Overview
"John's excellent client service stems from his responsiveness and his clear and concise communication." –- Client Review, BTI Client Service All-Stars 2023
John Holloway has represented maritime clients for more than 35 years. He has successfully handled a wide range of maritime matters involving seaman and longshoreman injury and death, collisions, cargo damage, pollution, marine sanctuary incursions, breach of dredging and other construction contracts, government contract claims, coal explosions on ships, treasure salvage and more. He believes that you have to try cases to get decent settlements.
John’s clients include ship owners and charterers, P&I Clubs, tug and barge companies, terminals, dredging companies, cargo owners, foreign banks, hedge funds, treasure salvors, and others. He believes in the “OODA” loop theory of handling cases – “Observe, Orient, Decide, and Act,” an approach developed by John Boyd (Air Force pilot and military consultant) to describe effective military operations. The concepts apply well in litigation. The legal team with the fastest and most skilled execution of “the loop” will usually deliver the best outcome in the case. He has handled cases in state and federal courts and arbitrations in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, New York, Tennessee, and California.
Representative Matters
Personal Injury and Death. Handles numerous Jones Act, general maritime law, recreational boater, and LHWCA (905(b)) cases in state and federal courts. Several of these cases were tried, successfully. Recent examples (last five years):
Jury awarded plaintiff $7,500. Lowest settlement demand at trial was $750,000. Jury allocated 90% fault to plaintiff
Jury returned defense verdict in case in which plaintiff sought Jones Act/unseaworthiness damages and an award of attorney fees for alleged bad faith failure to pay maintenance and cure
In a case where the defendant, a dredging company, stipulated liability and offered a judgment of $360,000, jury returned a verdict of $305,000. Lowest settlement demand was about $1 million
Represented United States in a Jones Act bench trial in federal court. Judge awarded plaintiff $260,000. Lowest settlement demand was about $1 million. Court allocated 55% fault to plaintiff
Represented the United States in a Jones Act case in federal court where the plaintiff’s settlement demand exceeded $1 million. Court granted United States summary judgement.
Maritime Appeals. Represented defendants in numerous appeals. Most notably, won appeals in leading Jones Act/unseaworthiness cases in the Fourth Circuit and Supreme Court of Virginia. See Hernandez v. Trawler Vertie Mae, 187 F.3d 432 (4th Cir. 1999); Hale v. Maersk Line Ltd., 284 Va. 358 (2012).
Breach of Contract. Won over $1 million is AAA arbitration on claims of dredging contractor against its subcontractor on a Navy contract (2025). Handled and settled other breach of contract cases, including an action between tug companies arising from a breach of a waterfront lease, shipowner breach of contract claim against tank cleaning company, breach of dredging contracts, and breach of bond guaranties.
Maritime Breach of Warranty of Workmanlike Service. Stevedore loaded container barge in accordance with stowage plan prepared by barge owner. Stowage configuration (characterized by owners stow planner as “stupid”) cause the cargo containers to burn at sea. Court awarded owner 100% indemnity against stevedore because stowage plan was obviously improvident and a breach of warranty.
Marine Sanctuary Matter. Represented a shipowner charged with violations of the Marine Sanctuary Act after containers fell off ship in rough seas in the Pacific Ocean and at least one container came to rest in Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary. Case raised issues of coastal state authority under the Law of the Sea Convention. Matter was settled with the United States.
Oil Pollution. Ship accidentally pumped 750 barrels of oil into the Savannah River (fuel tank had been cracked in a tug collision). Settled with the United States, Georgia, and South Carolina without litigation. Handed several oily water separator matters.
Coal Explosions. Shipper misrepresented category of coal under the BC Code. Coal in hold #3 exploded off the coast of Africa, killing five and blowing the hatch cover into the ocean. Ship owner settled the death cases and in court case (affirmed by Fourth Circuit) recovered 100% indemnity from the cargo shipper for the settlement amounts and costs of repairing ship damage.
Transactional advice and Regulatory Matters. Has represented shipowner and NVOCCs in FMC enforcement proceedings under the OSRA 22. Assisted entities with cabotage (Jones Act) law compliance, including foreign banks financing U.S. fishing fleets, foreign hedge funds and other purchasers of U.S. companies seeking to purchase U.S. registered commercial vessels, and a shipyard seeking government approval of use of a foreign registered vessel for testing purposes. Drafted terminal tariffs, charters, towage contracts, and similar contracts.
Treasure Salvage. Represented a treasure salvage company in Key West and several investors in litigation against fraudulent treasure claims.
Semester at Sea Program. Represented a prestigious university in a dispute arising out of this program when the vessel encountered delays near Southeast Asia. Matter was settled.
Product Liability. Represented lashing gear manufacturer in product liability cases. Have also represented plaintiff vessel operators in product cases.
Collision and Wake Damage. Represented a tug/barge flotilla that collided with a Navy RIB at night in the James River. Have represented parties in numerous wake and pier allision cases.
Fishing Vessels. Have represented scallop trawlers in Jones Act/unseaworthiness litigation. Represented a bank foreclosing on preferred mortgages on squid trawlers in Massachusetts.
Recognition & Honors
Honors & Recognitions
Best Lawyers in America; Norfolk Admiralty and Maritime Law "Lawyer of the Year," 2025
Best Lawyers in America, 2007–2026
Top Lawyers; CoVaBIZ Magazine, 2024-2025
BTI Client Service All Stars, 2023
Best of the Best USA, Shipping and Maritime, 2021
Super Lawyers, 2007-2021, 2023-2025
Virginia Business, Legal Elite, 2014-2015, 2018
AV® Rated; Martindale-Hubbell
Law Clerk to Hon. Robert G. Doumar, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, 1987-1988
George Mason Law Review, Editor-in-Chief, 1987
Press & Publications
News
Community & Professional
Associations
Association of Average Adjusters of the United States and Canada
Maritime Law Association of the United States
Southeast Admiralty Law Institute
Fourth Circuit Judicial Conference
Propeller Club of Hampton Roads
Honorary Consul of Iceland, 2000-2017
Adjunct Professor of Admiralty Law, College of William & Mary, 2001-2014
Credentials
Education
Virginia Military Institute; B.A., 1981
George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School; J.D., 1987
Military Service
Captain; United States Marine Corps, 1981-1987
