J. Patrick Geraghty is the Firm’s Managing Partner. He concentrates in defense litigation with an emphasis on cases involving Admiralty Law, Commercial Transportation and Maritime Insurance. Patrick also has drafted and negotiated complex international commercial agreements and domestic contracts. He is admitted to practice law in State and Federal Courts of New York and New Jersey. He is a Proctor of Admiralty in the Maritime Law Association. He also is an Adjunct Professor teaching Admiralty Law at Seton Hall University School of Law and Rutgers University School of Law, Newark, New Jersey.

Patrick is currently obtaining an M.B.A. at the Executive M.B.A. Program at NYU Stern School of Businesss.  Patrick, who has done transactional work including the creation of a joint venture between and Norwegian shipbuilder and an American steel producer, plans to expand the firm’s transactional business.

Patrick has been an Associate at the Wall Street firms of Thacher, Proffitt & Wood and Kirlin, Campbell & Keating. He was employed as a lawyer for the international mutual protection & indemnity club Assuranceforeningen Skuld in Oslo, Norway. He was also a founding Partner of the Geraghty Law Firm and Geraghty Suarez, LLP, where he is the Managing Partner.

Patrick was a law clerk in the Appellate Division and Law Divisions of the Superior Court of New Jersey for the Honorable Martin J. Kole, J.A.D and the Honorable Benedict E. Lucchi, J.S.C. Patrick obtained a Juris Doctor degree from Seton Hall University, School of Law where he was selected for the Legislative Bureau Law Journal. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Boston College, with a major in English. He also has a Diploma in International Maritime Law from the University of Oslo in Norway and studied at Boston University’s intern program in London, England. During college, among other things, he worked as an Ordinary Seaman on ferries traversing the Long Island Sound, and played for the Boston College Rugby Team.

In 2010, Patrick authored the extensive law review article, Every Seafarer Has a Primary Duty That May Provide the Basis of a Defense in a Personal Injury Action, Journal of Law and Commerce; 29 J.L. & COM. 25 (Fall 2010).

Robert A. Suarez is a Partner specializing in the defense of maritime and multimodal cases. Robert represents ship owners and operators, terminal operators and classification societies in litigation, arbitration and appeals.

Robert received his B.A. from Rutgers College and his law degree from the Temple University School of Law in 1992 where he was a member of the Environmental and Technology Law Journal. He is a member of the Maritime Law Association. Bob is admitted to practice in the State and Federal Courts in New Jersey and New York.

Prior to joining the firm, Robert was an Associate at the Kirlin, Campbell & Keating and was a Partner at the Geraghty Law Firm. Bob also was an Assistant Prosecutor for Elizabeth County, New Jersey.

John R. Geraghty has extensive experience and his representation has resulted in over 40 published opinions. John represented the vessel owner in the noteworthy Klinghoffer v. Achille Lauro matter, where Palestinian terrorists hijacked a cruise ship in the Mediterranean taking over 100 people hostage and murdering passenger Leon Klinghoffer. In addition, John authored 2 Benedict on Admiralty, Chapter VII, Death Actions.

John received a B.A. at the University of Notre Dame, where he achieved a varsity letter in football. John also received an LL.B. at Fordham Law School, and an LL.M. at New York University Law School. He is admitted in the State Courts of New York, New Jersey and Florida and is also admitted in the United States Supreme Court and in numerous United States Courts of Appeal and United States District Courts.

Harold V. Higham specializes in Admiralty & Maritime Law with particular attention to cargo damage, general average, vessel damage, charter party matters including arbitration and FD&D, insurance defense with respect to personal injury, property damage and insurance coverage.

Harry earned a B.S. in Accounting from Fordham University School of Business and a J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law. He is admitted to practice before the courts of the State of New York, the United States District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and the United States Supreme Court.

Captain Justin E. Crawford brings to the group a deep and wide range of expertise in marine operations and the maritime industry generally. In addition to his duties at Geraghty Suarez, LLP., Justin serves as the President and CEO of Renaissance Shipping Agency, Inc., where he is responsible for handling husbandry, vessel planning, port captaincy and other marine operations needs of some of the largest container shipping companies in the world. He has sailed professionally on virtually every type of commercial vessel all around the world for companies such as Maersk-Sealand, American President Lines, Crowley, American Steamship Company, and SeaRiver Maritime (a subsidiary of ExxonMobil). In 2009 Justin was honorably discharged from the United States Naval Reserve after 13 years of service as an officer.

Justin earned a B.S. in Marine Transportation from the United States Merchant Marine Academy after being nominated to that institution by US Senator John McCain. He earned his J.D. from Rutgers School of Law – Newark, where he graduated Cum Laude and was inducted into the Order of the Coif. He is admitted in the State Courts of New York and New Jersey, and is also admitted in numerous United States District Courts.