Dave Boyajian is a former captain who speaks the same language as his maritime clients. He brings an in-depth understanding of the industry to bear on both maritime transactions and litigation. ‎Dave’s marine experience helps him know where to look for creative solutions to uniquely salty problems. His courtroom experience informs how he shapes maritime contracts, and vice versa.

Dave assists vessel owners, operators and insurers, naval architects, and shipyards and shipbuilders with the specialty ‎contracts that keep their businesses working. When things get sideways, he handles all aspects of claims investigation, management and resolution. Dave’s litigation and ‎arbitration practice involves maritime personal injury matters (Jones Act, Longshore and Harbor ‎Workers' Act, and maintenance and cure), collision and allision cases, cargo claims, vessel arrest ‎and attachment, various other marine insurance and commercial disputes in state and federal courts, and representation of mariners in USCG suspension and revocation proceedings.  ‎His transactional practice involves charters, bills of lading, tariffs, vessel design and vessel build, and other maritime contracts. ‎Dave also represents design professionals and contractors in both land-based and marine ‎construction disputes.

Dave is a former U.S. Coast Guard licensed Master of Sail, Power, and Assistance Tow vessels. Before attending law school, he captained vessels up and down the Eastern Seaboard and throughout the Caribbean. He holds a certificate of specialization* in maritime law from the ‎Tulane Admiralty Law Center, the nation’s preeminent admiralty program.‎ 

^{* ‎“The Supreme Court of Washington does not recognize certification of specialties in the practice of law ‎and that the certificate, award, or recognition is not a requirement to practice law in the state of ‎Washington.”‎}

Memberships

• Maritime Law Association of the United States, Proctor Member
• MLA Committee on Inland Waters and Towing, Secretary
• Maritime Commerce Club of the Columbia River, Past Board President and Member
• American Professional Captains Association, Member
• U.S. Sailing, Certified Instructor/Member
• Oregon State Bar Association Admiralty Section, Chair

Awards

• San Francisco magazine, Rising Star in Maritime Law (2010-2011)
• Super Lawyers magazine, Rising Star in Maritime Law (2010-2011)

News

Seminars & Speaking Engagements

"In the Wake of The ATHOS I – Safe Berth Warranties and Wharfinger Liabilities,” Washington Public Ports Association Annual Meeting
Tacoma, November 2016

"Recent Developments in Maritime Personal Injury Law – Ninth Circuit and Beyond,” Joint meeting of the Admiralty and Maritime Law Committee of the American Bar Association and the Admiralty Law Section of the Federal Bar Association
United State Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
San Francisco, August 2016

“Multi-jurisdictional Examination of the OW Bunkers Bankruptcy – International Bankruptcies and U.S. Maritime Law,” Panel Moderator, Maritime Law Association of the United States General Meeting
New York City, May 2016

“Reverse Subchapter M – Uninspected Inland Barges, OSHA Regulations, and Maritime Standards of Care,”  Maritime Law Association of the United States, Inland Waters and Towing Committee Meeting
New York City, May 2016

“Marijuana Legalization, Drug Testing and Maritime Employer Liability,” Maritime Commerce Club of the Columbia River
Portland, January 2016

“The High Seas: The Effects of Marijuana Legalization on Vessel Owner Liability,” Maritime Law Association of the United States, Inland Waters and Towing Committee Meeting
New York City, May 2015

Publications

YLS Pro Bono Spotlight, Multnomah Lawyer (page 13)
March 2015

Community Activities

• Merchants Exchange of Portland, Oregon Scholarship Fund, Board Vice-President
• A lifelong sailor, Dave has worked and volunteered as a sailing instructor and coach and has been involved with several community and adaptive sailing programs, including Shake-A-Leg Newport and the U.S. Blind Sailing Team.

Services