Don focuses on admiralty matters and general litigation, commercial transactions and international law issues.

Litigation and commercial planning in the area of maritime transportation

Representation of vessel owners in connection with casualties and accidents, e.g. cargo damage, injury, oil pollution, etc.

Advice regarding issues under Shipping Act, e.g. service contracts, carrier/carrier agreements, discrimination, and NVOCC qualifications

Advice and participation on behalf of charterer in negotiations for long term charters and new buildings for dedicated service

Advice on developing and constructing long term contracts of affreightment, terminal agreements, ship management agreements, etc.

Drafting and enforcing preferred ship mortgages

Advice on the advantages and disadvantages of U.S. flag-registry-citizenship, manning, cargo, preference, subsidies, etc.

Advice to City of Baltimore re ownership, documentation, charter agreements, foreign transfer issues as to the S/V PRIDE OF BALTIMORE

Court of Appeals of Maryland

Supreme Court of Virginia

United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

United States District Court for the District of Maryland

United States Supreme Court

University of Virginia School of Law, L.L.B., 1968

Order of the Coif

United States Coast Guard Academy, B.S., with high honors, 1960

American Bar Association

Baltimore City Bar Association

Maritime Administrative Bar Association

Maritime Law Association of the United States

Board of Directors, 1995-1998

Committee on Carriage of Goods

Chair, 2004-present

Vice Chair, 2000-2004

Committee on the Comité Maritime International

Committee on Limitation of Liability, Chair 1994-1998

Committee on Recreational Boats, Chair 1998-2000

Maryland State Bar Association

Section on International Commercial Law, Chair 1985-1986

Study Group, International Safety Management Code

Listed since 1989 in The Best Lawyers in America, Maritime Law Category (Woodward/White, Inc.)

Author, "United States Law in William Tetley," Marine Cargo Claims, 2008

Author, "Limitation of Liability Unlimited," Journal of Maritime Law & Commerce, 2001

Author, "Brown Water Seamen and Section 905(b) Suits," The MLA Report, Maritime Law Association, Doc. No. 678 at 9225

Author, "Limitation of Liability, A Critical Analysis of United States Law in an International Setting," Tulane Law Review

Author, "Statistical Analysis of Limitation of Liability Cases, October, 1953-December, 1981," Maritime Law Association, Doc. No. 640

Speaker at various programs on admiralty and transportation law

Editor, American Maritime Cases, 1993-present

United States Coast Guard (Deck and Engineering Officer on Ocean Station Vessel and Merchant Marine Safety Officer in Los Angeles)

"No case is more than 90% certain."