• Skip to content

liskow_lewis_white_new

future-focused

  • Team
  • Practices
  • Insights

Maritime Transactions

Liskow has a nationally recognized maritime transactional team. Having offices located adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico and the Mississippi River has allowed our lawyers to gain considerable experience with both brown water and blue water marine transactional work, and particularly the contractual risk allocation and insurance obligations required for complex marine and energy projects. We frequently find this expertise is sought by clients all over the world.

Overview

Liskow offers a broad range of marine transactional and vessel documentation services to our clients.   We also provide regulatory advice needed to properly navigate the finer points of Jones Act cabotage laws regulating the ownership and operation of vessels in the waters of the United States. Our maritime and business transactional practice groups work together closely to service the needs of our marine industry clients, serving vessel operators, and those who do business with them, including investors, lenders, and customers. 

Our team routinely handles: 

  • Vessel Construction Contracts and Vessel Construction Loans 
  • Capital Construction Funds 
  • Marine Finance 
  • Perfection and Enforcement of Ship Mortgages and Maritime Liens 
  • Charter Party Agreements  
  • Contracts of Carriage and Affreightment 
  • Towage Contracts 
  • Master Service Agreements 
  • Offshore Drilling Contracts 
  • Logistics Contracts 
  • Offshore Infrastructure Development, including traditional oil and gas as well as offshore wind and energy projects 
  • Jones Act Compliance Advice, including regulatory compliance guidance letters from US Customs Service 
  • LNG Projects and Transportation 
  • American Fisheries Act Compliance Advice for Owners of Fishing Industry Vessels and their Lenders 
  • Acquisitions and Divestitures of Marine Assets and the Ownership of the Marine Operators 
  • Salvage and Wreck Removal Projects 

While located on the Gulf of Mexico, our marine transactional work is both national and international in scope, with marine industry clients throughout the United States and overseas. We have extensive experience in marine finance work for both lenders and borrowers and are recognized by Chambers, Best Lawyers, and US News for our work in this field. Our firm’s attorneys have unique experience in establishing and administering Capital Construction Funds, a means of tax deferral on operating income and capital gains from the sale of certain vessels.   

When transactions become troubled or marine incidents occur, Liskow has a talented team of admiralty lawyers with extensive experience in enforcing maritime lien claims and preferred ship mortgages, vessel arrests and cargo claims. Our firm represented BP in response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and continues to handle claims arising out of the environmental damage resulting from that incident. We recently handled regulatory response, contracts and litigation relating to the casualty and wreck removal of the GOLDEN RAY car carrier offshore Georgia, the largest marine insurance claim in the world in 2019 and one of the largest wreck removal jobs in the history of the world’s marine industry.  The firm also has a lead role in the SEACOR POWER liftboat casualty and wreck removal. 

Notable Experience

  • Served as special counsel to Bollinger Shipyard, LLC in connection with its acquisition of VT Halter Marine Inc. and ST Engineering Halter Marine Offshore (STEHMO).
  • Recently represented marine operator in the sale of substantially all of its tugboat fleet and related assets and the sale of an affiliate’s shipyard business.
  • Represented publicly traded corporation in American Fisheries Act compliance matters and in the subsequent spin-off of its vessel fleet prior to its acquisition by a foreign public company.
  • Assisted OSV operator in obtaining MARAD consents needed for the reflagging of vessels in Mexico.
  • Represented startup in acquiring and in financing its acquisition of its fishing vessel fleet and related restructure of its fish supply agreement to foreign seafood processing company and its continued MARAD reporting obligations required for maintenance of its fisheries licenses.
  • Represented a U.S. vessel operator in a feeder vessel contract to develop the first commercial scale offshore wind project in the United States.
  • Handled the chartering-out and chartering-in of tugs and barges for a large-scale marine transportation project providing aid to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria.
  • Represented commercial fishing operator in acquisition of OSV and its conversion of the OSV into a fishing industry vessel with related negotiations and documentation of a vessel conversion contract with Gulf Coast shipyard.
  • Represented shipyard and barge operators in negotiation and drafting of ship construction contracts.
  • Represented oilfield services contractor in acquisition of fleet of specialized vessels and financing of same.
  • Represented OSV operator in bankruptcy exit financing.
  • Represented private equity company fund in bankruptcy proceedings of a liftboat company and its acquisition of the equity ownership of the company in the bankruptcy proceedings.
  • Represented numerous banks and private equity company funds in loan workouts and vessel foreclosures.
  • Represented oilfield services contractor with obtaining Coast Guard waiver of U.S. manning requirement for foreign flagged vessels operating in United States waters.
  • Represented lenders and investors in several offshore infrastructure projects involving the financing of the construction of floating production facilities and pipeline systems on the Outer Continental Shelf of the Gulf of Mexico
  • Represented clients in contracts related to operation of LNG bunkering barges.
  • Represented clients in connection with transferring flag on vessels to flag states including Panama, Vanuatu and Marshall Islands.
  • Represented clients in connection with sale of U,S. flagged vessels to foreign owners.
  • Represented national bank in multi-vessel construction loan facility to barge operator.
  • Represented Bahamian vessel operator in acquisition and reflagging of OSV previously flagged in the US.
  • Represented purchaser in the acquisition of coastwise endorsed derrick barge.
  • Represented lender in connection with acquisition of specialized Jones Act qualified heavy lift vessel.
  • Handled sale of OSV fleet by one vessel operator to another.
  • Assisted lift boat operator in its startup and acquisition of an existing domestic company liftboat fleet and in the subsequent expansion of the fleet through construction and acquisitions of additional vessels and numerous financings needed to fund payment of its acquisitions.
  • Represented national barge and tugboat operator in over 20 vessel acquisitions and divestitures and over 200 operational contracts such as charter parties, towage contracts, contracts of carriage, and master service agreements.
  • Assisted clients in evaluating and responding to customer requests for proposals (RFPs).
  • Represented Gulf of Mexico contractor in sale of assets and transfer of contracts.
  • Represented purchaser in acquisition of foreign flagged deepwater pipelay asset from U.S. Marshal’s sale.

