Areas of Practice
The Law Office of Mayte Cabada Esq., PLLC provides strategic, high-impact legal counsel to maritime clients operating in a global, highly regulated industry.
With deep sector knowledge and practical insight, the firm supports complex transactions, cross-border compliance, and operational risk management across the full spectrum of shipping and marine services.
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OFAC Licensing for Shipping & Vessel Operations
Outside Chief Legal Officer for Maritime Companies
Maritime Transactional Law
Maritime transactional law involves the drafting, negotiation, and execution of contracts critical to vessel construction, chartering, sales, operations, and finance. Legal services are tailored to meet the needs of shipowners, charterers, marine service providers, and financial institutions engaged in cross-border shipping activity.
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Legal representation for vessel construction projects, including shipyard contracts, technical specifications, milestone payments, warranties, and delivery terms. Experience includes newbuilds, conversions, and major retrofits at global shipyards.
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Legal guidance for vessel registration and certification in domestic and international registries. Services ensure compliance with class society standards, flag state rules, and international maritime conventions.
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Charterparty agreements are structured to address liability allocation, performance obligations, and commercial risk. Legal support covers bareboat (demise), time, and voyage charters for vessel owners and operators.
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Transaction management for vessel acquisitions and disposals, including drafting memoranda of agreement (MOAs), performing due diligence on maritime liens and encumbrances, and coordinating multi-jurisdictional closings and flag/class transitions.
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Legal services for ship financing transactions, including ship mortgages, leasing structures, loan documentation, and refinancing. Insurance-related matters include P&I claims, hull and machinery coverage, and specialized marine policies.
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Drafting and negotiation of vessel and crew management agreements in accordance with the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), applicable labor laws, and vessel safety standards. Contracts support operational efficiency and crew welfare.
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Legal support for shipyard engagements involving repairs, retrofits, and upgrades. Agreements are structured to address delay penalties, change orders, performance guarantees, and quality control.
OFAC Licensing for Shipping & Vessel Operations
Certain shipping transactions involving sanctioned countries, blocked entities, or embargoed ports require authorization from the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). The firm advises clients on obtaining OFAC licenses for vessel calls, charters, fuel bunkering, shipyard repairs, and humanitarian shipments.
In addition, legal assistance is available for the release of blocked funds—including freight payments, insurance proceeds, and loan transfers—frozen under sanctions enforcement. Services include preparing unblocking requests, compiling supporting documentation, and corresponding with OFAC and financial institutions to facilitate asset recovery.
Outside Chief Legal Officer for Maritime Companies
The firm provides outside Chief Legal Officer (CLO) services to shipping and maritime clients seeking executive-level legal leadership without maintaining an in-house legal department. This model supports growth, compliance, and operational continuity with scalable and cost-efficient legal oversight.
As outside CLO, services include oversight of legal strategy, contract negotiation, regulatory compliance across OFAC, FMC, FCPA, MARPOL, and SOLAS, board and governance advisory, dispute resolution, and the development of internal legal and compliance infrastructure.
Commercial Agreements for Shipping & Logistics
Legal support is available for commercial agreements central to vessel operations, maritime logistics, and service relationships. Contract services include the negotiation and review of shipping customer agreements, master services agreements (MSAs), and supplier and vendor contracts.
As digital operations expand, the firm also advises on SaaS and software licensing agreements tailored to maritime businesses. Additional services include drafting enforceable business terms and conditions, and supporting strategic.
Business Formation & Maritime Corporate Governance
Formation and governance services are tailored to maritime enterprises, including vessel-owning entities, logistics platforms, and international joint ventures. Legal services include entity structuring for liability and tax optimization, jurisdictional and flag state analysis, and corporate and vessel registration filings.
Ongoing corporate governance counsel addresses compliance with international maritime regulations such as SOLAS, MARPOL, and the ISM Code. Clients receive support with drafting bylaws, shareholder agreements, fiduciary protocols, and internal risk controls designed to sustain long-term legal and operational health.