Charlie Papavizas, Partner

Charlie Papavizas is a partner in Winston & Strawn’s Washington, D.C. office and co-chair of the firm's maritime and admiralty practice. He focuses his practice on administrative, legislative, and corporate matters, primarily in the maritime industry.

Mr. Papavizas is frequently consulted on the application of U.S. coastwise laws (Jones Act) to cargo, passenger, and vessel movements and investments in U.S. companies.

Mr. Papavizas has extensive experience in advocacy on behalf of maritime clients before various federal agencies, including the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Maritime Administration, and the U.S. Congress. Such clients have included U.S. and foreign vessel owners and operators, investment banks and other financial institutions, shipyards, ship managers, and marine equipment suppliers.

Certain recent projects in which Mr. Papavizas has been active include:

• the successful defense of Matson Navigation Company, Inc.’s foreign rebuild project from administrative and court challenges
• the successful defense of the award of a tank vessel time charter to U.S. Shipping Partners by the Military Sealift Command in U.S. Claims Court
• the investment by Macquarie Securities in Harley Marine Services, Inc.
• the sale of Rigdon Marine to Gulfmark Offshore
• the adoption by the U.S. Congress of a restriction on the transfer of Maritime Security Program operating agreements
• the charter and joint venture arrangements with Höegh Autoliners A.S. for Liberty Global Logistics LLC

Honors and Awards

Mr. Papavizas is recognized for shipping and maritime law in the 2008 and 2009 editions of Who’s Who Legal and by Chambers USA in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2012 and the 2007, 2008, and 2012 editions of Washington D.C.’s Best Lawyers. He is also listed in the 2008 Guide to the World’s Leading Shipping and Maritime Lawyers. Winston & Strawn's admiralty and maritime group has been recognized by U.S. News and World Reports - Best Lawyers “Law Firm of the Year” in Admiralty & Maritime Law for 2011-2012.

Activities

Education

Speeches and Publications

Mr. Papavizas has published a number of articles on a wide range of maritime topics, including a bi-annual series of articles on U.S. maritime legislative developments in the Journal of Maritime Law and Commerce; “Is the Jones Act Redundant?” in the U. of San Francisco Maritime Law Journal; “U.S.-Flag Vessel Financing and Citizenship Requirements Update” in the Tulane Maritime Law Journal; “A Makeover For Investment Scrutiny” on Forbes.com; “Jones Act Hurricane Waivers” and “Lease Financing Goes Another Round” in Benedict’ s Maritime Bulletin, and “The Jones Act Foreign Mortgage Debate” in Marine Log.

Mr. Papavizas also is a frequent speaker at conferences. Some of his topics were “Update on the Foreign Rebuild Controversy,” delivered to Marine Log’ s April 2008 and 2009 Tugs and Barges conferences; “Gulf of Mexico Offshore Installations and Maritime Security,” delivered to Marine Log’ s Maritime and Port Security 2008 Conference in January 2008; “Foreign Vessel Mortgages: Jones Act Loophole or Legitimate Financing Mechanism,” delivered to the Marine Log Tugs & Barges 2005 Conference & Expo in April 2005; “Foreign Lease Financing of Jones Act-Qualified U.S.-Flag Vessels” delivered to the Tulane Maritime Seminar in October 2003; “FPSO's and Shuttle Tankers: Legal and Policy Issues” delivered to the Marine Log Gulf Offshore Conference in June 2002; and “Recent Developments in Government Regulation of Ballast Water Discharges” delivered to the Panama Maritime 2002 Conference in February 2002.