Clyde & Co has announced that Conte Cicala, a maritime attorney, has joined the firm as a partner in its market-leading maritime group. Cicala will be based in the firm's San Francisco office, further deepening and expanding the firm's shipping practice along the West Coast.
John Keough and John Woods, New York-based partners who lead the firm's maritime and energy practice in the US, said, "Conte is a well-respected litigator in the maritime bar and in the commercial marine industry in California. We are excited that he chose to join Clyde & Co. Conte will complement our growing national marine and energy practice, and his experience handling complex maritime and transportation cases will further strengthen our capability to serve marine and energy clients in the US and around the world."
Cicala's practice focuses on litigating transportation, commercial and insurance disputes and providing corporate and business legal advice to companies. He was lead trial counsel in a highly publicized dispute between a major ocean carrier and several NVOCCs, obtaining a multi-million dollar fraud judgment. He routinely represents P&I Club members and other companies in high-stakes litigation and investigations, in arbitration and in administrative hearings. He has represented a leading industry association before multiple agencies and venues on issues critical to the continued vibrancy of the West Coast ports. He has counseled maritime and transportation clients and non-marine lawyers during merger discussions, labor disputes and at other critical junctures. Cicala also served as an Army Reserve officer for 15 years, much of which was spent with various transportation and JAG units.
Cicala added, "Clyde & Co has the world's largest marine practice, which will allow me to serve clients on a global basis. Being able to offer that perspective to clients from talented lawyers who know the international legal and regulatory landscape was one of the most attractive propositions of joining the firm."
Bill Casey, managing partner of Clyde & Co's San Francisco office, said, "Clyde & Co has an outstanding reputation in shipping and energy and is committed to the expansion of our US maritime capability, and to the region generally. Conte's addition to our US presence demonstrates our commitment to growth by attracting the most respected and qualified practitioners into our practice."
This is the latest in a series of lateral partner hires for Clyde & Co US. Last year, maritime and environmental partner Joe Walsh and senior counsel Frances Keeler opened Clyde & Co's Newport Beach office. In April, aviation partner Jeffrey Ellis joined the New York office. In addition, corporate insurance partner Vikram Sidhu, specie insurance partner Owen Carragher, international arbitration partner Brian Dunning and insurance disputes partner Bob Mangino have all joined Clyde & Co's US offices over the last year.
