Fisheries Law

Bill began his maritime and fisheries career as a judicial law clerk for the late federal maritime Judge, the Honorable William T. Beeks, U. S. District Judge for the Western District of Washington, in 1984. During his tenure, several maritime and fishing industry related cases came before Judge Beeks.

After receiving his Masters of Law (LLM) in Admiralty Law from Tulane University in 1985, Bill joined a small law firm in Fort Lauderdale, representing the burgeoning swordfish fishery in the Atlantic and Caribbean and local maritime clients.

In 1987, Bill joined the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as an attorney advisor. As an attorney with NOAA, Bill prosecuted fisheries violations in federal waters, marine mammals regulations and marine sanctuary violations. In 1988 through 1990, there were several large vessels that ran aground in the marine sanctuaries in the Florida Keys. Bill was instrumental in the prosecution and arrest of several of these vessels.

From 1991 through 1993, Bill worked in New Zealand and Australia for their respective fisheries agencies by providing fisheries management advice to the applicable management branches and boards. Bill was involved in the legislative drafting of individual transferable quota (ITQ) legislation. In addition, Bill assisted in the prosecution of several large scale ITQ fraud cases in both countries.

From 1993 to present, Bill has attended fisheries conferences throughout the world, published fisheries articles and has joined a fisheries management consultancy firm that provides risk management advice to the fishing industry and legislative drafting assistance to government agencies throughout the world.

The firm offers their expertise in the defense of United States fisheries violations and in representing the fishing industry's interests against state and federal governments. The firm is affiliated with several fisheries attorneys throughout the world and can recommend such offices for overseas matters involved with documenting vessels and fishing in foreign waters.

Florida is a high growth state. As a result, people from other states and from abroad are often looking to purchase Florida corporations and businesses. The firm has substantial experience in the purchase and sale of Florida corporations and businesses. The purchase or sale of a business is an area that involves both the assistance of a competent lawyer as well as the assistance of a certified public accountant. Several of the issues involved in the purchase and sale of business have critical tax implications that must be address by an accountant.

Bill has experience incorporating Florida and other corporations. Bill can arrange for corporations to be filed in other states and countries.