Forwarders that handle air and ocean cargo face a daunting set of legal hurdles at every turn. Scopelitis’ Air and Ocean Logistics Practice helps clients navigate this often-uncertain legal environment by charting a course to success aligned with each business’s unique objectives.

With respect to air cargo, our attorneys help clients with start-up, licensing, and compliance, including:

• TSA as an Indirect Air Carrier or Certified Cargo Screening Facility
• CNS as an Endorsed Cargo Agent and Authorized Intermediary
• DOT as a Foreign Air Freight Forwarder
• FAA as a business handling hazardous materials/dangerous goods

Scopelitis also has extensive experience with inspections and enforcement actions brought by TSA, the FAA, and other regulators. Our attorneys regularly defended federal enforcement cases involving air-cargo violations, including TSA cargo-screening violations with potential civil penalties totaling nine figures. We pursue a collaborative approach with the client’s compliance team, working to identify the alleged violation’s root cause and implementing corrective actions that will win the support of the regulators.

Concerning ocean cargo, Scopelitis can assist with Federal Maritime Commission Licensing, including:

• FMC compliance, including understanding rules regarding tariff, NVOCC Service Arrangement and Negotiate Rate Agreements
• FMC compliance related to Ocean Freight Forwarder regulations

Contracts for air and ocean transportation are difficult to “get right” because transactions may involve foreign countries and multiple modes of transportation with different rules and industry practices. Scopelitis attorneys have experience drafting and negotiating relevant contracts including:

• Air waybill, ocean bills of lading and power of attorney terms and conditions
  • Drafting and Negotiating Customer agreements
• Air charter agreements
• Agency agreements

Lastly, disputes are an unfortunate part of conducting business, especially for forwarders who may find themselves “stuck in the middle” of disputes between shippers and carriers.  Scopelitis attorneys have experience addressing any number of commercial disputes involving air and ocean transportation including:

• Prosecuting and defending cargo loss and damage claims
• Freight charge disputes
• Navigating forwarder obligations related to a seller’s order to stop delivery in transit
• Lien enforcement
• Detention and demurrage disputes

If your business is engaged in an air or ocean forwarding, or if you are considering entering that space, let Scopelitis put its experience to work for you.