ADMIRALTY FIRM BURLINGHAM, UNDERWOOD TO CLOSE
Burlingham Underwood, a well-known admiralty law firm in New York, will close Aug. 31.
Founded in 1858, the firm prospered under the guidance of Charles C. Burlingham and a partner, Eugene Underwood, especially known for its role in litigation that followed the sinkings of the “Titanic” and the “Andrea Doria.”
In the 1970s, Burlingham Underwood had 40 partners handling exclusively admiralty work. The firm maintained its own office in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, according to Kenneth H. Volk, a former partner.
In recent years, lean days set in as ship mortgage work moved to London and P&I clubs reduced the rates they would pay per hour for legal representation.
“This is a very sad passing of one of the great institutions in the admiralty community,” Volk said.