Practice Areas

Maritime Law and Admiralty Law in South Carolina and Georgia

Jones Act · Boating Accidents · Vessel Arrests · Marine Insurance

Since 1984, the Charleston maritime law firm of John Hughes Cooper, P.C., has offered comprehensive legal assistance in any type of legal issue involving maritime or admiralty law. From our law office on Sullivan's Island, at the entrance to Charleston Harbor, we represent injured seamen, boat owners, commercial shipping firms, marine insurance companies and others.

Maritime law is different in many aspects from landside law. If you have questions about your legal rights and obligations on the water, contact the law firm of John Hughes Cooper, P.C., to schedule a free and confidential consultation with an experienced attorney.

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Our lawyers cover the waterfront when it comes to maritime and admiralty law issues. We offer a quick response time and one-on-one access to experienced attorneys who can answer your questions and provide practical guidance.

Injury on the Water

We represent maritime injury victims, whether the accident occurred on a job site or as a result of a recreational boating accident. When injury occurs on job sites, we file all of the types of seaman claims necessary to get fair compensation. We file Jones Act claims, maintenance and cure claims and injury claims on behalf of longshoremen and harbor workers.

Insurance · Liens · Vessel Arrests

At John Hughes Cooper, P.C., we represent marine insurance companies and the insured in disputes over marine insurance coverage and claim settlements. We also provide the necessary legal services to enforce or defend against a maritime lien or a vessel arrest or attachment.

Pleasure Boat Owners

We routinely assist pleasure boat owners in dealing with all manner of maritime casualties, including collisions, shipboard injuries, contract disputes, warranty claims against dealers and manufacturers, and insurance claims, as well as defense of administrative and Coast Guard citations to vessel owners and buying, selling, and chartering vessels.

The process of buying or selling a boat is different, in a legal sense, from buying or selling a car. We guide buyers and sellers through every necessary legal step to ensure that the transfer of the title is clean and unencumbered by secret liens or other encumbrances.

Other Areas of Maritime Law

We represent shippers and those in the shipping industry who need to make claims for cargo damage, and we provide legal counsel to marine surveyors to help them protect themselves against liability claims.

Every legal question involving maritime law also includes questions of admiralty law, which is a body of law dictating where any specific type of maritime claim must be filed. Our lawyers are intimately familiar with the ins and outs of admiralty law and know how to select a forum to the best advantage of our clients.

Contact John Hughes Cooper, P.C. · Free Consultation · 1-800-883-9099

If you have legal questions in any area of maritime law, we encourage you to contact our office for a free and private initial consultation. Learn how we can help you. Send us an e-mail or call us toll free at 1-800-883-9099 to make an appointment.

General information about the admiralty and maritime law is available on The Admiralty Docket.