Vandeventer Black LLP partner, Edward J. Powers, has been elected Secretary of the Maritime Law Association of the United States (MLA). The MLA was founded in 1899 with the objectives of advancing reforms in the Maritime Law of the United States, facilitating justice in its administration, promoting uniformity in its enactment and interpretation, and furnishing a forum for the discussion and consideration of problems affecting the Maritime Law and its administration.
Vandeventer Black has a rich history with the MLA. The Firm’s partners have held positions on the Board of Directors for more than a century, including Floyd Hughes (1918-1923), Braden Vandeventer, Sr. (1935-1936); Hugh Meredith (1967-1970), Braden

Vandeventer, Jr. (1976-1979); Mort Clark (1984-1987), G. William Birkhead (1994-1997), Geoffrey F. Birkhead (1999-2002), John Ryan (2005-2008), and Mark Coberly (2017-2020).

“It is a great honor, and I thank my partners for allowing me the opportunity to continue my service with the MLA,” said Powers, who previously served as an officer and a member of the Association’s Board of Directors. The selection by his peers to become an officer in the preeminent MLA demonstrates his leadership and the respect he has earned among maritime attorneys nationwide.

In addition to the MLA, Ed is active in many other professional organizations, including the Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute, the Virginia Maritime Association, and the Fourth Circuit Judicial Conference. He also served as an associate editor for American Maritime Cases. Ed is a multiple recipient of Best Lawyers in America®, “Norfolk Lawyer of the Year” for Admiralty and Maritime Law. He is recognized by Virginia Business Magazine as a “Legal Elite” and by the International Who’s Who of Maritime Lawyers.

About Vandeventer Black LLP

Vandeventer Black LLP is a dynamic business and litigation law firm established in 1883 dedicated to responsiveness and results while delivering internationally recognized legal solutions. Headquartered in the commercial gateway of Norfolk, Virginia, its accomplished and diverse attorneys assist clients from offices located in Virginia, North Carolina, and Germany. For more information, visit VanBlackLaw.com.