About Richard Reisert

Richard J. Reisert graduated from the United States Merchant Marine Academy and Pace University School of Law.  After sailing as a deck officer, he worked as a marine surveyor and as the claims manager for a leading ship operator.  In that capacity he was responsible for hull, cargo, P & I and other claims involving the company’s large owned and chartered fleet, and also administered the company’s marine insurance programs.  Rich is very experienced in the courtroom and has directed every aspect of shipping litigation from the investigatory, discovery and motion phases through to trials and appeals.  He has represented shipowners, charterers, cargo interests, terminal operators and underwriters in disputes arising out of groundings, sinkings, collisions, oil pollution, salvage, cargo damage and personal injury, and has directed complex litigation involving defective propulsion systems and shipboard fires and explosions.  He led the Republic of Moçambique’s investigation into the M/T KATINA P oil spill off the coast of East Africa and headed the country’s legal team in connection with related international litigation.

Rich has arbitrated all varieties of charter party disputes and those arising under GAFTA, NAEGA and FOSFA commodities contracts.  His practice includes preparing shipbuilding and repair contracts, charter parties, contracts of affreightment, service contracts and licensing agreements.  Rich has hands-on experience in marine project management, particularly with regard to waterborne transportation systems and related infrastructure.  He is admitted to the state and federal courts in New York and the United States Supreme Court, and represented amicus curiae before the U.S. Supreme Court in the M/T EXXON VALDEZ and M/V ATHOS I litigations.  He is a member of the Maritime Law Association of the United States and has served as a maritime arbitrator.  He also serves as Legal Counsel to the Association of Ship Brokers and Agents (USA) Inc. and its Board of Directors, and holds a similar position with Worldscale Association (NYC) Ltd.