Member

Direct: (408) 419-1083
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Personal Narrative

Brad Pace is a partner in the San Francisco office. He has extensive experience handling admiralty and maritime litigation, as well as yacht sales and transactions, and is involved in all aspects of the process from intake to resolution. Brad’s background in the maritime industry as a ship captain, officer, engineer, and pilot, enables him to deeply understand the issues his clients face and provide them with solutions tailored to their situations.

Brad provides strategic counseling on a wide range of insurance matters, including marine insurance and reinsurance, insurance coverage, general liability and maritime transactional work. He represents domestic and international clients in maritime commercial disputes, terminal operations, personal injury, casualty, and cargo matters and advises clients regarding ownership, documentation and registration, chartering, charter parties and insurance. Brad also represents yacht owners in the purchase and sale of yachts, as well as other transactional work involving yachts.

Brad’s litigation practice is focused on the defense of vessel owners, container and bulk carrier ships, terminal and marina owners and operators, recreational boat insurers and underwriters, supply chain logistics providers, marine employers, insurance carriers, underwriters and protection and indemnity (P&I) clubs in both state and federal courts.

Prior to joining Kennedys, Brad was an assistant district attorney for the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office. During his tenure, his daily court appearances and frequent jury trials allowed him to further his litigation experience.

Brad is involved with several professional maritime associations, including the Maritime Law Association of the United States (MLA) and the Pacific Admiralty Seminar Steering Committee.

Brad holds a US Coast Guard Professional Mariner Master’s License with multiple endorsements. He also holds a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airplane Pilot’s License, with Seaplane and other ratings.

Languages

Spanish

Education

Tulane University Law School, J.D., Maritime Law Certificate

Southern Methodist University, B.A.

Professional Experience

Member, Severson & Werson, 2014

Member, Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP, 2015 – 2018

Assistant District Attorney, San Francisco District Attorney’s Office, 2019

Member, Kennedys Law, 2020 – 2025

Member, Nicoll Black Altenbrun & Feig, 2025 – Present

Associations and Honors

California Super Lawyer “Rising Stars”, 2022 – 2025

Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America: Insurance Law, 2021 – 2026, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, 2024 – 2026, and Transportation Law, 2026

Marine Underwriters of San Francisco

Maritime Law Association of the United States (MLA)

Pacific Admiralty Seminar Steering Committee

Bar Memberships

California State & Federal

Washington State & Federal

Hawaii

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit