Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs. David C., who practices law in Weston, Florida, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which David C. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice...
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 &...
Kurt Arnold is a relentless advocate for his clients, having obtained billions of dollars in verdicts and settlements. One of the nation’s most accomplished trial lawyers, Kurt prepares every case for trial. Of course, many cases resolve before trial, but defendants and insurance companies only pay the largest settlements when he gives them no alternative. Kurt finds helping individuals defeat companies that have continuously denied his clients justice to be one of the most rewarding pa...
Kirk A. Guidry is an attorney licensed to practice law in Louisiana (since 1991), and is admitted to practice in all Federal Courts in Louisiana, and before the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. For 2013-2025, Kirk has been selected for inclusion in Louisiana Super Lawyers-Personal Injury Plaintiff, and enjoys a prestigious AV Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, thus signifying the highest legal ability and ethical standards. Kirk was al...
Jacqueline Garcell is a senior partner and active trial attorney in maritime law for Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A. She routinely handles passengers’ personal injury, sexual assault and wrongful death claims, as well as non-maritime personal injury claims. Ms. Garcell is the fastest attorney to ever make partner at the firm, having been promoted to the partner position after being with us for a decade. Ms. Garcell has helped settle hundreds of cases on behalf of both cruise shi...
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...
Cory Itkin has established a reputation as one of the most aggressive and prepared trial lawyers in the country. His experience includes maritime accidents, trucking accidents, plant explosions, and other high-stakes personal injury cases. Mr. Itkin has won verdicts and settlements for clients in more than two dozen states. He also obtained favorable results in the high-profile litigation involving families who lost loved ones or workers who were injured in the BP Deepwater Horizon explosion ...
Geoffrey serves as the office managing partner of the New York office and is vice chair of the firm's Transportation & Trade Practice. He focuses on U.S. and non-U.S. flag shipping matters, and all aspects of asset-based lending, including ship and aircraft finance and equipment leasing. He routinely advises vessel owners and operators, as well as financial institutions in connection with U.S., Marshall Island, Liberian and Vanuatu maritime and corporate laws. He also provides maritime ad...
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.