Free Webinar:
International Ocean Bills of Lading: What Exporters Need to Know
Wednesday, November 18, beginning at 1:00 pm EST | 12:00 pm CST | 11:00 am MST | 10:00 am PST
Ocean bills of lading are often considered to be pro forma standardized form documents that carriers issue to shippers as part of routine international transactions. Yet, an ocean bill of lading does more than describe a shipment. It is a contract whose terms can affect how cargo is released, who can claim it, and what happens when a shipment goes wrong. Frequently ignored until disputes arise, the terms and conditions of an ocean bill of lading can often supersede the terms and conditions of ocean transportation and other logistics contracts. They often affect even the relationships between international buyers and sellers of goods, including the countries and forums in which such disputes may be resolved.
All importers and exporters thus need to be familiar with the specifics of international ocean bills of lading—how they are structured; how they are used; and what they actually say. Join Shipping Solutions and international trade and transportation attorney Andrew M. Danas for a practical look at international ocean bills of lading. We’ll explore their role in an ocean shipment, the distinctions exporters and importers should understand, and the details worth reviewing and changing before a problem arises.
What You’ll Learn
- The main functions of an international ocean bill of lading.
- How the type of bill of lading can affect control and release of cargo.
- Which terms and shipment details deserve careful review.
- Where misunderstandings can lead to delays, disputes or unexpected costs.
- Why and how international bills of ladings involve more than the carrier of goods for the shipper but also affect the rights of third parties to an import/export transaction.
- Why the standardized terms and conditions of international bills of ladings are not just form documents but are instead contractual terms and conditions that can be the subject of negotiations and modifications with the issuing carrier.
Who Should Attend
Exporters, importers, freight forwarders, logistics professionals and anyone who reviews or relies on ocean shipping documents.
About the Presenter
Andrew Danas is a partner at the Washington, D.C. law firm Grove, Jaskiewicz and Cobert LLP, with more than 40 years of experience advising companies on international trade and transportation law.
He regularly works with shippers, carriers, NVOCCs, freight forwarders, customs brokers, importers and exporters. His practice includes drafting and structuring international ocean contracts and shipping documents, as well as litigating and resolving disputes involving the application and interpretation of international bills of lading.
A frequent speaker and author on international trade and transportation, Andrew has served as co-chair of the American Bar Association International Law Section’s International Transportation and International Contract Committees. He is rated AV Preeminent® by Martindale-Hubbell and was selected to the 2026 edition of Super Lawyers, including for transportation and maritime law.
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