Webinar: Judicial Intern Academy: Navigating Admiralty and Maritime Jurisdiction

**Program hosted in (ET) Time Zone**

Join Michelle Otero Valdés, FBA National Director and Immediate Past Chair of the FBA Admiralty Law Section, Carlos Llinás Negret, Current Chair of the FBA Admiralty Law Section and Adam B. Cooke, Membership Chair of the FBA Admiralty Law Section, for an overview of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction—an issue that can confound the most experienced lawyers from both sides of the aisle.

This program will explore the history, the distinction between “admiralty” and “maritime” and subject matter jurisdiction, where Article III of the Constitution extends the federal judicial power to “all Cases of admiralty and maritime Jurisdiction.” By giving the Federal Judiciary jurisdiction over admiralty cases—and authorizing Congress to regulate that jurisdiction—the U.S. Constitution’s Framers sought to ensure that federal courts would resolve cases that might implicate the Nation’s foreign policy. The Supreme Court has explained that Article III’s grant of admiralty jurisdiction to the federal courts contemplates a system of maritime law coextensive with, and operating uniformly in, the whole country in order to promote the great interests of navigation and commerce and maintain the United States’ “diplomatic relations.” Gain valuable insight into admiralty and maritime jurisdiction that defines the general maritime law of the United States.

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Presented by the Federal Bar Association’s Admiralty Law Section

Presenters

Michelle Otero Valdés 

Ms. Valdés has been engaged exclusively in the practice of maritime, admiralty and marine insurance law for over twenty-five (25) years and is experienced in all facets of civil litigation, including, but not limited to, collisions, allisions, groundings, emergency casualty response, maritime attachments and arrests, marine pollution claims under OPA90 and CLC Conventions, defense of maritime death and injury claims, passenger and crew claims, marine casualty investigations, P&I and FDD matters, H&M claims, subrogation claims, claims coverage evaluation, salvage and SCOPIC matters, cargo claims and recoveries, charter party disputes, Marpol and environmental matters, general liability defense, freight forwarders/NVOCC liability claims, and the negotiation and drafting of maritime-related contracts, including marine loan documents, purchase and sale agreements, charter parties, marina contracts, ship vendor contracts, yacht purchase/sale agreements, chartering, and registration of domestic and foreign vessels, shipbuilding contracts, crew agreements, corporate non-compete/non-disclosure agreements and a host of other international commercial transactions and agreements focused in and around the maritime industry.

Ms. Valdés has been counsel in several high-profile cases and, as a previous Account Executive of Thomas Miller Inc. (Miami), Managers for the United Kingdom Mutual Steam Ship Assurance Association (Bermuda) Ltd. and The United Kingdom Freight Demurrage and Defense Association Limited, is recognized for her in-depth knowledge of marine insurance and casualty matters. Ms. Valdés has authored numerous published articles and is regularly asked to speak at conferences throughout the world on a variety of topics of interest to the maritime industry.

Ms. Valdés is Crew Qualified by the United States Coast Auxiliary and a member of several organizations, including but not limited to: the Florida Bar; the Florida Bar Admiralty and Maritime Law Certification Committee (Chair 2012-2013, Vice Chair 2011-2012); Florida Bar Admiralty Law Committee (Vice Chair 2018-2020, Seminar Chair 2012-2013); U.S. Supreme Court; U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit; U.S. District Court for the Southern, Middle and Northern Districts of Florida; U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern and Middle Districts of Florida; Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute (SEALI); Proctor Member of the Maritime Law Association of the United States; Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association, USA (Co-President Florida Chapter 2014-2018); Federal Bar Association (Admiralty Law Committee Sescretary/Treasurer 2020-21, Sections and Divisions Council Member 2016-2020, Admiralty Law Committee Seminar Co-Chair 2014) and the Fort Lauderdale Mariner’s Club (Seminar Chair 2020, Seminar Co-Chair 2019, Skipper 2017, First Mate 2016, Purser 2015, Yeoman 2014, Program Chair 2013).