Liskow is proud to announce it has opened a New York office with the addition of Michael Fernandez and William H. Yost who join as shareholders in the firm’s Maritime Practice Group. They represent maritime industry leaders such as Hapag-Lloyd and CMA CGM and previously worked at a distinguished maritime law firm in New York. The new shareholders join four current Liskow attorneys who are licensed to practice in New York, including Ray Waid, the leader of the firm’s Maritime Industry Group.
“With 30 maritime attorneys, many of whom have worked in the industry, our clients appreciate when we welcome new attorneys especially ones that have real world industry experience,” says Mark Latham, President and Managing Shareholder of Liskow. “We are thrilled to welcome Michael and William to Liskow and look forward to expanding our work in New York, an important port region for many of our clients.”
Liskow has one of the largest maritime legal teams in the country providing an array of services to clients and is lead counsel representing the State of Maryland for all maritime claims arising out of the allision of the M/V DALI with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. The incident is the largest marine insurance claim in the world for 2024 and the largest single maritime property damage claim in U.S. history.
Michael Fernandez received a J.D. from Rutgers Law School and has had more than 30 years of experience as a litigator in the practice of maritime law. Prior to law school, he graduated from the prestigious U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and thereafter sailed as a deck officer on various types of vessels, including tankers, containerships, general cargo, and roll on-roll off and ultimately achieved an Unlimited Master’s License.
Mr. Fernandez regularly handles and advises clients both domestically and internationally on all types of maritime related matters, including major marine casualties, environmental law and pollution, shipboard and company internal investigations, state and federal civil and criminal investigations and proceedings, regulatory matters, as well as all types of vessel, property, and cargo loss/damage claims. Chambers and Partners notes that he “offers significant expertise handling marine casualties, including vessel damages, as well as vessel seizures and related investigations.” Mr. Fernandez represents, among others, major ship owning companies and routinely interfaces with senior company management on high profile matters in order to provide important guidance and strategy.
William Yost is a maritime litigator who routinely handles a wide array of matters involving damage and loss to property and cargo, regulatory claims, penalties, and investigations before the Federal Maritime Commission and Customs and Border Protection, marine pollution, shipboard, terminal, trucking, and other personal injury claims, as well as charter party and commercial disputes. He received his J.D. from Roger Williams University School of Law.
“The lawyers at Liskow are highly respected in the industry and we are thrilled to be joining a team with such expertise, capability, and depth,” said Fernandez.
“Our firm is proud to be part of the maritime industry and is dedicated to meeting the evolving needs of our clients. Expanding into New York and welcoming talented lawyers like Michael and William exemplify that commitment,” says David Reisman, co-leader of the firm’s Maritime Practice Group and former General Counsel for one of the world’s leading marine salvage and wreck removal contractors.
Liskow’s New York office is located at 11 Broadway, Suite 615 New York, NY 10004.
For a deeper understanding of our experience, please watch the video below.