Eugene J. O’Connor

• New York

• Acted as counsel for the responsible party in numerous oil pollution incidents, including many of the largest OPA ’90 cases, such as: GENMAR PROGRESS (2007) in Puerto Rico; the ATHOS I (2004) in Philadelphia; ANTHEA Y (2003) in New York; the DREDGE STUYVESANT (1999) in California; the ANITRA (1997) in New Jersey; the NORTH CAPE (1996) in Rhode Island; and the B-155 (1993) in Tampa Bay; also claims by responsible parties to the National Pollution Fund Center
• Served as counsel on serious coral damage cases in Puerto Rico, Florida, Hawaii and U.S. Pacific Territories, including the MELL SENTOSA in Micronesia (2011); the PORT STEWART (2009), the MATTHEW (2009), the MARGARA (2006), and the FORTUNA REEFER (1997) in Puerto Rico; the ATC 350 (1998) in Florida; and the VOGETRADER (2010) and CAPE FLATTERY (2005) in Hawaii
• Acted as counsel in a number of major marine casualties, including the MSC FLAMINIA (explosion and fire in the Atlantic, 2012); the NEW DELHI EXPRESS (grounding in NY harbor, 2006); the RICKMERS GENOA (collision and fire, South China Sea, 2005); the ATHOS I (allision with abandoned anchor in Delaware River, 2004); the DSV MR. SONNY (anchor drag in L. I. Sound, 2002); the NEW CARISSA ( wreck on Oregon coast, 1999); the BRIGHT FIELD (allision in New Orleans, 1996); the RECIFE (fire in the Atlantic, 1991); and the DAMODAR TANABE (fire in the Pacific, 1985)

• Panelist, “Current Issues in US Casualty Investigations and Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) Expectations in the Post-‘Deep Water Horizon’ Environment,” MLA Marine Torts and Casualties Committee Spring Meeting, April 2015
• Presenter, “Multi-Modal Carrier Liability Limits Post-Kirby,” Ladner Gervais Annual Maritime Law Seminar, December 2008

• Mentioned, “Law360’s Weekly Verdict: Legal Lions & Lambs,” Law360, April 2020
• Co-Author, “$73M Judgment in Maritime Case Upheld by SCOTUS,” March 2020
• Mentioned, “Justices Won’t Let Citgo Off Hook For $133M Oil Spill,” Law360, March 2020
• Author, “Recent Verdict on Bunker Spill Case Brings Clarity to Third-Party Fault and Limitation of Liability Defense,” Ship & Bunker, December 2017
• Author, “The Saga of the Athos I Litigation Continues: Recent Decision on Safe Berth Warranty and Wharfinger’s Negligence,” The Charterers P&I Club Newsletter, January 2017
• Quoted, “US environment agency targets higher civil ECA fines,” TradeWinds, January 2015
• Quoted, “Deepwater Horizon ruling puts focus on prevention,” TradeWinds, September 2014
• Co-Author, “Stepped Up Enforcement in the North American ECA: August 2014 Update,” Legal Briefing, August 2014
• Co-Author, “Legal Implications of Coral Reef Damage in the United States,” Gard News, Issue No. 183, August/October 2006
• Co-Author, “The Fire Defenses Under U.S. Law,” Journal of Maritime Law and Commerce, January 2002

• Selected to The Best Lawyers in America© – Admiralty and Maritime Law list in 2022-2025. The Best Lawyers in America© list is issued by Best Lawyers and a description of the selection methodology can be found here. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey or the highest court of any other state.
• Selected to the Chambers USA, America’s Leading Business Lawyers Guide, Transportation: Shipping: Litigation list from 2021-2024. The award is issued by Chambers USA and a description of the selection methodology can be found here. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey or the highest court of any other state.

• Member, American Bar Association
• Member, Maritime Law Association of the United States
• Member, Connecticut Maritime Association
• Chair, Zoning and Appeals Board, Village of Plandome Heights

Law School

• Fordham University School of Law

Undergraduate School

• College of the Holy Cross