We are known for these strengths

  • Vessel documentation expertise
  • Marine finance
  • Asset sales and dispositions
  • Master service agreements for oil and gas producers with their vessel operators
  • Creation and administration of Capital Construction Funds

Initial Contacts

  • David Reisman
    dreisman@liskow.com
    504.556.4016504.556.4016
  • Leon Rittenberg III
    lrittenberg@liskow.com
    504.299.6135504.299.6135
  • Raymond Waid
    rwaid@liskow.com
    504.556.4042504.556.4042

Our Team

Shareholders

  • Media item displaying: John Almy

    John Almy

    Shareholder

    Houston
    713.651.2931713.651.2931
    995
  • Media item displaying: Elizabeth “Libby” McIntosh

    Elizabeth “Libby” McIntosh

    Shareholder

    New Orleans
    504.556.4175504.556.4175
    995
  • Media item displaying: David L. Reisman

    David L. Reisman

    Shareholder

    New Orleans
    504.556.4016504.556.4016
    995
  • Media item displaying: Leon H. Rittenberg III

    Leon H. Rittenberg III

    Shareholder

    New Orleans
    504.299.6135504.299.6135
    995
  • Media item displaying: Raymond T. Waid

    Raymond T. Waid

    Shareholder

    New Orleans
    504.556.4042504.556.4042
    995

Of Counsel

  • Media item displaying: William W. “Bill” Pugh

    William W. “Bill” Pugh

    Of Counsel

    Houston
    713.651.2949713.651.2949
    995

Associates

  • Media item displaying: Jonas S. Patzwall

    Jonas S. Patzwall

    Associate

    Houston
    713.651.2824713.651.2824
    995
  • Media item displaying: Jessie Elizabeth Shifalo

    Jessie Elizabeth Shifalo

    Associate

    New Orleans
    504.556.4015504.556.4015
    995

INSIGHTS

  • News
    01.06.25
    Liskow Opens New York Office and Expands Maritime Team
    2 minute read
  • News
    11.07.24
    Liskow Receives National and Regional Recognition in the 15th Edition of Best Law Firms®
    2 minute read
  • News
    08.15.24
    118 Liskow Lawyers Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® (BL Rankings) 2025
    5 minute read
  • News
    06.25.24
    Liskow Recognized for Its Maritime Practice in 2024 Legal 500 United States Guide
    2 minute read
  • News
    06.06.24
    Twenty-Seven Liskow Lawyers, Ten Practice Areas Recognized in Chambers USA
    less than a minute
  • News
    03.08.24
    Liskow Launches The Maritime Law Blog – Making Way in Legal Waters: Your Guide to Maritime Law
    less than a minute
  • News
    11.02.23
    Liskow Receives National and Regional Recognition in Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms”
    2 minute read
  • News
    08.22.23
    12 Liskow Lawyers Recognized by Inside New Orleans Magazine
    less than a minute
  • News
    08.17.23
    114 Liskow Lawyers Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® (BL Rankings) 2024
    5 minute read
  • News
    06.15.23
    Liskow Recognized for Its Maritime Practice in 2023 Legal 500 United States Guide
    2 minute read
View All
Liskow & Lewis, APLC
Arrow Icon

future-focused

  • Baton Rouge
  • Houston
  • Lafayette
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • © 2025 Liskow & Lewis, APLC
  • Sitemap
  • Disclaimer
  • Employee Login
Site by
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT
  • Team
  • Practices
  • Insights
  • Offices
  • Pro Bono
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • DEI
  • The Energy Law Blog
  • Gulf Coast Business Law Blog
  • The Maritime Law Blog