Sher & Blackwell is proud of the many successes we
have achieved for our clients. Listed below are only a few. If you would like more
information on how we can help you, please contact us.
Government Relations
- Successfully lobbied to prevent anti-competitive
telecommunications legislation
- Forced the Department of State to renegotiate an international
fishery agreement to add protections for dolphins
- Worked to remove the legislative prohibition on the export of
Alaska crude oil
- Helped draft legislation that was enacted into law to
rationalize the North Pacific Bering Sea fisheries
- Secured legislation allowing a U.S. flag vessel to be
registered under another flag
- Received special legislative authority to help revitalize a
U.S. shipyard
- Provided political and strategic advice for a multi-million
dollar international transportation merger
- Drafted legislation that was approved by Congress to promote
shark conservation
- Amended law to change the boundaries of a federal shipping
channel to promote economic development
- Stopped the imposition of new maritime dredging fees
- Worked to maintain certain anti-trust protections for shipping
industry
- Received government approvals for major seafood export
companies
- Helped enact legislative moratorium on large fishing vessels
on the Atlantic coast
- Secured millions of dollars in federal funds for
transportation projects, oil spill recovery systems, endangered whale and fisheries
research, shipbuilding projects, fishing vessel buyout programs and many others
Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 1998
Sher & Blackwell spearheaded industry wide negotiations
on shipping law reform which lead to the passage of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 1998.
From 1994 - 1998, all attempts to reform the U.S. shipping regulatory system met with
gridlock. In 1998, Sher & Blackwell took the initiative, and on behalf of the ocean
carriers, drafted a compromise and then negotiated acceptance with each of the various
stakeholders - shippers, labor, ports - resulting in a package which all of the parties
embraced. This compromise, the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 1998, was promptly enacted by
Congress.
Senate passes ship
deregulation; Debate now shifts to House:
How 2 lawyers pulled the final deal together
by Tim Sansbury, originally published
in the Journal of Commerce, August 1997
Aviation
- Instrumental in developing the United State’s strategy in
response to a European Union regulation restricting “recertificated” aircraft.
- Advised and represented an airline through the process of
restructuring its finances, management and operations to restore DOT and FAA operating
authority.
- Played a prominent role in international consultations to
develop new worldwide standards on aircraft noise.
Financing
Sher & Blackwell has successfully managed over
one billion dollars in government guaranteed and commercially financed
transactions for our clients. Below are a few transactions.
- $55 million redevelopment financing of shipyard. Owner issued
a floating rate note guaranteed by Marad under Title XI. Lenders included a private bank
and state agencies. The financing involved unique arrangements to give lenders sufficient
security for repayment of the debt. Some lenders furnished subordinated debt that served
as the 12-½% equity.
- $46 million construction and long term Title XI export
financing of two chemical carriers built in Alabama using privately placed bonds.
Supplemental bonds totaling $5 million were issued after the vessels’ delivery.
- $60+ million financing of four cargo vessels as part of a
larger corporate acquisition of company’s assets following bankruptcy. Financing
arranged through use of long-term leases.
- $340 million construction financing for two offshore drilling
rigs built for NYSE company using Title XI guaranteed floating LIBOR-based note.
Subsequent conversion to fixed rate notes for first offshore drilling rig. $185 million
project financing for third offshore rigs being built for same NYSE U.S. company. Floating
rate note for third rig based on commercial paper vehicle and guaranteed under the Title
XI program.
- $300 million project financing for two offshore rigs being
built for export by joint venture of privately held Brazilian company and NYSE U.S.
company. Floating rate note based on commercial paper vehicle and guaranteed under the
Title XI program.
- $50+ million acquisition of assets of U.S. containership
company. Acquisition included stock of foreign subsidiaries. Licensing arrangement for use
of name was included in the transaction.
- $5.4 million project to finance three vessels eligible to
operate in the U.S. coastwise trade.
- $6 million construction financing by U.S. bank for vessels
eligible to operate in the U.S. coastwise trade.
Antitrust Litigation
Our attorneys have successfully defended major ocean carriers
in criminal and civil complaints, in multi-district class action litigation, and in
connection with Civil Investigative Demands.
Corporate and Transactional
Sher & Blackwell has established numerous international
joint ventures and operating alliances; startup companies in the maritime, aviation,
logistics and Internet (B2B) portal industries; and handled mergers and acquisitions of
multinational companies.
Federal Agency Claims Proceedings
We successfully recovered over $50 million in refunds in
claims proceedings before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
Government Contracts
We have successfully represented clients in bid protests
before the General Accounting Office and contract dispute claims before Contracting
Officers, Boards of Contract Appeals, and the courts.
International Contract Arbitration
Our attorneys have obtained court judgments
based on arbitral awards in connection with hundreds of contracts
and have enforced those judgments in the courts of the United States
and other countries.
