Christopher R. Nolan PARTNER [email protected] New York 212.513.3307 PRACTICES Litigation and Dispute Resolution | Maritime | Maritime Appellate and Amicus | Maritime Bankruptcies, Foreclosures and Workouts | Maritime Casualty, Pollution and Salvage | Maritime: Energy, LNG/LPG and Cables | Maritime and Logistics Contracts | Maritime Regulatory, Government and Security | Native American Law | Nordic: Finland and Scandinavia Practice INDUSTRY Transportation & Infrastructure Christopher R. Nolan is a litigation attorney in Holland & Knight's New York office and serves as co-chair of the firm's Transportation and Infrastructure Group comprising 180 colleagues around the world. Mr. Nolan focuses on resolving shipping disputes arising from charterparties, bills of lading, fire and explosion, total loss, limitation, and insolvency. He is regularly instructed on behalf of Hull underwriters and P&I Clubs on marine insurance matters. Mr. Nolan acts as national counsel for a major ocean carrier, and as such is frequently instructed in cargo disputes and contamination claims. In the last decade, he has developed a niche focus on the early resolution of thorny matters destined for court or arbitration. In December 2019, Mr. Nolan was ranked one of the "Top 10 Maritime Lawyers 2019" globally by Lloyd's List, a leading shipping industry publication. This is the second year in a row that he has been selected for the list of the most influential lawyers in the global maritime industry. He is the only U.S.-based lawyer included on the 2019 list by the influential publication. Independent legal directories have said: Christopher Nolan's practice offers a wealth of expertise across the contentious shipping sector, including charter party disputes, total loss claims and insolvency matters. A client enthused: 'He is pleasant to deal with,' and 'absolutely my go-to when I need someone from the USA.' – Chambers Global 2020 'Chris has expertly guided us through the pitfalls in the litigation process,' [lauded a client to the guide], adding 'I trust his judgement and ability to lead others on his team.' – Chambers Global 2018 In 2014, Mr. Nolan served as delegate for the Comité Maritime International (CMI) at the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law – Working Group IV – on the pending convention on electronic shipment documentation to Attorney Advertising. Copyright © 1996–2020 Holland & Knight LLP. All rights reserved. determine its impact on the proposed new ocean cargo liability convention (the "Rotterdam Rules"). Mr. Nolan is active in the legal community, elected in 2018, 2019 and 2020 as an officer of the 17,000-member American Bar Association's (ABA) Tort, Trial and Insurance Section, the 2011-12 ABA TIPS Admiralty Committee Chair, and as a Maritime Law Association of the United States Proctor in Admiralty and Vice Chair of its Arbitration & ADR committee. He has been quoted in maritime publications TradeWinds and Fairplay on a wide range of topics. In 2016, Mr. Nolan was one of two partners to receive the firm's inaugural Living the Commitment Award recognizing his work as the New York office's community service chair in connection with the firm's 9/11 Day of Service commitment. He also is the New York office's representative for pro bono work with Kids In Need of Defense (KIND), and he has handled pro bono cases for journalists on First Amendment grounds in defamation suits and a workers' compensation proceeding arising out of the September 11 tragedy. Per NYRPC7.1: "Attorney Advertising," "Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome." Experience Shipping Litigation Vessel Casualty/Limitation Action: Summary judgment dismissal for party in $275 million U.S. Limitation Act proceeding arising out of the MSC Flaminia explosion General Average and Seaworthiness: Filed claim and settled for war risk insurers of general average claim seeking repayment of ransom from cargo interests arising from VLCC hijacked by Somali pirates Safe Port Warranty: Submission of amicus brief and attendance at the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of industry leaders BIMCO, the International Association of Independent Tanker Owners (INTERTANKO) and the International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners (INTERCARGO) on the key shipping issue of whether a charterers’ promise in a particular maritime contract to provide a safe port for an owners' ship was a warranty of safety or merely a promise to exercise due diligence Error in Navigation/Limitation Action: Filed claim and settled for general contractor in U.S. Limitation Act proceeding damages claims arising out of an allision of the Brooklyn Bridge ICDR Arbitration/Rule B/Repudiatory Breach Claims: Prevailed in representing international energy company in multiple litigations and