New York, London Juxtaposed by New Maritime Event

On November 13, the newly formed New York Maritime Consortium, a coalition of leaders from New York Maritime Inc. (NYMAR), the Society of Maritime Arbitrators (SMA), the Maritime Law Association (MLA) and the Association of Shipbrokers and Agents (ASBA), will host an event entitled “New York and London: Perception and Reality”.

According to the event’s organizers, key industry figures from the areas of finance, arbitration and law from both sides of the Atlantic have been invited to illustrate the strengths of each jurisdiction, and how the two relate to each other. Chief Judge Loretta Preska of the Southern District of New York Federal Court will moderate the event. The forum will be held from 2:30-6 p.m. at The Harvard Club.

On the finance side, Jeff Pribor of Jefferies will discuss the New York capital markets. Keith Heard of Burke and Parsons will join Liz Burrell of Curtis Mallet in outlining New York legal practices, while Lindsay East of Reed Smith LLP and Haris Zografakis of Stephenson Harwood will address London’s structure and format. Leading New York arbitrators Dave Martowski and Jack Warfield will be shining a spotlight on the benefits of New York arbitration while Michael Baker-Harber (former President of the London Maritime Arbitrators Association) and Aleka Sheppard (Chairman of the London Shipping Law Centre and an arbitrator) discuss the benefits of London. The afternoon program at The Harvard Club promises to be dynamic and illuminating and will be followed that evening by an SMA Tribute Dinner and Dance honoring “Lions of New York Maritime Arbitration,” Jack Berg and Manfred Arnold, both of whom have served as past Presidents of The Society of Maritime Arbitrators, Inc. with decades of inimitable active arbitral practice experience.

“We anticipate a lively debate amongst worthy colleagues,” stated NYMAR Chairman Clay Maitland. “There is much to be gained by fully understanding each maritime center’s areas of expertise.”

“For many years, there have been myths and misperceptions surrounding the area of arbitration that have plagued arbitrators on both sides of the Atlantic,” observed SMA President Jack Warfield. “The afternoon discussion will give definitive answers to multiple questions posed to shipowners, charterers and brokers daily.”

A panel of industry users will be poised to both challenge and bolster assertions by the speakers. Stolt-Nielson’s Dan Carr, Northville Industries’ Elizabeth McConaghy, Principal Maritime’s Mike Mitchell, Quincannon’s Soren Wolmar, and George Tsimis of The American Club will lead the charge as the forum strives to separate perception versus reality.