Mobile, AL. Congratulations to Ben Segarra for being named chair of the MLA Salvage Committee! The MLA Salvage Committee is a standing committee of the Maritime Law Association and is perhaps unique among all MLA committees in the richness of industry involvement at its meetings. The Salvage Committee produces critical maritime scholarship and education to both lawyers and industry members alike, from topics ranging from the age-old tow v. tug distinction to commercial salvage and treasure salvage, and as each year presents new opportunities for discussion, the Salvage Committee lights the way.

Ben Segarra, Senior Maritime Associate in the firm’s Mobile office, is the new chair the Committee. As Chair, Ben is responsible for organizing the Committee’s meetings and encourages speakers and panelists for the Committee’s two meetings each year, at the Spring Meeting of the MLA in New York, and the MLA’s Fall Meeting, the location of which changes each year. Ben also liaises with the Association’s other committee chairs to develop inter-disciplinary scholarship and critical discussion regarding topics affecting the nation’s mariners from a unique perspective.

Ben is the Senior Maritime Associate at Maynard & Gale, P.C. His love for the water manifests in the work he does for clients, and his extensive admiralty experience includes handling matters ranging across nearly the entire maritime spectrum, defending claims under the Jones Act, OPA 90, APPS, and the general maritime law.

Ben is assisted in his tasks by Twain Braden of Thompson Bowie in Portland, Maine. Twain's practice focuses on maritime and admiralty litigation including, vessel collisions, Jones Act coverage, salvage, charter disputes, maritime liens, and insurance coverage. Twain's clients appreciate the decades of personal experience Twain has on the water when evaluating the most complex of maritime issues. In addition, Twain's partnership with local maritime businesses enhances legal compliance today to build effective long-term strategies for tomorrow.

Lindsey Malen-Habib is the Committee’s new Secretary, continuing the Committee’s trend of including a valuable member of its non-lawyer ranks as one of its officers. Lindsey’s presentations regarding the COSTA CONCORDIA were among the Committee’s most discussed, and her blend of probative operational facts and relations of the human element behind the account has been a trademark of her stellar works in the time since. Lindsey’s duties include formulating the Committee’s meeting agendas, arranging speakers, and identifying nationwide cases for which an amicus curiae brief may be indicated.