Timothy Semenoro

Partner

Timothy Semenoro is a partner in the Litigation Department and co-chair of the Maritime and Transportation Industry Group. His practice includes maritime casualties, the U.S. Limitation of Liability Act (Limitation Act) and Fire Statute, the U.S. Carriage of Goods by Sea Act (COGSA), general average, insurance defense, charter party and contract disputes, environmental liability and damages, maritime arrest and attachment and general admiralty and maritime law. Tim primarily represents international companies, vessel owners, charterers, Protection and Indemnity (P&I) Clubs, Hull Clubs and insurers and insurers in complex, multiparty litigations; arbitrations; mediations; and appeals.

Prior to joining Montgomery McCracken, Tim was a partner with the maritime law firm Chalos O'Connor LLP. Previously, he practiced at a boutique New York law firm in the areas of cargo subrogation, complex commercial litigation, insurance and coverage. During his final year of law school, Tim served as a judicial-extern clerk to the Honorable Marcel Livaudais, Senior U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Louisiana.

Prior to law school, Tim was a naval architect and marine engineer with the firm of CG International, Inc. As an engineer, his primary responsibilities included the development of contract specifications and system diagrams for liquefied natural gas (LNG) and product tankers, the management and creation of document submittals to the U.S. Coast Guard and the American Bureau of Shipping to facilitate the reflagging of Roll-On/Roll-Off vessels, and the coordination of new construction cost estimates for LNG and product tankers.

Tim earned his law degree from Tulane University School of Law where he also received a Certificate in Maritime Law and served as Senior Articles Editor for the Tulane Maritime Law Journal. For his undergraduate degree, Tim attended the Webb Institute of Naval Architecture. While there, Tim received the Patrick Matriscia "Good Shipmate" Award and the Curran Memorial Prize.

RELATED Practices

Commercial Litigation

Montgomery McCracken’s Commercial Litigation Practice has a long and illustrious history. We handle a wide range of individual and corporate disputes involving virtually every area of personal and business endeavors […]

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Litigation

Montgomery McCracken’s Litigation Department offers a deep bench of skilled and experienced litigators whose practice areas encompass a broad array of industries and substantive legal disciplines.  Our clients include individuals, […]

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Maritime and Transportation

Montgomery McCracken’s Maritime and Transportation Industry Group attorneys are globally recognized leaders in major casualty litigation, marine pollution, and cargo defense. We represents our clients in a broad range of […]

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Credentials

Selected Representations
  • Counsel for the German owner and technical managers of the containership MSC FLAMINIA, before the U.S. District Court for the District of Southern New York, for a matter involving the explosion and fire that damaged the vessel and her cargo in transit from the United States to Europe in 2012
  • Counsel for the German owner and operator of the containership RICKMERS GENOA, before the U.S. District Court for the District of Southern New York and the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, for a matter involving the collision of the RICKMERS GENOA and SUN CROSS in the South China Sea and resulting explosion and fire that damaged the vessel and her cargo in 2005
  • Counsel for German containership line Hapag-Lloyd against a container terminal in the port of Savannah, Georgia for improper stowage of cargo in a vessel’s hold and resulting spilled fuel oil and cargo damage in a matter that was successfully mediated
  • Counsel for foreign-owned general cargo vessel the TONG CHENG against the U.S. National Pollution Fund Center for denial of a claim for limitation and exoneration of liability before the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii
  • Counsel for the foreign owner of the containership NEW DELHI EXPRESS against the U.S. Coast Guard for an improperly positioned buoy in New York harbor that resulted in the grounding of the vessel
  • Counsel for an international energy company against a foreign owner and operator of a fleet of bulk carriers for damages under a Contract of Affreightment to transport coking coal in a matter that was successfully arbitrated before the U.S. Society of Maritime Arbitrators
Selected Speaking Engagements
Selected Publications
Honors & Awards
  • Selected to The Best Lawyers in America© – Admiralty and Maritime Law list in 2022-2024. The Best Lawyers in America© list is issued by Best Lawyers and a description of the selection methodology can be found here. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey or the highest court of any other state.
  • Martindale, Hubbell AV Rated.  The rating is issued by Martindale-Hubbell and a description of the selection methodology can be found here. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey or the highest court of any other state.
Professional Activities
  • Member, Maritime Law Association of the United States
  • Member, Connecticut Maritime Association
Education

Law School

  • Tulane University Law School

Undergraduate School

  • Webb Institute of Naval Architecture