Former MarAd Legal Head Joins Cozen O’Connor
Jeffrey Hardin Lewis recently joined the highly ranked maritime law practice team at Cozen O’Connor. Cozen O’Connor is recognized as a Band 1 firm for Shipping/Maritime: Regulatory by Chambers and Partners USA and a Tier 2 firm for Shipping: Litigation and Regulation by The Legal 500 United States.
Lewis was the Maritime Administration’s chief counsel under Administrator Rear Adm. Ann Phillips. Since both positions are politically appointed, both stepped down after the November elections.
Before serving at MarAd, Lewis held roles in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, where he played a pivotal role in drafting and advancing maritime legislation, including the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act of 2018, the Port State Measures Agreement Act of 2015, the Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing Enforcement Act of 2015, the Shark Conservation Act of 2010 and various Coast Guard authorization acts and international fishery agreement acts.
“I’m excited to be at Cozen O’Connor, and to be a part of a vibrant Jones Act practice,” Lewis told The Waterways Journal. Prior to his tenure at MarAd, Lewis held the position of senior civilian attorney in the U.S. Coast Guard Judge Advocate General’s Office of Maritime and International Law. There, he provided advice on matters encompassing marine safety, security and environmental protection, including cybersecurity, vessel inspection, documentation and safety, merchant vessel personnel, navigation, aquatic invasive species, ports and waterways safety and security and marine casualty investigations. Recognized as the Coast Guard’s subject matter authority on federal preemption, he provided counsel on the effects of federal legislation on states, localities and tribes. He also represented the United States in international forums such as the International Maritime Organization and the United Nations.
Lewis was born in Texas but grew up in Houma, La., where his father worked for Texaco. He earned his J.D. at Catholic University of America, with a certificate from the Comparative and International Law Institute and a B.A. in political science at Louisiana State University.
Most recently, as chief counsel for MarAd, he oversaw a team of 39 legal and non-legal professionals. In this capacity, he provided counsel to the Office of the Secretary of Transportation on maritime issues, including deepwater port licensing, and spearheaded policy initiatives aimed at combating sexual assault and harassment within the U.S. merchant marine. He also provided counsel on the effects of federal legislation on states, localities and ribesand represented the U.S. in international forums such as the International Maritime Organization and the United Nations.
Lewis spent eight years in private practice. He began his career as a legislative aide to John Breaux in the U.S. Senate and as executive assistant to W.J. Tauzin in the U.S. House of Representatives. For the past 10 years, Lewis has taught admiralty and maritime law as an adjunct faculty member at Georgetown University Law Center.
