Michael J. Frevola is a litigator specializing in the areas
of admiralty and commercial litigation. He has tried cases, argued motions and
briefed and argued appeals before federal and state courts. He has represented
clients in federal mediations and maritime and commercial arbitrations and has
conducted shipboard and overseas investigations in support of maritime
litigation and to perform owners' due diligence.
In the admiralty and
maritime field, Mr. Frevola focuses on Rule B maritime attachments and Rule C
arrests, lien priority and maritime bankruptcy disputes, charter party disputes,
seamen's wage and penalty wage disputes and collision litigation. In the context
of Rule B maritime attachments, Mr. Frevola has represented plaintiffs and
defendants in numerous proceedings involving both the attachment of electronic
funds transfers and other assets such as vessels, cargo, bunkers, bank accounts
and other property nationwide. He has been published and has spoken multiple
times internationally regarding Rule B maritime attachments. In the lien
priority/bankruptcy context, Mr. Frevola has represented lenders in several
significant bankruptcies or workouts, including the Millenium Seacarriers
bankruptcy adversary proceedings. In the charter party context, Mr. Frevola has
represented numerous tanker owners and bulker owners in disputes related to
claims concerning freight, deadfreight, demurrage, misdelivery, vessel
underperformance, unseaworthiness and other breaches of charter parties. In the
wage dispute context, Mr. Frevola has defended shipowners in crew wage class
actions.
In the commercial litigation and arbitration fields, Mr.
Frevola concentrates on real property foreclosures, predatory lending claims,
defense and judgment enforcement proceedings, commercial arbitrations concerning
claimed breaches of various sales or franchising agreements and issues
pertaining to First Amendment rights.
Prior to entering private
practice, Mr. Frevola served as an officer in the United States Navy from 1988
to 1992 aboard the USS Santa Barbara (AE 28). While aboard the Santa Barbara,
Mr. Frevola gained extensive experience in the areas of deck and cargo
operations, engineering, navigation, shiphandling, damage control and shipboard
helicopter operations. He participated in numerous naval evolutions and
exercises, including operations "Desert Shield" and "Desert Storm."
Mr. Frevola served as the managing editor of articles of the Hofstra Labor Law Journal while attending Hofstra University School of Law.