Hamilton, Miller & Birthisel provides counseling and litigation services to owners, operators, shippers, intermediaries, and carrier clients around the world. These services include all aspects necessary to comply with U.S. and international regulatory schemes related to motor, air, and ocean transportation law. We advise our clients daily on cargo loss and damage, demurrage, general average, general shipping claims, freight charges, contracts, tariffs, risk and loss management, warehousing, bailment, Customs duties and compliance, licensing, and insurance matters related to the business of moving goods.

We handle the defense of all catastrophic bodily injury and property damage claims, regulatory compliance issues, defense of cargo loss claims (i.e. under The Carmack Amendment and/or COGSA), tariff drafting and enforcement of tariffs.

We assist companies with transactions related to all aspects of their transportation business including charters, transportation contracts, bills of lading, tariffs, equipment leases and purchases. We negotiate trucking agreements and regularly advise our clients on regulatory compliance issues throughout the United States. We are general counsel to national trucking companies, marine towing companies, non-vessel operating common carriers, freight forwarders, brokers, ship owners and charterers, and terminal operators.

We represent clients before the Federal Maritime Commission, Department of Homeland Security (U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs, Immigration), Maritime Administration, and all entities related to surface transportation under the Department of Transportation. Our attorneys are admitted in every federal district court in Florida as well as a variety of other jurisdictions throughout the United States.