Recent News:
Best Lawyers selected 232 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 24 of the firm’s U.S. offices for inclusion in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.
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Cozen O’Connor’s maritime corporate and finance attorneys have been representing clients in complex cross-border and domestic transactions for decades. Our attorneys are widely recognized for their ability to help clients adapt to changing political and economic circumstances by providing steady, practical counsel.
The firm represents foreign and domestic vessel owners, offshore energy rig owners, maritime-related investors, and financial institutions. Our attorneys assist owners of all types of vessels engaged in every sector of the maritime trades. We also work with banks, private equity funds, individual investors and other lending institutions whose portfolios include foreign and/or domestic maritime-related assets.
Cozen O’Connor’s Maritime Corporate & Finance Practice covers traditional asset-backed ship finance, leasing transactions and other custom-tailored financings valued in the billions of dollars. We help clients raise capital through private lending institutions, the issuance of publicly traded debt and securities, private placement of government guaranteed loans, and secured and unsecured debt obligations.
To support the construction and financing of U.S. flag vessels and drilling rigs, Cozen O’Connor advises clients on the Maritime Administration Title XI Loan Guarantee Program, Maritime Security Program, Capital Construction Fund, U.S. cargo preference programs, Export-Import Bank lending, and all relevant maritime regulations, including the Jones Act, dredging, fisheries, other cabotage laws, U.S. build requirements, and environmental protection laws.
Cozen O’Connor’s maritime attorneys provide clients with ongoing counsel on a multitude of corporate issues. We prepare charter parties; advise clients on the flagging or reflagging of vessels according to the maritime laws of the United States, the Republic of Vanuatu, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Liberia, and other registries; counsel on citizenship requirements and assist clients with restructuring, workouts and maritime lien enforcement, as well as maritime-related bankruptcies. We have significant experience in negotiating and drafting contracts with shipyards and other vendors engaged in vessel construction. Our maritime corporate and finance attorneys frequently serve as special counsel in mergers and acquisitions that involve maritime-related assets. Our attorneys also provide advice on the sale and purchase of vessels, whether a single unit or a fleet. We also advise on the sale of shipping companies whether through a stock purchase or the acquisition of assets.
Cozen O’Connor’s nationwide transportation ship finance practice and several individual members are regularly recognized by Chambers USA, Chambers Asia-Pacific and Chambers Global. The Legal 500 United States has recognized the practice group as a Top Tier Firm for Transport: Shipping. The Maritime Practice Group includes several former presidents of the Maritime Administrative Bar Association and contributing authors to numerous publications including Wolters Kluwer’s Maritime Law Handbook.
May 17, 2023
Jeff Vogel contributed an article to Marine Link discussing the challenges of the U.S. mariner shortage.
November 04, 2022
Jeff Vogel and Matthew Howell contributed an article for Maritime Logistics Professionals discussing the recent hearing from the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee (T&I Committee) and Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
November 04, 2022
Jeff Vogel contributed an article to Marine Link discussing the guarantee that leadership changes will occur in some of the critical Congressional leadership positions that will impact the maritime industry.
September 23, 2021
Geoffrey Ferrer, Jeff Vogel, and Matt Howell discuss a recent Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) published by the U.S. Coast Guard
May 05, 2021
Geoffrey Ferrer, Christopher Raleigh, and Neil Quartaro discuss substitute custodians and the responsibilities of the arresting party.
April 28, 2021
Geoffrey Ferrer, Christopher Raleigh, Neil Quartaro, Eric Scherling, and Erik Schmidt discuss a recent victory for a client in connection with a debtor that was in severe financial distress.
February 18, 2021
Jeff Vogel and Kathryn Sobotta discuss MARAD's simplified and streamlined loan process available to certain borrowers with strong financial track records and willingness to agree to MARAD’s preferred lending terms.
September 24, 2020
Geoffrey Ferrer and Anne Mickey discuss steps mortgagees can take to avoid a foreclosed vessel being sold at a judicial auction for just 2 percent of the amount of the secured debt.
