Admiralty & Maritime Law

CWM has been a leading admiralty and maritime law firm in Virginia since its establishment in 1923.  Our maritime team is available 24/7 to assist clients and provide guidance when an emergency response is required.  The firm represents clients in matters involving vessel accidents, cargo damage, vessel and marina fires, personal injury and death, limitation of liability, vessel arrest and attachment, marine salvage and pollution.  With respect to U.S. marine casualties, the firm also represents vessel owners and operators in U.S. Coast Guard and OSHA investigations, as well as civil penalty proceedings with the Coast Guard. We also represent merchant mariners in license suspension and revocation proceedings before the Coast Guard. Other maritime support includes vessel financing, and vessel and facility pollution response plans.

We serve a broad cross-section of marine underwriters on a spectrum of maritime insurance issues, including defense, coverage determinations and disputes, bad faith defense, reservations, declaratory actions, reinsurance, excess liability and subrogation.  Underwriter interests represented include all aspects of marine and inland transportation, including hull and machinery, cargo, pollution, P&I, F.D.&.D., marine products liability defense, toxic tort, ship repairers and subrogation.

On the historic waterfront of the Elizabeth River in Norfolk, Virginia, the firm is situated to serve the maritime legal needs in the heart of the country’s premier naval, shipbuilding, and terminal operations port.

Our team of attorneys are experienced in the following:

• Vessel Arrest and Attachment
• Vessel Casualty and Collision
• Cargo Damage and Bills of Lading
• Charter Party Disputes
• Environmental Liability
• Insurance Coverage
• Jones Act
• Marine Contracts
• Marina Operator Liability
• Marine Insurance Coverage
• Maritime Liens
• Maritime Products Liability
• Marine Oil Pollution
• Riparian Rights
• Salvage and Wreck Removal
• Ship Repairer Liability
• Subrogation
• Towage Contracts and Disputes
• Treasure Salvage