Bradley Gandrup

Brad has represented clients for over 30 years in civil litigation and arbitration matters, with a focus on admiralty and maritime law. Brad’s clients have included oil, technology and insurance companies, marine classification societies, vessel owners and charterers, cargo interests, marine construction and dredging companies, and salvage companies.

Brad represented the petitioner in Exxon Corp. v. Central Gulf Lines, Inc., 500 U.S. 603 (1991), in which the United States Supreme Court overruled its own 135-year-old precedent and expanded federal admiralty jurisdiction in favor of his client.  Brad also has substantial experience defending marine classification societies in major malpractice cases, including the $1 billion suit brought by the Kingdom of Spain against the American Bureau of Shipping concerning the massive oil spill from the M/T PRESTIGE off the coast of Spain, and another brought by cargo interests against Bureau Veritas concerning the catastrophic failure and sinking of the M/V STAR OF ALEXANDRIA.  He obtained the first federal maritime decision to clearly hold that, under the Federal Arbitration Act, to be enforceable, an arbitration provision in an international commercial agreement must be in a writing signed by the parties, or evidenced by an exchange of correspondence.

In addition to his litigation work, Brad assists clients in concluding various types of maritime transactions, including the purchase and sale of vessels and charter parties. Brad has also advised clients concerning the coastwise trading provisions of the Jones Act, and federal and state marine environmental law.

Representative Matters

• Defended manufacturers and retailers in maritime products liability cases
• Defended vessel owners in personal injury and death cases brought by Jones Act seamen, and in recreational boating cases
• Acted as Of Counsel to the United States in defending the commercial operator of a U.S. Navy ship in a seaman’s personal injury case.
• Represented U.S. and English insurers in insurance coverage litigation
• Represented Moroccan cargo interests in suits for damage to cargo
• Defended a vessel owner in a suit by a shipyard for vessel repairs
• Defended a vessel owner in a suit by a terminal owner for allision damage to a pier
• Represented a salvor in securing rights to a shipwreck
• Represented a Greek joint venture in a major maritime bankruptcy
• Defended a German manufacturing company in products liability cases
• Represented a Boston Harbor property owner in wreck removal litigation
• Represented native Alaskan interests in the EXXON VALDEZ oil spill litigation

Honors & Distinctions

• Rated AV® Preeminent™ 5.0 out of 5 by Martindale-Hubbell
• Named in Best Lawyers in America® for Maritime Law in 2016 and 2017

Professional Activities

• Maritime Law Association of the United States
• Connecticut Maritime Association
• Massachusetts Bar Association
• Boston Bar Association

Presentations

30th Annual Construction Superconference, San Diego, 2015. Chair of a panel concerning Offshore Winds Farms and the Convergence Between Admiralty Law and Construction Law.

Spanish Maritime Law Association – presentation concerning the oil pollution laws of the coastal United States.

Publications

JD Supra article concerning U.S. Discovery in Aid of Foreign Proceedings under 28 U.S.C. Section 1782

JD Supra article concerning the International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters