John Butler is a partner in the firm specializing in representing international ocean transportation companies and trade associations. In addition to representing clients before federal regulatory agencies, federal courts, and Congress, John provides counsel on maritime security, environmental regulation, government contracts, antitrust law, and commercial transactions. His particular focus is developing comprehensive strategies in rulemaking proceedings in order to obtain the best outcome at the agency level while also building a favorable administrative record for any necessary judicial review.
In addition to his work with ocean transportation companies, John has recently represented charter fishing operators, commercial fishermen, an environmental remediation contractor, competitive telecommunications and Internet companies, and citizens groups challenging local land use decisions. Recent projects include obtaining a federal district court injunction against a National Marine Fisheries Service rule that discriminated against halibut charter operators in Alaska, collaborating with other members in the firm in seeking Supreme Court review in an Eleventh Amendment case, counseling maritime clients in connection with the implementation of the first Clean Water Act NPDES permit applicable to oceangoing vessels, and filing an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in a case raising a Tonnage Clause challenge to a city property tax levied against vessels.
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
Professional
Affiliations/Associations
Admitted to practice in Maryland and the District of Columbia
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
U.S. Court of International Trade
U.S. Court of Federal Claims
Maritime Administrative Bar Association, President
Education
George Washington University National law Center, J.D. with
honors, 1991
Colorado College, B.A., in English, 1984