March 24, 2020
Geoffrey Ferrer and Anne Mickey discuss the temporary modification to the mortgage recording and acknowledgments requirements set out in the Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Act.
February 18, 2025
Geoffrey Ferrer, Shane Hardy, Michael Osborne, Melissa Siebert, and Steven Weisz were ranked in their practice areas based on their legal knowledge and experience, ability, effectiveness and client service.
January 23, 2025
Geoffrey Ferrer, co-vice chair of the firm’s Transportation & Trade group and a member of the Marshall Islands Bar, has been ranked in the Chambers Asia-Pacific 2025 Guide.
November 07, 2024
In 2024, Best Lawyers received more than 100,000 client references and observed a 65% increase in client participation in their survey.
August 15, 2024
Best Lawyers selected 242 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 24 of the firm’s U.S. offices for inclusion in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America.
July 10, 2024
The Legal 500 United States named Cozen O’Connor’s Aviation, Construction, Immigration, Insurance, Maritime, and Mergers & Acquisitions practices and Cozen O’Connor attorneys Scott Bettridge, Raymond DeLuca, Michael Deutsch, Geoffrey Ferrer, Bruce Ficken, Jonathon Foglia, David Heffernan, Matthew Howell, James Kwartnik, Robert Magovern, Jeffrey Mullen, Patrick Rizzi, Rachel Schwartz, Josh Stein, Jeff Vogel, and Rachel Welford to its 2024 Legal Guide.
June 10, 2024
Chambers USA rankings are based on an “assessment of a firm’s work and opinions from external market sources, with an emphasis on client feedback.” In order to be ranked in the guide, lawyers and firms must demonstrate “sustained excellence.”
August 17, 2023
Best Lawyers selected 232 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 24 of the firm’s U.S. offices for inclusion in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.
July 28, 2023
These lists recognize lawyers “mastering,” “leading,” “revolutionizing,” and “dominating” their fields in their respective states and nationwide.
July 10, 2023
Cozen O'Connor's Aviation (Litigation/Regulation), Construction, L&E, M&A (Midmarket), Shipping (Finance and Litigation/Regulation) practices were ranked by the Legal 500.
June 05, 2023
Of the 88 lawyers ranked, 17 lawyers have been recognized nationally, and eighteen were recognized in Band 1. Eight of the firm's practice areas have been recognized nationally, and nine were ranked Band 1.
December 27, 2022
Cozen O’Connor is pleased to announce that Geoffrey Ferrer, co-vice chair of the firm’s Transportation & Trade group, and a member of the Marshall Islands Bar, has been ranked in the Chambers Asia-Pacific 2023 Guide.
July 11, 2022
For 30 years, The Legal 500 has assessed the strengths of law firms in more than 100 jurisdictions. The rankings use a series of criteria, including client feedback, submissions from law firms, and interviews with leading private practice lawyers.
June 02, 2022
Chambers USA, the leading annual guide to the top lawyers and law firms in the United States, has ranked 86 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields in the guide’s 2022 edition.
June 17, 2021
The Legal 500 United States named Cozen O’Connor’s Aviation, Construction, Immigration, Insurance, and Maritime practices and Cozen O’Connor attorneys Scott Bettridge, Raymond DeLuca, Geoffrey Ferrer, Bruce Ficken, David Heffernan, Jeffrey Lawrence, Robert Magovern, Anne Mickey, Jeffrey Mullen, Josh Stein, Jeff Vogel, and Rachel Welford to its 2021 Legal Guide.
May 26, 2021
Chambers USA, the leading annual guide to the top lawyers and law firms in the United States, has ranked 82 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields in the guide’s 2021 edition; of those, 15 lawyers have been recognized nationally.
May 14, 2020
Chambers USA, the leading annual guide to the top lawyers and law firms in the United States, has ranked 63 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields in the guide’s 2020 edition.