Mr. John Butler is a partner in the firm specializing
in the representation of international ocean transportation and telecommunications
companies before federal agencies and the courts. In addition to regulatory compliance
counseling and agency and court litigation, Mr. Butler represents companies in contract
disputes with the federal government. He also advises clients with respect to commercial
contract negotiations, including software development and licensing agreements, ocean
transportation service contracts, and telecommunications service contracts.
Professional Background
Before joining Sher & Blackwell in 1992, Mr. Butler
served as a law clerk to the Office of Administrative Law Judges at the U.S. Department of
Agriculture.
More recently, Mr. Butler’s projects include
representing a national Internet service provider before the United
States Supreme Court in a challenge to a Federal Communications Commission
rule dealing with common carriage regulation of cable companies; counseling
transportation clients regarding compliance with homeland security
regulations; representation in the Court of Federal Claims of an international
marine terminal operator in a contract claim against the United States;
arbitration of a multiemployer pension plan withdrawal liability claim
on behalf of an international ocean common carrier; and filing an
amicus curiae brief in the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of an ocean
carrier trade association concerning limitations of liability for
intermodal international cargo shipments.
Practice
Areas
Administrative
Antitrust
Government Contracts
Litigation
Maritime Commerce
Maritime Regulation
Telecommunications
Professional
Affiliations/Associations
Admitted to practice in Maryland and the District of Columbia
Admitted to the U.S. District Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals
for the District of Columbia; Court of International Trade;
United States Supreme Court; United States Court of Federal Claims;
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Member, Maritime Administrative Bar Association and Federal
Communication Bar Association
Education
George Washington University National law Center, J.D. with
honors, 1991
Colorado College, B.A., in English, 1984
