Recent News:
Chambers Global has recognized six Cozen O’Connor attorneys: Susan Eisenberg, Geoffrey Ferrer, Shane Hardy, Michael Osborne, Joseph Tilson, and Steven Weisz as worldwide leaders in their respective practices.
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Geoffrey serves as the office managing partner of the New York office and is vice chair of the firm's Transportation & Trade Practice. He focuses on U.S. and non-U.S. flag shipping matters, and all aspects of asset-based lending, including ship and aircraft finance and equipment leasing. He routinely advises vessel owners and operators, as well as financial institutions in connection with U.S., Marshall Island, Liberian and Vanuatu maritime and corporate laws. He also provides maritime advice in connection with shipping related mergers and acquisitions, as well as securities offerings. In addition, he represents clients in maritime lien and mortgage enforcement actions, as well as in marine casualty and general commercial disputes. He has been recognized by Chambers and Partners USA in Nationwide Transportation: Shipping/Maritime Finance from 2014-2024, Chambers Global from 2019-2024, and Chambers Asia-Pacific from 2021-2024.
In 1978, Geoffrey received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Oklahoma. He earned his law degree in 1981 from Columbia University.
He is the author of the "Judicial Sales of Vessels and Priority of Claims - United States," chapter in the Maritime Law Handbook, published by Wolters Kluwer in 1994 and updated in 2013, 2017 and 2022.
Geof is incredibly knowledgeable, thorough and efficient.
News
September 16, 2024
Cozen O’Connor today announced veteran corporate restructuring professional Trevor Hoffmann has joined its Bankruptcy, Insolvency & Restructuring Practice in New York City.
July 10, 2024
The Legal 500 United States named Cozen O’Connor’s Aviation, Construction, Immigration, Insurance, Maritime, and Mergers & Acquisitions practices and Cozen O’Connor attorneys Scott Bettridge, Raymond DeLuca, Michael Deutsch, Geoffrey Ferrer, Bruce Ficken, Jonathon Foglia, David Heffernan, Matthew Howell, James Kwartnik, Robert Magovern, Jeffrey Mullen, Patrick Rizzi, Rachel Schwartz, Josh Stein, Jeff Vogel, and Rachel Welford to its 2024 Legal Guide.
June 10, 2024
Chambers USA rankings are based on an “assessment of a firm’s work and opinions from external market sources, with an emphasis on client feedback.” In order to be ranked in the guide, lawyers and firms must demonstrate “sustained excellence.”
March 05, 2024
Geoffrey Ferrer, Shane Hardy, Michael Osborne, and Steven Weisz were recognized in their practice areas based on their legal knowledge and experience, ability, effectiveness, and client service.
July 10, 2023
Cozen O'Connor's Aviation (Litigation/Regulation), Construction, L&E, M&A (Midmarket), Shipping (Finance and Litigation/Regulation) practices were ranked by the Legal 500.
June 05, 2023
Of the 88 lawyers ranked, 17 lawyers have been recognized nationally, and eighteen were recognized in Band 1. Eight of the firm's practice areas have been recognized nationally, and nine were ranked Band 1.
February 22, 2023
Chambers Global has recognized six Cozen O’Connor attorneys: Susan Eisenberg (Miami – Labor & Employment), Geoffrey Ferrer (New York – Transportation & Trade), Shane Hardy (Toronto – Intellectual Property), Michael Osborne (Toronto – Antitrust & Competition), Joseph Tilson (Chicago – Labor & Employment), and Steven Weisz (Toronto – Bankruptcy & Restructuring) as worldwide leaders in their respective practices.
December 27, 2022
Cozen O’Connor is pleased to announce that Geoffrey Ferrer, co-vice chair of the firm’s Transportation & Trade group, and a member of the Marshall Islands Bar, has been ranked in the Chambers Asia-Pacific 2023 Guide.
August 22, 2022
Geoffrey Ferrer, James Forsyth, J. Bruce Maffeo, Suzanne Mayes, Jason Shargel, and Anna Wermuth received the highest annual ratings from their peers.
July 11, 2022
For 30 years, The Legal 500 has assessed the strengths of law firms in more than 100 jurisdictions. The rankings use a series of criteria, including client feedback, submissions from law firms, and interviews with leading private practice lawyers.
June 02, 2022
Chambers USA, the leading annual guide to the top lawyers and law firms in the United States, has ranked 86 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields in the guide’s 2022 edition.
March 23, 2022
Cozen O’Connor is pleased to announce the following changes in firm leadership positions for the 2022 year.
February 17, 2022
Chambers Global has recognized four Cozen O’Connor attorneys: Susan Eisenberg (Miami – Labor & Employment), Geoffrey Ferrer (New York – Transportation & Trade), Shane Hardy (Toronto – Intellectual Property), and Joseph Tilson (Chicago – Labor & Employment), as worldwide leaders in their respective practices.
