Charles E. Schmidt

Charlie’s principal area of focus and interest is advice and representation in insurance matters. Such assignments have included:

• Coverage interpretation and litigation concerning policies on
  • Marine cargo
  • Hull
  • Legal liability
• Other marine and non-marine insurance policies
• Drafting and reviewing policy wordings and endorsements
• Subrogation

His additional areas of practice in the transportation field are:

• Advising clients concerning General Average matters
• Defense of air carriers and air freight forwarders at trial and appellate levels

Charlie has also counseled clients concerning the potential impact of regulations of the Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) on underwriting, claims and subrogation.

He has spoken before a number of industry groups and insurance company seminars on OFAC issues, subrogation questions, insurance coverage topics and issues arising under the Warsaw Convention treaty system. He was also a guest lecturer at the Admiralty Law course at the College of Insurance.

During his college years, Charlie sailed in various capacities on break-bulk and container vessels. During law school, he began his professional career as a clerk and later an Associate with a Firm specializing in P&I defense work, where he spent 11 years. He defended cargo claims, Jones Act and longshore personal injury actions, and had experience in collision and general average matters.

Charlie actively participates in the work of the Maritime Law Association of the U.S. Since 1997, he has served on various committees responsible for the planning and arrangements for the Association’s semiannual meetings and presently is Chair, Special Committee for Meetings and Events. He lives in Manhattan and has two sons.

Admitted to the bar: 1976, New York. Admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Second, Sixth and Ninth Circuits and the U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. Education: Boston College (A.B. cum laude, 1972); Fordham University (J.D. 1975). Member: Maritime Law Association of the United States, Association of Average Adjusters of the United States.

Charlie has received a Martindale-Hubbell rating of AV® Preeminent™. AV® Preeminent ™ and BV® Distinguished™ are certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Information about the Martindale-Hubbell ratings process can be found here.

Charlie is included in this year’s New York – Metro Super Lawyers® list.