David H. SumpMember
David is a maritime lawyer who pairs frontline operational experience with regulatory fluency. Before private practice, he spent fourteen years as a commissioned officer and law specialist in the United States Coast Guard, rising to Lieutenant Commander. In that role he served as the Coast Guard and Department of Transportation liaison to Capitol Hill on the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, providing technical input on vessel design, operations and environmental response. Today, he advises across the full spectrum of admiralty, maritime and maritime pollution matters, from charter parties and Contracts of Affreightment to riparian rights, marine terminal operations and agency practice. Clients engage him for collisions and groundings, cargo and property damage claims, personal injury and wrongful death, and maritime construction disputes, as well as vessel purchases, sales, financing and foreclosures. David is acknowledged as one of the leading attorneys in marine pollution and riparian rights and is experienced in state and federal procurement/contract claims and protests.
At a pivotal moment for the industry, David served as the Coast Guard and Department of Transportation liaison to Capitol Hill for the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 and related bills, providing technical input regarding the legal and practical implications of various proposed legislation dealing with vessel construction, operations and environmental response.
For more than twenty years, David has advised marine terminals on the full scope of operations, resolving cargo disputes and safeguarding riparian rights that are vital to waterfront access. He drafts and interprets charter parties and Contracts of Affreightment.
David drafts and interprets charter parties and Contracts of Affreightment, as well as providing training sessions for client teams describing and interpreting the Contracts so the terms they sign perform as intended in practice.
David defends pollution claims, including actions brought by the United States under OPA 90 and third-party suits, coordinating technical experts to narrow exposure and position matters for resolution. He also represents clients before the Coast Guard, MARAD, U.S. Customs, and the Federal Maritime Commission.
Vessel owners rely on David to structure vessel purchases, sales, financing and foreclosures. David has represented national and local banking institutions in preparing and reviewing loan documents, security agreements, preferred ship mortgages, buy/sell agreements, etc. associated with vessel transactions.
David prosecutes and defends property damage, collision and grounding cases, as well as maritime personal injury and wrongful death claims as well as addressing issues involving maritime construction and marine contracts.
Recognized for his knowledge of riparian rights and marine pollution, David has held leadership roles with the National Navigation Safety Advisory Committee and the Maritime Law Association’s regulatory committee, and has taught maritime law at William & Mary Law School for over a decade as an adjunct professor.
Norfolk Office
