Jess G. Webster

Representative Experience

• Litigation Plus

  • Represented international fuel supplier in all ports of western United States for arrests of ocean-going vessels to enforce maritime liens for necessaries and recover accounts due.

  • Represented commercial lender in bringing multi-district foreclosure action against fleet of commercial fishing vessels and appurtenant fishing rights, followed by collaborative sales of assets with full resolution of secured debt.

  • Represented commercial lender in foreclosure of preferred mortgage of vessel and security interests in tangible and intangible property.

  • Represented charterer of commercial vessel in defense of claims for breach of charter and alleged elder financial abuse.

  • Represented uninsured owner of sunken yacht in negotiations and subsequent litigation resulting from sinking.

  • Represented a vessel owner with issues on grounding, break-up, and loss of a large seafood processing ship on a remote island in Alaska. Representation included OPA 90 oil spill response; salvage efforts; defense of vessel owner in action by State and native corporation for wreck removal and damages; and prosecution of insurance coverage claims against delinquent London underwriters for loss and wreck removal.

  • Represented vessel owner in all aspects of sinking of saturation dive support vessel in a Singapore shipyard. Representation included immediate sinking response activities, presentation and resolution of insurance claims for hull loss and liabilities arising from sinking, and pursuit of claims against shipyard for sinking of vessel. Resulted in successful resolution of all claims through mediation in London, England. This matter involved close coordination with affiliate counsel in Singapore and London.

  • Team defense of manager of refit for superyacht/oceanographic research vessel. Claims exceeded $11 million for mismanagement and resulted in defense judgment in favor of manager, recovery of management fees due, and all costs, expenses, and attorney fees.

  • Prosecution of claims for breach of warranty on purchase of deep water construction vessel before Society of Maritime Arbitrators, Inc., NY, NY.

  • Represented yacht owner in arbitration of claims for multiple defects in construction of yacht and resulted in successful arbitration award against successive owners of yacht manufacturer and individual owner for full amounts claimed, plus all costs, expenses, and attorney fees.

  • Representation of vessel owner in litigation with shipyard arising from conversion of vessel from oil industry support vessel to factory trawler, resulting in judgment for owner for costs of repairs, costs, and attorney’s fees.

• Transactional Plus

  • Represented estate in negotiation and sale of large yacht construction business.

  • Represented early investor/employee of cannabis processing business in negotiated resolution of claim for stock initially denied to employee due to mischaracterization of status of employee in plan of merger.

  • Represented multiple marina operators in addressing delinquent moorage accounts and derelict or abandoned vessels.

  • Advised multiple commercial fishing businesses with respect to acquisitions, sales, chartering, fishing rights transactions, and employment issues.

  • Represented owner and operator of assisted living facility HUD refinancing.

  • Represented owners and charterers in negotiations and drafting of time, voyage and demise charters; master services agreements for oil industry vessel employees; and vessel management, manning, and services agreements.

  • Represented numerous commercial lenders in negotiation and preparation of marine loan documentation.

  • Representation of foreign investor in acquiring control of U.S. transportation company in compliance with Jones Act U.S. citizenship requirements.

  • Represented vessel owners and builders in negotiation and drafting of agreements for new construction and repair of commercial vessels and yachts. Representation of vessel owners and shipyards in multiple vessel construction and repair disputes in multiple jurisdictions, including Washington, Oregon, Alaska, and jurisdictions bordering the Gulf of Mexico.