Professionals

Charlie Papavizas

Partner

Chair, Maritime Practice

Washington, DC

+1 202-282-5732

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Overview
Experience
Credentials
Insights & News

Chair of the firm’s top-ranked maritime and admiralty practice, Charlie is nationally recognized in major legal directories. Chambers USA ranks him as the only “Star Individual” in the category of “Transportation: Shipping/Maritime: Regulatory,” who is “the Dean of the maritime bar” and “the godfather of maritime law.” He is widely known for his experience with Jones Act laws and the U.S. offshore wind industry.

Charlie focuses his practice on administrative, legislative, and finance matters, primarily in the maritime industry generally and the U.S. offshore wind industry in particular. He has been actively engaged in the U.S. offshore wind sector since 2009 and counsels numerous clients working in various aspects of the industry, including obtaining the first Jones Act offshore wind-related ruling in 2010.

Charlie is frequently consulted on the application of U.S.-flag laws and regulations, particularly the application of U.S. coastwise laws (“Jones Act”) to cargo, passenger, and vessel movements and investments in U.S. companies.

He 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, industrial companies, private equity firms, commercial banks, and other financial institutions, shipyards, ship managers, and marine equipment suppliers.

Key Matters

Recent projects in which Charlie has been active include:

The sale and charter of U.S.-flag tank vessels for BP America Inc.
U.S. citizenship advice with respect to the whole company asset financing of Centerline Logistics Corporation.
Advice to Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. with respect to its investment in Rand Logistics, Inc.
Representation of lenders in connection with the restructurings of several U.S.-flag Jones Act companies.
Multiple litigation and arbitrations on behalf of Liberty Maritime Corporation with respect to its collective bargaining agreements.
Representation of multiple offshore companies in every sector of the offshore wind industry in the U.S. market.

Recent Experience

Maritime Counsel for Rand Logistics's Acquisition of Andrie

Winston’s Maritime & Admiralty team has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report – Best Lawyers^® as “Law Firm of the Year” in Admiralty & Maritime Law and has been ranked by Chambers USA for Shipping/Maritime: Regulatory for 17 years.

Charlie has accumulated the following accolades:

Recognized by Chambers USA for Shipping and Maritime Law since 2005 (including a “Star Individual” ranking, 2017–2024) and Offshore Energy since 2023
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® for Admiralty and Maritime Law since 2008
Received the Best Lawyers^®2022 Admiralty and Maritime Law “Lawyer of the Year” award in Washington, D.C.
Recognized by The Legal 500 U.S. in the field of Transport – Shipping Regulation, “Leading Lawyer” (2018-2023), “Hall of Fame” (2024)
Recognized by The Legal 500 U.S. in the field of Transport – Shipping Finance (2024)
Listed in Who’s Who Legal as a “Thought Leader” in the U.S. for Transport – Shipping (2023-2024) and also recommended as a “Global Leader” for Transport – Shipping in the 2022 edition

Chair of the Marine Financing Subcommittee on Coast Guard Documentation and U.S. Citizenship Matters for the Maritime Law Association of the United States (2017-present)
Editorial board member of the Journal of Maritime Law and Commerce
Member of the American Bureau of Shipping (2015-present)
Previously served as a member of the board of governors of the District of Columbia Port, Propeller Club of the United States (1996–2002)

Capabilities

Litigation/Trials

Transactions

Maritime & Admiralty

Key Matters

Recent projects in which Charlie has been active include:

The sale and charter of U.S.-flag tank vessels for BP America Inc.
U.S. citizenship advice with respect to the whole company asset financing of Centerline Logistics Corporation.
Advice to Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. with respect to its investment in Rand Logistics, Inc.
Representation of lenders in connection with the restructurings of several U.S.-flag Jones Act companies.
Multiple litigation and arbitrations on behalf of Liberty Maritime Corporation with respect to its collective bargaining agreements.
Representation of multiple offshore companies in every sector of the offshore wind industry in the U.S. market.

Recent Experience

Maritime Counsel for Rand Logistics's Acquisition of Andrie

Credentials

Education

Charlie received a B.A. in Government from Georgetown University in 1978, a M.A. in International Affairs from Columbia University in 1981, and a J.D., with honors, from the George Washington University National Law Center in 1984.

Admissions

District of Columbia

Languages

Greek

Related Insights & News

Charlie authored the book, Journey to the Jones Act—U.S. Merchant Marine Policy 1776-1920, which was published in April 2024.

Charlie has recently authored the following articles:

“The Man Behind the ‘Jones Act’,” MarineLink
“Jones Act Waiver Mess” in Maritime Magazines
“The Story of the Jones Act” and “Jones Act Waivers” in Tulane Maritime Law Journal
“What CBP’s Jones Act Changes Mean For Offshore Industries” in Law360
“NY Offshore Wind Plan Spotlights Jones Act Compliance” in Law360
“Last Port of Call for the U.S. Merchant Marine?” in Maritime Reporter & Engineering News
“New Leasing Accounting Rules May Impact Jones Act Vessel Financing,” in Marine Money
“Working with the Jones Act in the Offshore Wind Industry,” in Offshore Wind Journal

Charlie’s recent speaking engagements include the following:

“Project Financing of Offshore Wind Projects,” January 2024, Tulane Offshore Wind Conference: The Future for Offshore Wind in the Gulf and Nationally
“The OSV Market – Let the Good Times Roll,” November 2023, Marine Finance Forum – New Orleans
“Offshore Wind – Panel Discussion,” June 2023, Marine Money Week
“U.S. Offshore Regulatory Update,” April 2021, Danish Shipping
“Offshore Wind Under the New Administration: Federal Policy Update,” January 2021, The Business Network for Offshore Wind Webinar
“U.S. Offshore Wind Market Update,” February 2020, Offshore Wind Journal Offshore Wind Conference

Blog

SHIPS for America Act Reintroduced – What’s New

May 2, 2025

Blog

United States Imposes Substantial Fees on Chinese-Built and Other Vessels

April 18, 2025

Blog

Ground-Breaking U.S. Merchant Marine Executive Order Issued

April 10, 2025

Blog

U.S. Government Proposes Trade Sanctions Against Chinese-Built or -Operated Vessels

February 24, 2025