George R.Zacharkow
George Zacharkow is Of Counsel with Deasey, Mahoney & Valentini, Ltd. George joined the firm in 2016 and has been practicing law in the Philadelphia region and beyond for more than 35 years.
The focus of his practice is on admiralty and maritime, transportation, insurance, and commercial litigation matters. George has been called upon by his clients to handle cases in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Maryland, New York, and Maine, in addition to Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware.
George has extensive experience in handling the investigation and attendant litigation of marine claims for cargo losses, hull and machinery damage, collisions, pier damage, pollution incidents, and personal injury and death. Over the years, he has represented cargo owners and subrogated insurers with respect to claims involving a wide variety of cargoes shipped in ocean and inland transit, and he has particular experience with the shipments of fresh fruit and perishables that are received in the Port.
Throughout his career, George has counseled and represented terminal owners and operators regarding issues relating to tariffs, cargo operations, and claims for personal injury and death. He also has represented commercial vessel owners and operators engaged in various aspects of the maritime industry, including cargo transportation, towing, commercial fishing, dredging, and passenger excursions. Additionally, George has represented recreational boat owners in various matters, and he litigated the leading case that eliminated the economic duress imposed on owners and their insurers by the use of the Lloyd’s Open Form with regard to salvage services for recreational vessels in the United States. Brier v. Northstar Marine, Inc., 1992 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 20931, 1993 AMC 1194 (D.N.J. 1992).
George has advised and represented insurers in first party coverage disputes, and has successfully litigated Declaratory Judgment actions. He has provided opinions regarding complex coverage issues arising under various policy forms, including hull, P & I, pollution, cargo, yacht, comprehensive general liability, legal liability, and homeowner’s.
George has made presentations to clients on a range of transportation and insurance topics. He was a recent speaker at the Pennsylvania Bar Institute’s program, How to Avoid Problems with Commercial Shipping Documents, and authored the program paper titled Transportation Modes and Shipping Issues, which addressed air, water, and surface transportation. George is a longstanding Proctor Member of the Maritime Law Association of the United States, and has served on various committees. He is a board member of West Shipyard Preservation Trust, which is dedicated to preserving colonial era shipyard structures and artifacts in the Philadelphia area. George holds an AV® preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell®, which is the highest possible peer review rating for ethics and legal ability.
Experience
- Mattioni, Ltd., 1980 – 2016
- General Adjustment Bureau, 1975 – 1977
Awards and Designations
- Martindale-Hubbell Rating: AV Preeminent
- Proctor in Admiralty
- Fellow of the Academy of Advocacy, 1994
Professional Affiliations
- Association of Average Adjusters of the United States and Canada
- Association of Average Adjusters of the United Kingdom
- Maritime Law Association of the United States
- New Jersey Bar Association
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
- Ports of Philadelphia Maritime Society
- Philadelphia Association of Defense Counsel