Member

Personal Narrative

Jeremy joined Nicoll Black & Feig in 2011.  His practice focuses primarily on admiralty and maritime litigation, including claims arising from vessel casualties, cargo damage or loss, marine pollution, and personal injury.  Jeremy’s practice places a particular emphasis on matters involving the unique maritime remedies of arrest, attachment, and limitation of liability.  Jeremy also advises clients on contractual matters including charter parties, service contracts, and contracts of carriage.

Prior to joining the firm, Jeremy spent many years working as a commercial fisherman in Alaska’s groundfish and crab fisheries, with the bulk of his time spent aboard shore-based catcher vessels in the Bering Sea pollock fleet.  Due to his extensive sea-going experience, Jeremy is regularly involved in matters requiring shipboard investigations.

Jeremy graduated magna cum laude from the Tulane University Law School, and was awarded membership in the Order of the Coif.  In recognition of his scholarship focusing on the enforceability of forum selection clauses in seamen’s employment contracts, Jeremy received the Robert E. Friedman Award, awarded annually on the nomination of a committee to the student submitting the best comment appearing in the current volume of the Tulane Law Review.

Jeremy is active in the Marine Insurance Association of Seattle, where he chairs the committee responsible for putting on the organization’s annual education seminar.

When not practicing law, Jeremy enjoys spending time outdoors trail running, backpacking, and backcountry skiing.

Education

Tulane University Law School, J.D., magna cum laude, 2011
The Evergreen State College, B.A., 2008

Professional Experience

Commercial Fisherman, Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska, 1996-2008
Associate, Nicoll Black & Feig, 2011-present

Associations

Marine Insurance Association of Seattle

Bar Memberships

State of Alaska
District of Alaska
Washington State
Western District of Washington 
Eastern District of Washington
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

Representative Matters

Teras Chartering LLC v. Hyupjin Shipping Co., Ltd., 2:16-cv-00188-RSM (W.D. Wash. 2018): Successfully defended an international freight forwarder from demurrage claims in excess of $700,000, ultimately obtaining a directed verdict at trial in federal court. All claims were resolved in the international freight forwarder’s favor, and no demurrage was owed.

United States of America v. Angelakos (Hellas) S.A., CR16-0062-JCC (W.D. Wash. 2016): Assisted as local counsel defending a foreign shipowner facing criminal prosecution for violation of the Act to Prevent Pollution From Ships and related marine pollution charges. The matter was resolved through a jury trial in federal court.

Chun v. Selene Seattle LLC, 14-2-11646-2 (King County Superior Court 2015): Successfully defended a yacht manufacturer in a contract dispute. All claims were resolved in the yacht manufacturer’s favor following a bench trial.

Publications

Forum and Venue Selection Clauses in Seamen’s Employment Contracts: Can Contractual Stipulations Be Used To Defeat a Seaman’s Choice of Forum or Venue in a Jones Act Claim? 85 Tul. L. Rev. 519 (2010).

Christopher W. Nicoll & Jeremy Jones, Seaman’s Punitive Damages Claims Cheat Death: Exxon Shipping Co. v. Baker and Atlantic Sounding Co. v. Townsend, Benedict’s Maritime Bulletin Vol. 9, No. 4 (2011).

Presentations

Limitation of Liability: Powerful Tool for the Modern Shipowner, Marine Insurance Association of Seattle, April 2014.