 | Rupert P. Hansen
P: 415.438.4600 x 203
|
Mr. Rupert P. Hansen is a founding partner of Cox, Wootton, Griffin, Hansen & Poulos LLP. Prior to joining Cox Wootton, Mr. Hansen was a partner with the international law firm of Graham & James, LLP in San Francisco.
Mr. Hansen represents a variety of business interests, including financial institutions, developers, entrepreneurs, energy interests, media companies, property owners, construction companies, manufacturers, and transportation concerns. He has experience as lead counsel in complex trials and appellate matters in both federal and state courts, as well as in international arbitration. Mr. Hansen also engages in transactional and finance work, and is regularly called upon to serve as a mediator and arbitrator within the areas of his expertise. He is regularly retained by large law firms to assist them and their clients in transactions that have complicated components of maritime finance or shipping regulation. Mr. Hansen has also testified as an expert witness in marine insurance matters.
Mr. Hansen has been practicing law for nearly thirty years. He is "A.V." rated with the Martindale-Hubbell national attorneys' listing, and has been perennially named one of Northern California's Super Lawyers by San Francisco Magazine and Northern California Super Lawyers(TM) Magazine . The honor is awarded to those lawyers who are deemed to be among the top five percent of Northern California attorneys, based on input by their peers and independent research conducted by Law & Politics. Mr. Hansen is also listed in Best Lawyers in America, and was recognized in 2009 as one of the Best Lawyers in the Bay Area by the San Francisco Business Times.
Area of Practice
- Business, Environmental, Maritime, Construction, Finance, Real Estate, Transportation, Law and Litigation
- Mediator and Arbitrator
Education
- B.G.S., University of Michigan (1975)
- J.D., California Western School of Law (1978)
- LL.M., University of London (University & King's Colleges) London (1982)
- LL.M. in Admiralty, Tulane University, with Distinction (1982)
Honors
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011)
- Named a Northern California Super Lawyer (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010)
- Named one of the Best Lawyers in the Bay Area (2009)
- "AV" Rated by Martindale-Hubble
- Rated "10/10 Supurb" by www.avvo.com
Admitted
- State of California (1978)
- U.S. Supreme Court
- Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal
- All Federal District Courts in California
- Pro Hac Vice Admissions:
- United States District Court for the District of Alaska
- United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
- United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia
- United States District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands
Affiliations
- American Bar Association
- Member, Environment, Energy, and Resources Section
- Member, Business Law Section
- Member, Litigation Section
- Member, Torts and Insurance Practice Committee ( Past Chair of Subcommittee on Admiralty and Maritime Law)
- San Francisco Bar Association
- Member, Environmental Law Section
- Member, Admiralty Committee (Past Chair)
- Marin County Bar Association
- Real Property Section
- Business Law Section
- Maritime Law Association of the U.S. (Proctor Member)
- University of San Francisco Maritime Law Journal (Executive Committee Member and Permanent Advisory Board Member)
- Pacific Admiralty Law Seminar (Past Chair)
Academic
- University of San Francisco Law School - Adjunct Professor of Law (1989 - 2003)
Representative Environmental Matters
- Lead counsel for a construction interest in a $70 million construction and environmental litigation involving a 288-acre Mega-Terminal.
- Lead counsel for a financial institution in complex litigation involving a groundwater contamination site at one of Silicon Valley’s first chip manufacturing sites.
- Lead counsel for a construction interest in an environmental litigation involving construction of a 31-story office building and contaminated soils.
- Lead counsel for a major developer in litigation involving groundwater contamination of a shopping center caused by a major oil company.
- Headed transactional due diligence team investigating environmental conditions at 326 storage sites worldwide and over 100 solvent litigation matters in connection with a client’s acquisition of a major chemical storage and supply company.
- Lead counsel for owner of land in environmental regulatory proceedings and in cost recovery for contamination caused by boat repair yard tenant
- Lead counsel for developer to enforce environmental indemnity agreement against former owner of solvent contaminated site.
- Represented a financial institution in 10-year groundwater regulatory proceedings involving multi-million dollar clean-up of TCE solvent contamination and successfully obtained no further action resolution from regulators.
- Represented banking institution in environmental indemnity case against chemical company.
- Regularly advise developers and property owners regarding environmental issues related to real estate sales and acquisitions.
Representative Real Estate Litigation
- Represented major developer in inverse condemnation case affecting 1,000-acre residential development.
- Successfully obtained an award in arbitration granting contract recission, deposit refund, interest and recovery of attorneys fees and costs, for a residential purchaser in a non-disclosure action against a seller of a multi-million dollar million residence.
- Represented 105 clients in a matter involving implied dedication right of way – achieved settlement that preserved historic public access rights to open space.
Representative Business Litigation
- Represented former baseball team owners in contract dispute over team’s sale.
- Achieved $1.5 million settlement for outdoor advertising company client in revenue dispute between two Southern California outdoor advertising companies.
- Obtained defense verdict for client following 8-month trial in state court with California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement regarding employer client’s alleged Labor Code violations.
- Represented major shipbuilder in all its U.S.-based litigation.
- Litigation and arbitration of all manner of maritime interests in admiralty and maritime disputes.
- Representation of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in litigation.
Representative Transactions
- Represented secured creditor banking institution in $60 million debt restructuring of credit facilities to major marine operator.
- Lead counsel in over $1 billion of ship sale and financing transactions over a 30-year period.
- Represent owners with regard to the acquisition, purchase, construction, sale, lawful avoidance of sales and use taxes, and international registry of superyachts and megayachts.
- Representation of multi-billion dollar privately held company with regard to its development of marine terminals and a new shipping line.
- Represented bareboat charterer with option to purchase $68 million all first-class cruise vessel.
- Represent owners with regard to the acquisition, purchase, construction, sale, and registry of private jet aircraft.
- Represented aircraft fleet seller in sale of 18 jet aircraft.
- Representation of buyers and sellers of commercial businesses.
- Negotiation and documenting licensing of intellectual property.
- Represented buyers and sellers in the purchase and sale of real property.
- Frequently retained by major law firms to assist in transactions with complicated martitime components.
Representative Maritime & Aviation Litigation
- Representation of vessel owners and charterers in litigation of vessel casualties, including collisions, allisions, groundings, salvage and general average.
- Litigation and defense of maritime liens.
- Representation of financial institutions and creditors in ship mortgage foreclosures.
- Defense of shipbuilder in fatal crane failure.
- Representation of aircraft sellers, purchasers and importers in contract disputes.
- Lead counsel in international arbitration regarding foreign military ship construction dispute.
- Litigation and arbitration of all manner of maritime and aviation contracts.
- Representation of contractors and subcontractors in marine construction disputes.
- Representation of maritime lien creditors in bankruptcy proceedings to obtain adequate protection, relief from stay, and to prosecute and defend adversary proceedings involving maritime interests.
Sailing Resume
Mr. Hansen has over 30 years of sailing experience, including racing in California and Great Lakes, and bareboat chartering throughout California, the Pacific Northwest, the Caribbean and the Mediterranean.
