In November 2018, GKG Law, on behalf of the American Fuels & Petrochemical Manufacturers Association (AFPMA) and the International Liquid Terminals Association (ILTA), submitted an amicus brief to the United States Supreme Court on petition for a writ of certiorari. AFPMA and ILTA have members who are stakeholders in the maritime transportation, storage and oil […]
Also published on the National Aircraft Finance Association's website at www.nafa.org. In August 2018, GKG Law reported on the risks posed by service providers filing liens on aircraft for amounts owed for storage, repairs, maintenance or other services relating to an aircraft. In that article, we noted precautionary measures that can be taken to minimize the […]
In the age of internet banking, hackers accessing online banking accounts is a widespread problem. One common fraud scheme involves obtaining a business’s bank account login information and then replacing intended beneficiary account numbers with account numbers belonging to the hacker or his or her accomplice. The account numbers could be swapped on scheduled outgoing […]
GKG Law frequently represents aircraft owners in contesting the validity of notices of liens filed with the FAA relating to their aircraft. Many aircraft owners face issues relating to FAA lien filings that create a “cloud” on the title to their aircraft. Often, such a cloud arises when vendors that have provided services relating to […]
The District of Columbia Office of Tax and Revenue (“OTR”) has become aggressive in challenging Taxpayer’s self-determinations that they are Qualified High Technology Companies (“QHTCs”) and thus exempt from the District of Columbia’s corporate franchise tax. GKG Law recently represented a Taxpayer who received a Notice of Proposed Assessment of Tax Deficiency (“Proposed Assessment”) against […]
GKG Law, P.C. recently successfully represented a non-vessel operating common carrier (NVOCC) in litigation in which the NVOCC's customer requested that another shipper be identified on the NVOCC's bills of lading while the goods were in transit. Subsequently, when the goods arrived at their destination and were unable to clear Customs because the goods were […]
In a case handled by GKG Law, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit recently held that contracts extending a non-vessel operating common carrier's (NVOCC's) common law maritime liens are enforceable as written. The decision is a major victory for NVOCCs and reinforces the benefit to carriers of utilizing expansive lien language […]
Carriers continue to pursue demurrage and detention claims against shippers and NVOCCs. Indeed, it appears that many carriers view demurrage and detention claims as profit centers in an otherwise difficult ocean transportation environment. In such an environment, it is important for NVOCCs to recognize that there are a variety of defenses against such potentially catastrophic […]
Recently one of our trade association clients learned that bankruptcies can be painful for creditors, sometime even years after the debtor files for bankruptcy. Our client only discovered that a judgment in excess of $86,000 had been entered against it as a result of a preference action (a suit by a debtor or its trustee […]
Carriers have recently escalated their efforts to recover demurrage claims against shippers and non‐vessel operating common carriers (NVOCCs). This places NVOCCs in a very difficult position as often NVOCCs are not able to prevent such demurrage and detention charges from continuing to accrue. For example, if Customs officials in China, India or elsewhere hold cargo for extended […]