Practices
Bruce G. Paulsen is a partner and co-head of Seward & Kissel’s Litigation Group, head of the Sanctions Practice Group and has been a partner since 2002. He was named as a member of Legal 500’s “Hall of Fame” in 2022 and as one of the global Top 10 Maritime Lawyers by Lloyd’s List, in December 2020. Legal 500 2022 reported that Bruce “is an industry veteran, and first class in his knowledge and performance.”
Bruce specializes in handling complex commercial and maritime disputes. Bruce handles finance and securities-related disputes in the shipping industry as well as traditional maritime disputes, lien claims and environmental matters. He also has substantial expertise in the area of international trade sanctions; has been deeply involved in handling piracy issues before U.S. government agencies and is highly experienced in the recognition and enforcement of arbitration awards.
Further, Chambers USA 2022 reported that Bruce “has particular expertise in finance and securities litigation in the shipping industry and acts for a wide variety of clients including bondholders, secured lenders, shipowners and charterers.” Legal 500 USA 2022 described Bruce as “at the very top of his field.”
Bruce has written and lectured frequently on litigation, arbitration, bankruptcy, piracy and sanctions issues, and is highly engaged, on a pro bono basis, in non-profit governance. He is also a contributor to Seward & Kissel’s Maritime Blog.
Publications
- Co-authored, “OFAC Temporarily Eases Sanctions on Venezuelan Oil & Gas and Gold Sectors Subject to Compliance with Electoral Roadmap,” Seward & Kissel (November 16, 2023)
- Co-authored, “OFAC Issues New Russian Oil Price Cap Advisory and Sanctions Entities Transporting Oil Sold above the Price Cap,” Seward & Kissel (October 16, 2023)
- Co-authored, “United States Issues New Executive Order that Begins Rulemaking Process to Impose Regulations on Certain Outbound Investments in Identified ‘Countries of Concern’ including China, Hong Kong and Macau,” Seward & Kissel (August 17, 2023)
- Co-authored, “USA: Shipping Laws and Regulations 2023,” International Comparative Legal Guide – Shipping Law 2023 (August 7, 2023)
- Co-authored, “Tri-Seal Compliance Note Encourages Voluntary Self-Disclosure of Potential Violations of Sanctions and Export Control Laws to DOJ, BIS and OFAC,” Seward & Kissel (August 1, 2023)
- Co-authored, “‘An Ounce of Prevention’…How to Reduce the Risk of Litigation and Enforcement Proceedings,” Seward & Kissel (July 26, 2023)
- Co-authored, “Compliance Flash: OFAC Announces New Reporting Requirement for Persons Who Hold Property of Certain Russian Entities,” Seward & Kissel (May 25, 2023)
- Co-authored, “Compliance Flash: OFAC Alert Warns U.S. Persons About Possible Evasion of Russian Crude Oil Price Cap,” Seward & Kissel (April 19, 2023)
- Co-authored, “Shipping 2023 – USA | Law and Practice,” 2023 Chambers USA Shipping Guide (February 1, 2023)
- Co-authored, “Shipping 2023 – USA | Trends and Developments,” 2023 Chambers USA Shipping Guide (February 1, 2023)
- Co-authored, “OFAC Expands Russia Sanctions and Issues New General Licenses,” Seward & Kissel (February 27, 2023)
- Co-authored, “OFAC Issues Determination and Guidance for Additional Russian Petroleum Products Price Caps,” Seward & Kissel (February 7, 2023)
- Co-authored, “Seward & Kissel Releases Litigation Group 2022 Year in Review,” Seward & Kissel (February 7, 2023)
- Co-authored, “OFAC Publishes Rulemaking Clarifying Longstanding ’50 Percent Rule’ Policy,” Seward & Kissel (December 22, 2022)
- Co-authored, “United States: Shipping,” The Legal 500: Shipping Country Comparative Guide (December 6, 2022)
- Co-authored, “Marshall Islands: Shipping,” The Legal 500: Shipping Country Comparative Guide (December 6, 2022)
- Co-authored, “OFAC Issues Determination and Guidance for Russian Oil Price Cap Policy Commencing Today,” Seward & Kissel (December 5, 2022)
- Co-authored, “OFAC Publishes FAQ Clarifying Applicability of the Russian Oil Price Cap to Russian-Origin Oil Loaded Prior to the Effective Date of the Maritime Services Policy,” Seward & Kissel (November 2, 2022)
- Co-authored, “In Groundbreaking Decision, Second Circuit Harmonizes Service Requirements Under the Federal Arbitration Act, the New York Convention and the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act,” Seward & Kissel (October 4, 2022)
- Co-authored, “Wealth Management Firm Charged with S-P Violations for Failing to Properly Dispose of its Hard Drives,” Seward & Kissel (October 4, 2022)
- Co-authored, “SEC Charges Sixteen Firms for Recordkeeping Failures Related to Employee Use of Personal Devices,” Seward & Kissel (October 3, 2022)
- Co-authored, “OFAC Issues Preliminary Guidance on Implementation of Maritime Services Policy and Related Price Exception for Seaborne Russian Oil,” Seward & Kissel (September 12, 2022)
- Co-authored, “Importance of Timely Sanctions Screening and Due Diligence,” Seward & Kissel (August 31, 2022)
- Authored, “Navigating Conflicting Sanctions Regimes,” Global Investigations Review: The Guide to Sanctions – Third Edition (July 8, 2022)
- Co-authored, “SEC Files First Reg BI Action Against Broker-Dealer,” Seward & Kissel (June 28, 2022)
- Co-authored, “Supreme Court Eliminates Federal Courts’ Power to Compel Domestic Discovery in Aid of Private Foreign Arbitrations,” Seward & Kissel (June 16, 2022)
- Co-authored, “Sanctions Alert: U.S. Imposes a Range of Additional Sanctions, Export Controls and Other Measures Against Russia,” Seward & Kissel (May 12, 2022)
- Co-authored, “Shipping Compliance Alert: Deficiencies Discovered During Coast Guard Investigation Lead to Criminal Penalties, Highlighting Importance of Establishing an Effective Compliance Program,” Seward & Kissel (May 11, 2022)
- Co-authored, “United States Issues Proclamation of National Emergency Prohibiting Russian-Affiliated Vessels from Entry into U.S. Ports,” Seward & Kissel (April 22, 2022)
- Co-authored, “USA,” Lexology’s Getting the Deal Through: Sanctions (April 13, 2022)
- Co-authored, “Sanctions Update: U.S. Bans Imports of Russian Oil and New Energy Investments,” Seward & Kissel (March 9, 2022)
Recognition
- One of the top 10 maritime lawyers – Lloyd’s List 2020
- Legal 500 2022 (shipping and securities litigation) Hall of Fame
- Chambers USA 2020 – 2022 (transportation litigation and international trade: export controls & economic sanctions)
- Best Lawyers in America 2022 (admiralty and maritime law)
- Who’s Who Legal: Transport 2022
- New York Super Lawyers 2022 (business litigation)
- AV Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
- Rated “Superb” (9.5 out of 10.0) by Avvo.com