Freehill Hogan & Mahar LLP - Firm profile

THE FIRM This boutique is one of the leading maritime litigation groups in the country. The breadth of its practice is almost unrivaled; its lawyers cover the waterfront of shipping litigation, from casualty claims to charter party disputes and oily water separator matters. Clients also seek out the team’s expertise in cargo litigation and longshore workers' compensation cases.

Sources say: "The firm has all the resources necessary to handle big litigation. The senior partners provide the wisdom and the younger lawyers provide the momentum to move the practice forward."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Peter Gutowski is one of the firm's finest litigators and a leading authority on Rule B attachments. He is admired for his deft handling of cargo damage claims, charter party disputes and collision cases. Wayne Meehan is admired for his "down-to-earth and quietly effective" approach. His expertise lies in casualty work; high-profile mandates include representing the 'Clary' in litigation arising out of the collision between the 'Tricolor' and the 'Kariba'. Don Murnane is an expert litigator and arbitrator. He recently successfully represented Maersk in a long-running arbitration relating to a service contract with Agrowest. Sources call William Juska a "gentleman and an astute litigator." His expertise in cargo damage and loss claims is virtually unmatched. Currently, he is representing 'Courage', a car carrier that experienced cargo damage following a storm, in the defense of claims in excess of $7 million. Tom Russo flies the flag for the firm's maritime criminal defense practice. Sources agree: "If a criminal case comes in through the doors of a firm that's not equipped to handle it, you can bet your life that it'll be referred to Russo." He is a leading practitioner in oily water separator cases.