For more than a century, Buist Moore Smythe McGee P.A. and its predecessor firms have been leaders in the practice of admiralty law. Today, the firm’s admiralty and maritime practice group is actively involved in Charleston's maritime community, including such organizations as the Maritime Association of South Carolina, the Propeller Club of Charleston, and the Charleston Maritime Law Institute. Practice group members also serve in leadership positions in regional and national maritime law organizations, including the Maritime Law Association of the United States, the Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute, and the Tulane Admiralty Law Institute. Gordon D. Schreck, B.A. Moore, and David M. Collins are listed in
The Best Lawyers in America and Mr. Schreck is listed in
South Carolina SuperLawyers. Protection & Indemnity Clubs and Shipowners The firm serves as local Charleston Correspondent for all of the world’s major protection & indemnity insurers (“P&I Clubs”), insuring commercial cargo and passenger vessels calling at the Ports of Charleston and Georgetown. Members of the practice group are available 24/7 to assist with and investigate marine casualties and incidents of all types, including collisions, shipboard and dockside personal injuries, pollution and HAZMAT discharges, alleged navigational safety violations and cargo damage.
Maritime Finance and Lien Foreclosures The group assists in the structuring of ship sales and purchases, vessel mortgages, and other related marine finance transactions, including the preparation and recording of bills of sale, preferred ship mortgages, and other finance documentation. The firm is an affiliate member of the American Vessel Documentation Association and regularly advises lending institutions on marine loans and vessel financing issues. Members of the group can also assist in the foreclosure of ship mortgages and other vessel liens through judicial seizure and sale.
Recreational Boating The firm practices extensively in the area of recreational boating, having participated in such seminal South Carolina cases as
Tisdale v. Teleflex, Inc. and
Young v. Tide Craft, Inc. This area of the firm's practice includes maritime products liability, warranty disputes, yacht finance and foreclosure, marina and boatyard disputes, yacht insurance coverage disputes, salvage matters, and owner/operator liability cases. Representative clients include Brunswick, Yamaha, Bombardier, Genmar, Viking Yachts, Ace Marine, CNA/MOAC, and Travelers. Our practice covers the entire coast of South Carolina and includes cases in Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head.
In addition to being avid boaters and sailors, the group's members are also actively involved in many recreational boating industry organizations, such as the American Boat & Yacht Council, and the National Marine Manufacturers Association. The firm is also part of the National Marine Bankers' Association's Recreational Boating Law Network.
Clients
•
Marine Insurers:
• All Major P&I International Protection and Indemnity Clubs
• Ace Marine
• CNA Marine
• Fireman’s Fund
• Travelers
• Zurich Marine
Steamship Lines:
• Evergreen Marine
• Maersk Lines
• Mediterranean Shipping Co.
Recreational Boat Manufacturers:
• Bombardier (jet skis and outboards)
• Brunswick Corp. (Mercury motors, Sea Ray boats)
• Genmar
• Viking Yachts
• Yamaha (jet skis and outboards)
