King & Spalding has extensive experience in all aspects of the marine transportation of energy, including drafting and negotiating shipbuilding contracts, undertaking tender offers for the construction of LNG carriers and other vessels, vessel finance, the negotiation and drafting of long-term and spot charters and subcharters, and the acquisition of marine services for the berthing of tankers at terminals.
The firm’s nearly 40 maritime lawyers in the United States, continental Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia are involved in contract negotiation and drafting as well as project development and financing, and they regularly deal with national maritime statutes, international maritime conventions and shipping regulations of the United States, the United Kingdom, Vanuatu and a host of other countries. In addition, the firm has assisted companies with charter parties, ship mortgages and liens, bills of lading, vessel arrests and vessel limitation of liability lawsuits.
King & Spalding brings its maritime clients the advantage of its expertise across the entire energy chain, not just shipping. Its clients include:
- Natural gas and crude oil exploration and production companies
- Pipeline companies and suppliers
- Charterers
- Terminal owners
- Buyers and sellers of crude oil, LNG and regasified LNG
From major energy industry corporations to governments to shipowners, King & Spalding’s Maritime Law Group has become the team to turn to for counsel on the complex field of international maritime law.
Areas of Expertise:
- Marine transportation of hydrocarbons, including liquefied natural gas (LNG) and compressed natural gas (CNG)
- Vessel chartering, construction and financing
- Vessel purchases and sales
- Marine pollution
- Litigation and arbitration on maritime issues
- Workout of debt secured by maritime assets
- Contract disputes
- Maritime construction contracts
- Jones Act, cabotage laws and coastwise trade issues
- Vessel safety and security matters
- Tug, tow, vessel escort and salvage issues
- Port liability and conditions-of-use issues
- Representation of shipowners and charterers before the Federal Maritime Administration and the U.S. Coast Guard
- Negotiation with port authorities; other port users; the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; and other state, federal and nongovernmental agencies with respect to the use and modification, including dredging, of a federal channel in aid of navigation
Recognitions
- King & Spalding is recognized for its “first-class energy team” and ranks as one of the top energy and natural resources firms in the United States in the 2010 edition of Chambers Global: The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business.
- King & Spalding is named one of the top energy and natural resources firms nationally (Chambers USA 2010).
