Robert E. O’Connor

• Counseled one of the world’s largest marine fuel suppliers in connection with its bankruptcy proceedings and related litigation
• Represented fleet owner and operator in connection with a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency investigation concerning compliance with MARPOL Annex VI Emissions Control Areas (ECA) and fuel oil sulphur limits
• Represented OPA 90 Responsible Parties during NRDAs and when presenting claims for reimbursement to the National Pollution Funds Center and the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund
• Represented a ship owner and operator in connection with litigation arising from a collision, explosion, and fire on a vessel while at sea, before trial and appellate courts
• Counseled foreign and domestic ownership interests in connection with the formation of holding companies and the purchase, documentation, and registration of vessels

• Author, “US Legal Landscape Still Feeling Effects of OW Bunker Bankruptcy,” Ship & Bunker, September 2020
• Co-author, “Maritime Bankruptcies in the US during the Coronavirus Pandemic: An Introduction for Creditors,” May 2020
• Co-author, “UPDATED – New York Real Estate during the COVID-19 Pandemic,” May 2020
• Author, “Maritime Litigation and Arbitration in the US and New York during the Coronavirus Pandemic,” April 2020
• Author, “Vessel and Port Operations in the US and the Port of New York and New Jersey during the Coronavirus Pandemic,” April 2020
• Author, “M/V GOLDEN RAY: Deviating from an OPA 90 Non-Tank Vessel Response Plan,” March 2020
• Co-author, “UPDATED – COVID-19 in New York: Essential Business, Law Firms, and State and Federal Courts,” April 2020
• Quoted in, “Force Majeure and Bunker Supply Contracts: It’s Complicated,” Ship & Bunker, April 2020
• Noted in, “NuStar Accused Of Selling Substandard Marine Fuel,” Law360, March 2019
• Noted in, “Law and order: Avoiding disputes,” Lloyd’s List, November 2018
• Noted in, “OW Bunker Tells 2nd Circ. Subcontractors Can’t Claim Fuel,” Law360, October 2017
• Noted in, “Norwegian Must Arbitrate Fuel Row, Supplier Says,” Law360, September 2017
• Noted in, “US Judge Seeks Input On English Ruling In Similar Fuel Row,” Law360, September 2017
• Noted in, “Norwegian Cruise Lines Can’t Block Arbitration, Court Told,” Law360, August 2017
• Co-author, “Recent Developments in Admiralty and Maritime Law,” American Bar Association’s Tort Trial & Insurance Law Journal, Winter 2017
• Quoted in, “’Growing Consensus’ Over Who Should Be Paid Disputed OW Bunker Bills,” Ship & Bunker, January 2017
• Noted in, “OW Bunker Holds Maritime Liens In Payment Row, Judge Says,” Law360, January 2017
• Co-author, “The International Collapse of OW Bunker,” DRI’s For The Defense, April 2016
• Quoted in, “OW’s US arms pursue $45m in unpaid bills,” Tradewinds News,  December 2015
• Quoted in, “O.W. Bunker USA can complete liquidation,” The Deal, December 2015
  O.W. Bunker USA can complete liquidation
• Quoted in, “OW’S US Arms in Talks to Forge ‘Consensual’ Bankruptcy Plan,” Tradewinds News, May 2015
• Quoted in, “Shippers pay into US court to prevent ship detention after OW Bunker collapse,” Reuters, January 2015
• Quoted in, “Lawyer: Shipowners keep paper trail for ECA-compliant fuels,” Bunkerworld News, December 2014
• Co-author, “A Modern Twist On A Charter Party Contract,” Mealey’s International Arbitration Report, September 2014
• Co-author, “Stepped Up Enforcement in the North American ECA: August 2014 Update,” Legal Briefing, August 2014
• Author, “Sulphur Oxide Emissions Regulations – USA,” UK P&I Club Bulletin 954, March 2014

• Panelist, “Legal, Compliance and Regulations Panel,” International Bunker Industry Association, November 2020
• Moderator, “Issues and Solutions Arising from IMO 2020 ULSFO Requirements,” International Maritime Law Seminar, October 2019, London, England
• Presenter, “A New Legal Landscape,”IBIA Caribbean Bunker Conference, September 2019, Montego Bay, Jamaica
• Presenter, “Bunkers in the US: Compliance with Emissions Regulations and Enforcement of Maritime Liens,” International Maritime Law Seminar, October 2018, London, England
• Presenter, “OPA 90 – Liability & Claims,” Gallagher Marine  Systems – 2017 Maritime Symposiums, November 2017, Athens, Greece and London, England
• Presenter, “MARPOL & The Department of Justice – Environmental Compliance Programs,” Gallagher Marine  Systems – 2017 Maritime Symposium, July 2017, New Jersey, USA
• Presenter, “Athos I – Recovery of Response Costs and Damages,” Gallagher Marine Systems – 2016 Maritime Symposium, November 14, 2016, London, England
• Keynote Speaker, “Maritime Bankruptcies,” St. John’s Admiralty Law Society – Annual Dinner, April 2016

• New York State Bar Association
• American Bar Association
• Maritime Law Association
• North American Marine Environmental Protection Association
• Connecticut Maritime Association
• American Caribbean Maritime Foundation
  • At-Large Director
• P&IQ Certification
  • Bobby has successfully completed Module 1 (The Shipping Business); Module 2 (P&I Insurance: History, Operation and Practice); and Module 3 (Underwriting, Loss Prevention and Claims Handling) of the International Group of P&I Clubs’ education program for legal correspondents.

Robert received a J.D. degree from St. John’s University School of Law in 2010. He was the president of the Joseph A. Calamari Admiralty Law Society, editor in chief of and a frequent contributor to The Admiralty Practicum, and vice president of the Student Bar Association. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2005 with B.A. degrees in Economics and Environmental Studies.