Boatinglaw.com is produced by the law firm Lochner and Schwenk, LLC. The Firm grew out of the Law Offices of Todd D. Lochner and has been active in maritime and admiralty law since 1999. It is based in Annapolis, Maryland, and focuses on issues of concern for vessel owners, marine businesses and those that live, work and play on the water. The practice is primarily devoted to litigation, contracts, insurance, and general business advice. The firm’s current clients include: J Port, Inc., J World Annapolis, Port Annapolis Marina, the Association of Boat Builders and Repairers, Boat U.S. Insurance, Schuyler Line Navigation Company and Dome Chartering & Trading Corp.

TODD D. LOCHNER

Mr. Lochner graduated cum laude from the Tulane Law School, with a Maritime Law Certificate from the Tulane Maritime Law Center and a Certificate of Advanced Study and Training in Arbitration. While attending Tulane, Mr. Lochner was a member of the Tulane Maritime Law Journal. His undergraduate studies were completed at The George Washington University. Mr. Lochner is a member of the bars of the State of Maryland, the United States District Court for the District of Maryland and the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals and the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. He keeps abreast of changes in the maritime law as a member of the Maritime Law Association and by attending education programs sponsored by the Admiralty Law Institute. He is presently on the Recreational Boating Committee of the Maritime Law Association the Legal Committee for the United States Sailing Association as well as being a member of the Mid-Atlantic Mariners Club. Mr. Lochner is a Past President of the Chesapeake Bay Yacht Racing Association and the Paca-Brent American Inns of Court.

Mr. Lochner is an avid sailor who has been a part of the recreational maritime industry for 13 years though his employment with J World Annapolis. He is a member of the St. Petersburg Yacht Club and the Severn Sailing Association where he races various sailboats.

J. DIRK SCHWENK

Mr. Schwenk graduated with Honors from the University of Maryland School of Law and was the recipient of the William P. Cunningham Award as the student who demonstrated exceptional service and achievement while at the law school. Prior to joining Lochner and Schwenk, LLC, he was an associate with Ward, Kershaw and Minton, P.A, primarily in a Class Action practice. Mr. Schwenk is a member of the Maryland Bar and bars of the Federal Court for the District of Maryland, and the 4th and 11th Circuit Courts of Appeal. He is the author/editor of Preparation and Trial of Tort Claims, Chapter 11 of the book Practice Manual for the Maryland Lawyer as well as many articles on riparian rights, vessel excise tax and other issues in admiralty and waterfront law. He presented on Marina Liability at the International Marina Conference, 2005, and was a 2005 Outstanding Service Award winner from the Marine Trades Association of Maryland. He presented on the interplay between marina contracts and traditional tort theories for the Mid Atlantic Mariners Club in 2007. His current cases include admiralty and maritime law, insurance defense, personal injury, wrongful death, insurance coverage, waterfront property disputes, vessel excise tax, and loan disputes. He is a Certified Marine Investigator through the International Association of Marine Investigators, a member of the the Mid-Atlantic Mariners Club (for whom he is the Webmaster) and Marine Trades Association of Maryland.

Mr. Schwenk races out of the Severn Sailing Association, where he sails J-24s and Jet-14s with his wife Stefanie. He is a past President of the Jet 14 Class Association, and the 6 time Chesapeake High Point champion in that class. In his remaining free time he is the father of two sons, plays basketball and Ultimate Frisbee, and writes and records acoustic music.

JONATHAN I. POMERANCE

Mr. Pomerance joined Lochner and Schwenk, LLC in the fall of 2005. He graduated cum laude from The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law, where he was an associate editor of The Catholic University Law Review. His legal experience includes employment with the Office of the Independent Counsel and the National Labor Relations Board in Washington D.C. With the Firm, he specializes in complex disputes, including real property, waterfront and riparian rights litigation, and supports the Firm’s admiralty, maritime, and insurance law practice.

A native son of Annapolis, Mr. Pomerance gained a degree in philosophy from St. John’s College, where he was an alternate on the school’s internationally acclaimed croquet team. After college, Mr. Pomerance sailed as a deckhand on various tall ships, including the U.S. Brig Niagara and the square tops'l schooner Shenandoah. He is a current member of the Paca/Brent joint Inns of Court, and intends to pursue a private pilot’s license in the near future.

RICHARD RONAY

JEFF R. VOGEL

Mr. Vogel graduated cum laude from the University of Miami School of Law, where he concentrated his studies in admiralty and maritime law and served as the Admiral of the Maritime Law Society. Mr. Vogel received The Dean's Certificate of Achievement Award and also was recognized by The Center for Computer Assisted Legal Education (CALI) with the “Excellence for the Future” Award for his exceptional performance in the Law of Sea. Joining Lochner and Schwenk in 2007, Mr. Vogel specializes in all aspects of admiralty and maritime law including offshore yacht transactions, boat tax issues, coastal construction, personal injury, wrongful death and complex marine insurance litigation. It is anticipated that he will be admitted to the Maryland bar in December, 2008.

While in law school Mr. Vogel also received a master’s degree in Marine Affairs and Policy from the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, earning summa cum laude honors. His studies focused on emerging marine issues including aquaculture management, sustainable coastal development, marina construction and maritime economics. His thesis, entitled A Comprehensive Assessment of Legal and Economic Response to Anthropogenic Marine Noise Pollution, is currently being reviewed by multiple international journals for publication.

An avid SCUBA diver, Mr. Vogel has served as a research diver and underwater archaeologist at the underwater archeological and ecological preserve at Little Salt Spring in North Port, Florida. In order to gain unique exposure to the growing aquaculture industry Mr. Vogel served on the management team at the University of Miami’s Experimental Hatchery helping to raise cobia (Rachycentron canadum) from larvae to market production levels. In his free time he also enjoys rowing as a novice participant with the Annapolis Rowing Club.