August 19, 2021
Best Lawyers selected 210 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 23 of the firm’s nationwide offices for inclusion in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.
June 17, 2021
The Legal 500 United States named Cozen O’Connor’s Aviation, Construction, Immigration, Insurance, and Maritime practices and Cozen O’Connor attorneys Scott Bettridge, Raymond DeLuca, Geoffrey Ferrer, Bruce Ficken, David Heffernan, Jeffrey Lawrence, Robert Magovern, Anne Mickey, Jeffrey Mullen, Josh Stein, Jeff Vogel, and Rachel Welford to its 2021 Legal Guide.
May 26, 2021
Chambers USA, the leading annual guide to the top lawyers and law firms in the United States, has ranked 82 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields in the guide’s 2021 edition; of those, 15 lawyers have been recognized nationally.
February 18, 2021
Chambers Global has recognized four Cozen O’ Connor attorneys, Susan Eisenberg (Miami – Labor & Employment), Geoffrey Ferrer (New York – Transportation & Trade), Thomas Giotto (Pittsburgh – Labor and Employment) and Joseph Tilson (Chicago – Labor & Employment), as worldwide leaders in their respective practices. All four attorneys are also ranked in the Chambers USA Guide.
February 16, 2021
Cozen O’Connor is pleased to announce the following changes in firm leadership positions for the 2021 year.
February 09, 2021
Move Consolidates Employees and Becomes the Firm’s Flagship Manhattan Office
January 27, 2021
Cozen O’Connor is pleased to announce that Geoffrey D. Ferrer, vice-chair of the firm’s Transportation & Trade group, and a member of the Marshall Islands bar has been ranked in the Chambers Asia-Pacific 2021 Guide.
August 20, 2020
Best Lawyers selected 200 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 23 of the firm’s nationwide offices for inclusion in the 2021 edition of The Best Lawyers in America© (Copyright 2020 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, SC).
June 22, 2020
The Legal 500 United States named Cozen O’Connor’s Aviation, Construction, Immigration, Insurance, and Maritime practices and Cozen O’Connor attorneys Scott Bettridge, Stephen Cozen, Raymond DeLuca, Geoffrey Ferrer, Bruce Ficken, David Heffernan, Jeffrey Lawrence, Robert Magovern, Anne Mickey, Jeffrey Mullen, Josh Stein, Christopher Sweeney, and Jeff Vogel to its 2020 Legal Guide.
May 14, 2020
Chambers USA, the leading annual guide to the top lawyers and law firms in the United States, has ranked 63 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields in the guide’s 2020 edition.
February 17, 2020
Chambers Global has recognized four Cozen O’ Connor attorneys, Susan Eisenberg (Miami – Labor & Employment), Geoffrey Ferrer (New York – Transportation & Trade), Thomas Giotto (Pittsburgh – Labor and Employment), and Joseph Tilson (Chicago – Labor & Employment), as worldwide leaders in their respective practices. All four attorneys are also ranked in the Chambers USA Guide.
Publications
September 23, 2021
Geoffrey Ferrer, Jeff Vogel, and Matt Howell discuss a recent Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) published by the U.S. Coast Guard
May 05, 2021
Geoffrey Ferrer, Christopher Raleigh, and Neil Quartaro discuss substitute custodians and the responsibilities of the arresting party.
April 28, 2021
Geoffrey Ferrer, Christopher Raleigh, Neil Quartaro, Eric Scherling, and Erik Schmidt discuss a recent victory for a client in connection with a debtor that was in severe financial distress.
September 24, 2020
Geoffrey Ferrer and Anne Mickey discuss steps mortgagees can take to avoid a foreclosed vessel being sold at a judicial auction for just 2 percent of the amount of the secured debt.
August 03, 2020
Geoff Ferrer and Anne Mickey discuss the Second Circuit's decision in Power Authority of the State of New York v. M/V ELLEN S. BOUCHARD, and the BARGE B No. 280, their engines, apparel, tackle, boats, appurtenances, etc., in rem, Bouchard Transportation Co., Inc., Motor Tug Ellen S. Bouchard, Inc., No. 280 Corp.
July 09, 2020
Geoffrey Ferrer and Anne Mickey discuss corporate registry updates for entities registered in the Marshall Islands and Liberia.
May 15, 2020
Geoffrey Ferrer and Anne Mickey discuss a newly adopted regulation in the Marshall Islands that officially sanction virtual shareholder meetings.
March 26, 2020
Geof Ferrer outlines changes made to the state of New York's notarization requirements.
March 25, 2020
Geoffrey Ferrer and Anne Mickey discuss vessel registries relaxing original document requirements and accommodating the acknowledgment process without the need for a face-to-face meeting.
March 24, 2020
Geoffrey Ferrer and Anne Mickey discuss the temporary modification to the mortgage recording and acknowledgments requirements set out in the Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Act.