Robert J. Zapf, Special Counsel
Duane Morris LLP
Suite 4600
633 West Fifth Street
Los Angeles, CA 90071-2065 USA
Phone: 213.689.7475
Fax: 213.403.6318
Email:
Robert J. Zapf practices in the area of litigation (with a concentration in insurance coverage, commercial, admiralty and maritime matters) and as a mediator in commercial matters. He is admitted to practice in the State and Federal Courts in California, New York, and New Jersey and is a member of the Litigation and International Law Sections of the American Bar Association, of The American Law Institute, and of The Maritime Law Association of the United States. He is a 1975 graduate of Boston College Law School and a 1972 magna cum laude graduate of Boston College. He has thirty hours of training in mediation skills from Los Angeles County Bar Association Dispute Resolution Services, Inc., and an additional eighteen hours in Advanced Mediation Skills and Techniques from the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, Pepperdine Law School. He has served as a mediator in dozens of cases, with a concentration in commercial, and admiralty and maritime disputes.
Professional Activities
· Mediator
- Los Angeles County Superior Court Attorney Settlement Panel,
2002 – June 2008
- United States District Court for the Central District of California Attorney Settlement Panel, 2002 – June 2008
- Private Mediations, 2003 - present
· American Bar Association
- Member, Litigation Section, International Law Section
· The Maritime Law Association of the United States
- Chair, Practice and Procedure Committee, 1995-2000
- Chair, Subcommittee on Federal Rules and Statutes, 2001-present
- Member, Board of Directors, 2000-2004
· Member, The American Law Institute
- Member, Members Consultative Group re “The Principles of the Law of Liability Insurance”
· Member, Joint Intergovernmental Group of Experts on Maritime Liens and Mortgages and Related Subjects, 1996-1999
· Advisor, U.S. Delegation to the Diplomatic Conference to Consider and Adopt the "International Convention on the Arrest of Ships, 1999," Geneva, Switzerland
· Delegate, The Maritime Law Association of the United States to The Comité Maritime International Centenary Meeting, Antwerp, June 1997
· Member, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York Committee on Civil Litigation/Advisory Group, 1995 - 1996.
· Member, Joint Task Force of the United States District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York Civil Rules Revisions, 1995 - 1996.
Admissions
· New York
· New Jersey
· California
· U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
· U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
· U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
· U.S. District Courts for the Central, Northern, Eastern, and Southern Districts of California
· U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western Districts of New York
· U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
· U.S. Court of International Trade
Education
· Boston College Law School, J.D., 1975
· Boston College, B.A., 1972 (magna cum laude)
Experience
· Duane Morris LLP
- Special Counsel, 2005-present
· Coudert Brothers LLP
- Partner, 2000-2005
· Hancock Rothert & Bunshoft LLP
- Partner, 1997-2000
· Lane Powell Spears Lubersky LLP
- Partner, 1996-1997
· Burlingham Underwood LLP
- Partner, 1981-1996
- Associate, 1975-1981
Selected Publications
· Co-author, Moore's Federal Practice, Vol. 29, Admiralty Practice,
1996 – present
· Managing Editor, Benedict's Maritime Bulletin, January 2013 - present
· Editor “Recent Developments”/Contributing Author, Benedict's Maritime Bulletin, October, 2002 – January 2013
· "The Growth of the Pennsylvania Rule: A Study in Causation in Maritime Law" 7 Journal of Maritime Law and Commerce 521, 1976
· "Actions In Rem and In Personam: Liens of Charterer, Owner and Shipper," Lloyd's of London Press Seminar, New York, New York 1983
· "Arrest Procedures in Connection With Claims for Supply of Necessaries and Disputes Over Title to Cargo," American Petroleum Credit Association Trade Meeting, Tarpon Springs, FL 1985
· "The Decision to Arbitrate or Litigate: What to Consider - How to Implement It," Baltic & International Maritime Council Lecture Series "Towards Better Decisions", Sao Paulo, Brazil, April, 1995
· "Arrest and Attachment - An Overview," Lorman Business Center, Inc. Lecture Series, Long Beach, CA, February 5, 1998
· "In Rem Procedures: A Sea Change Underway - Recent and Proposed Changes to the Admiralty Rules," University of San Francisco Maritime Law Journal, Vol. 15, No. 1, p. 77, 2002-03
· "Proposed Rule G: An Amendment to the Supplemental Rules," Benedict's Maritime Bulletin, Vol. 2, No. 4, p. 337, Fourth Quarter 2004
· "Appurtenances - What Are They And Are Fishing Permits Among Them," Tulane Admiralty Law Institute, New Orleans, Louisiana, March 16, 2005
Selected Speaking Engagements
· Panelist, Tulane Admiralty Law Institute, "Maritime Rights in Proceedings Against Property: Ships; Cargo; In Personam and In Rem Rights and Liabilities; Limitation of Liability and Vessel Financing and Liens," New Orleans, Louisiana, March 16, 2005
· Speaker, University of Southern California Law School, "International Business Transactions - FOB/CIF Contracts of Sale and Bills of Lading," September 8, 2003
· Speaker, Lorman Business Conference Seminar on the "Arrest of Ships," Long Beach California, February 2, 1998
· Speaker, Baltic & International Maritime Council Lecture Series "Towards Better Decisions," Sao Paulo, Brazil, April, 1995
· Speaker, American Petroleum Credit Association Trade Meeting, Tarpon Springs, FL 1985.
· Lloyd's of London Press Seminar, New York, New York 1983