Fowler White Burnett, P.A. is excited to announce the restructuring and expansion of its commercial, yacht and insurance defense maritime practice groups.
Partners Allan R. Kelley and James N. Hurley will be spearheading the blue water and brown water maritime law group handling domestic and foreign insurers and P&I Club work. The team includes six partners and three associates experienced in vessel operations, insurance coverage and insurance defense matters. Shareholders Christopher E. Knight and Michael Drahos will continue to provide maritime medical malpractice defense and commercial litigation support to the passenger vessel and cruise industry. “The hallmark of our maritime department has been the ability to put the best possible team together to serve the needs of our clients and to produce the best results for them,” notes partner Allan Kelley. “We are the only firm in Florida who can provide full legal service to the entire maritime community.”
Fowler White Burnett, P.A. is also expanding its pleasure vessel, yacht and commercial vessel transaction/financing group. Partners J. Michael Pennekamp and Matthew J. Valcourt will head the practice group, assisted by several associates. They will be expanding their services for pleasure vessels, yachts and commercial vessels to all three offices to better serve the West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale areas. The group focuses on assisting clients with vessel construction, acquisition, financing, purchase and sale of pleasure vessels, claims against repair facilities, vessel mortgages, banking and collections.
The Maritime Team at Fowler White Burnett, P.A. represents clients in all aspects of maritime law with a particular focus on transactions and litigation. The Maritime Department has expanded to include seasoned litigators - Robert F. Bouchard and Donald W. Hardeman, with over 70 years combined trial experience; and the appellate department, as an integral part of the trial and litigation support services offered to the firm’s maritime and commercial clients.
Fowler White Burnett’s Maritime department has an all-star team to serve clients and was recognized by Best Lawyers as 1st Tier Nationally in 2012. Mr. Kelley was listed in the International Who’s Who of Shipping & Maritime Lawyers, 2008 – 2011 and in the South Florida Legal Guide, Legal Elite, 2006 – 2012. In addition, Mr. Kelley and Mr. Hurley were recognized as Best Lawyers Lawyer of Year for Miami for Admiralty in 2012 and 2011, respectively. Both were also recognized as Best Lawyers in America, 2008 – 2012. Mr. Kelley, Mr. Hurley and Mr. Pennekamp are AV Preeminent Rated, Martindale-Hubbell. Mr. Kelley, Mr. Hurley, and Mr. Valcourt were named Super Lawyers, 2008 – 2011.