arbitrations concerning multimillion-dollar repudiatory breaches by counterparty of two bareboat charter parties for vessels delivered by shipbuilder Deepwater Horizon Casualty/Indemnity: Counseled several companies, banks, hedge funds and investors concerning offshore drilling contract and joint venture indemnity clauses and considerations post-Gulf of Mexico oil spill SMA Arbitration/Security: Represented a charterer in multijurisdictional SMA arbitrations involving more than $75 million of suits to compel arbitration and security proceedings in a fraudulent charter dispute Limitation Action/Underwater Cable Casualty: Represented a public utility in litigation of a $25 million property damage claim arising from anchor drag against a submerged utility electrical cable Bunker Claims: Prosecuting claims against suppliers and defending noticed claims by end users for international bunkers intermediary as to off-spec product allegations in multiple venues Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act Advice: Advise foreign countries and their instrumentalities concerning Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act challenges and international treaty obligations Judgment Enforcement: Represented a Norwegian ship owner concerning a multimillion-dollar judgment enforcement in the U.S., including the restraint of assets, alter-ego liability issues, escrow agreement litigation and Attorney Advertising. Copyright © 1996–2020 Holland & Knight LLP. All rights reserved. settlement Marine Environmental Casualty: Represented a foreign country in a $1 billion tanker oil spill casualty Rule B and Rule C Security Proceedings: Advise P&I Clubs, marine companies and foreign government entities concerning numerous security cases relating to the attachment of assets under Rule B or arrest of vessels under Rule C Section 1782 Discovery in Aid of Foreign Proceedings: Advise companies and persons seeking or challenging discovery under Section 1782 in aid of foreign litigation or arbitration Cargo Defense/COGSA/Bills of Lading Disputes: Represent parties in cargo disputes concerning delivery, deviation, bills of lading obligations and defenses Commercial and Transportation Litigation Fraud, Breach of Duty, Conspiracy Defense: Defending a foreign oilfield facility and equipment company in a $350 million alleged contract breach, fraud and conspiracy suit in N.Y. State and Appellate as appellee/respondent Grain/Commodity Contract Defense: Defending not-for-profit organization that assists companies exporting grains from the ports in North America in Florida State court and New York arbitration on issues arising out of the industry standard North American Export Grain Association (NAEGA) 2 Free on Board (FOB) contract Commodities and Trader Claims: Defending international commodities company as to international claims concerning off-spec product and related contractual entanglements Computer Fraud Coverage Dispute: Represented and settled claim for international bank concerning scope of computer fraud clause in broad commercial and crime protection policy Train Derailment Claims: Represented ocean carrier and shippers in contract breach and cargo contamination claims arising out of train derailments in the United States and abroad Breach of Aircraft SPA: Representing Middle East cargo company in foreign and domestic activities in recovering aircraft and appurtenances arising out of a breached SPA SPA Breach Claim: Represented Argentinian seller of company providing logistical services and transport of iron ore in post-closing $8.3 million mediated-to-conclusion dispute for nonpayment and indemnification breaches Natural Resource Storage Defense: Defended U.S. operator of terminal for storage, handling and processing of complex natural resource in N.Y. federal court contract breach dispute Nonprofit Advice: Represented national nonprofit organization in New York state matter seeking medical and academic information Distributorship Breach Defense: Defended a Spanish light fixture manufacturer in alleged distributorship breach suit in N.Y. state court Yacht Design Disputes: Defended an Italian yacht design company in copyright, trademark infringement, products liability and personal injury litigation in New York and Minnesota Software License Breach: Represented a U.S. software license company in breach of contract suit against end user of services Doing Business in the U.S. Advice: Represented a foreign bunker supplier in establishing a presence in U.S. cities and related commercial, regulatory and operations advice ICDR Arbitration/Contract Dispute: Represented a Mexican shipping company in a multimillion-dollar New York arbitration concerning post-lay pipeline trenching in the Gulf of Mexico against a dredging company Aviation Repair Breach Dispute: Represented a Brazilian