Vedder Price is pleased to announce that Global Transportation Finance Shareholder John F. Imhof Jr. has been admitted to practice law in the Republic of the Marshall Islands (“RMI”).
The RMI is home to one of the world’s largest ship registries by gross tonnage. A growing number of business entities formed in the RMI are used as vehicles for shipping and non-shipping activities.
“I’m honored to be sworn in as a member of the Republic of the Marshall Islands bar,” said Mr. Imhof. “With the growing importance of the Marshall Islands as home to one of the world’s largest ship registries, it’s critically important that we are able to provide our shipping and maritime clients with comprehensive Marshall Islands legal advice, including as to Marshall Islands maritime and associations laws.”
“Our Maritime group is now better positioned to serve our clients in one of the most important jurisdictions for shipping and shipping finance in the world,” said Geoffrey R. Kass, Chair of Vedder Price’s Global Transportation Finance team. “We are proud of John’s determination and his commitment to the firm’s many shipping and maritime industry clients.”
Shareholder and current President of the Maritime Law Association of the United States Francis X. Nolan, III is himself well versed in RMI law. Mr. Nolan was the principal draftsman of first-of-its-kind legislation allowing financing bareboat charters to be treated as preferred mortgages, which was enacted into law by the RMI in 2013. Since 2014, Mr. Nolan has annually authored a chapter in Getting the Deal Through on Ship Finance Law in the RMI. Most recently, Mr. Imhof co-authored the 2019 chapter with Mr. Nolan.
“John’s admission to practice law in the Republic of the Marshall Islands adds significantly to our maritime bench strength around the world,” said Mr. Nolan. “Together with our maritime colleagues in New York, London and Singapore, we’re poised to deliver the best-in-class service that our Global Transportation Finance team is known for.”
Mr. Imhof joined Vedder Price in November 2018. He has nearly 30 years of experience advising lenders, lessors, investors, borrowers and lessees in the domestic and cross-border financing of transportation and logistics assets. The Maritime practice group is integral to the Global Transportation Finance team and represents nearly all segments of the maritime industry throughout the world, delivering advice under U.S., English, Marshall Islands and Liberian law.