GENERAL
GJT Marine Consultants LLC (“GJT Marine”) was founded in July 2018 by George Tsimis to provide maritime related risk management, claims consultancy, arbitration, mediation and dispute resolution services for vessel owners, charterers, insurance companies, service providers, and other entities and organizations worldwide.
With over 27 years of experience in the maritime industry as a practicing maritime lawyer, an in-house general counsel and global claims director, insurance executive and market liaison for an international marine insurance company, Mr. Tsimis has handled, overseen, managed and settled thousands of maritime, commercial and insurance claims matters involving US-based and international persons, entities and organizations with aggregate exposures in excess of a billion dollars. This unique experience provides GJT Marine’s clients with an invaluable resource providing innovative solutions and advice for the most complex maritime or commercial disputes, be they international or domestic.
GJT Marine works closely with its clients to identify and appreciate risks, to seek out viable and practical options that aim to minimize exposure, to provide advice for the development of best practices, procedures and other risk management protocols, and to propose potential solutions and strategies to manage and resolve a claim or dispute.
Whether the services sought fall under traditional consultancy or transcend into matters ripe for dispute resolution by way of arbitration or mediation depends on the facts and circumstances of each matter. While finding an appropriate resolution to a particular dispute can be a frustrating and difficult process, GJT Marine stands ready to accept these challenges, and to assist, listen to and work closely with its clients to achieve the most favorable and practical results in the context presented.
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
George Tsimis graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Tufts University in 1988, and subsequently earned a Juris Doctor degree from Fordham University School of Law in 1992 where he was the recipient of the Moore-McCormack Award for excellence in admiralty law. Between 1992 and 2002, George practiced all aspects of maritime law, primarily as an associate at the firm of Chalos & Brown, P.C. Most notably, George was part of the legal defense team for Captain Joseph Hazelwood in connection with the EXXON VALDEZ oil spill litigation before the State and Federal Courts of Alaska. He also handled all aspects of maritime claims, including cargo, collision, pollution, marine insurance, personal injury, charter party and commercial disputes for clients worldwide.
In March 2002, George moved in-house and joined Shipowners Claims Bureau, Inc. (“SCB”), the Manager of the American Steamship Owners Mutual Protection and Indemnity Association, Inc. (“the American Club”), as Manager of the Freight Demurrage & Defense Department. In May 2005, he became Managing Director of Shipowners Claims Bureau (Hellas) Inc. and moved with his family to Athens, Greece to open up and manage the American Club’s new claims liaison office in Piraeus where his responsibilities included claims handling and market liaison.
George Tsimis
Director
In October 2007, George was appointed Global Claims Director to manage SCB’s worldwide claims function, returning from Greece to headquarters in New York in the summer of 2008. George held this position at SCB for the next 11 years and oversaw SCB’s claims team worldwide totaling 40 people manning offices in New York, Houston, London, Piraeus and Shanghai. During that period, George also served as General Counsel for SCB where he was involved in various domestic and international legal matters and issues including coverage disputes, vessel arrest and debt collection, toxic tort claims, contract review, international sanctions regulations (compliance and policy), as well as international conventions regarding marine pollution and the environment, salvage, wreck removal, and maritime labor. During his tenure with SCB, George also participated in and sat on various subcommittees of the International Group of P&I Clubs on maritime claims, sanctions, piracy and maritime security.
In July 2018, George left SCB and thereafter founded GJT Marine Consultants LLC to provide maritime related risk management, claims consultancy, arbitration, mediation and dispute resolution services for vessel owners, charterers, insurance companies and other entities and organizations worldwide.
George is a member of the Society of Maritime Arbitrators in New York. He is also a member of the New York and Connecticut State Bars, as well the U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, and the U.S. Courts of Appeal for the Second and the Ninth Circuits. Additionally, he is a Member of the Maritime Law Association of the United States, the New York State Bar Association, and the Hellenic-American Chamber of Commerce.
He has also spoken at numerous seminars and shipping industry events held in New York, Stamford, Houston, New Orleans, Orlando, Miami, London, Istanbul, Dubai, Shanghai, Tianjin, Hong Kong, and elsewhere on various claims related and loss prevention topics, as well as economic sanctions and compliance issues.
George is fluent in English and Greek and has a working knowledge of Italian and French.
George is also one of three founding partners of a youth flag football program in Manhasset, NY which provides sports and recreational activities each year for over 850 boys and girls between the ages of 4 and 17 years old.