Law Firm Liskow Opened New Bedford Office
The firm expanded into the Massachusetts port city to strengthen its regional maritime and fisheries practice.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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Liskow has opened a new office in New Bedford, Massachusetts, marking a strategic expansion of its maritime and casualty response services along the Northeast coast. The firm also announced the hiring of three new attorneys to lead its fisheries litigation and regulatory practice in the area.
Why it matters
By establishing a physical presence in New Bedford, Liskow aims to capitalize on its maritime expertise in the highest-grossing commercial fishing port in the United States. This expansion bolsters the firm's ability to handle complex casualty response and maritime transactions across the New England region.
New Bedford has remained the highest-grossing commercial fishing port in the United States for 23 consecutive years. Liskow has integrated three new attorneys into its operation to support its 24-hour maritime casualty response team.
The players
Liskow
This law firm previously served as lead maritime counsel for the State of Maryland regarding the M/V DALI collision with the Francis Scott Key Bridge.
Samuel P. Blatchley
He is one of three attorneys recently hired by Liskow to support its maritime regulatory and litigation practice.
Patrick J. O'Connor
He is an attorney hired by Liskow who possesses specialized Merchant Mariner Credentials.
Michael J. Pluhowski
He is an attorney hired by Liskow who holds Merchant Mariner Credentials.
The details
The firm is staffing its New Bedford location with Samuel P. Blatchley, Patrick J. O'Connor, and Michael J. Pluhowski, with two of the new hires licensed in the New York area. O'Connor and Pluhowski both hold Merchant Mariner Credentials, adding technical industry experience to the firm's existing maritime litigation capabilities.
Timeline
Liskow announced its expansion into New Bedford on October 1, 2026.
Market Landscape
The firm builds on its reputation as lead maritime counsel for the M/V DALI collision with the Francis Scott Key Bridge to secure a foothold in the competitive New England maritime sector. This move intensifies the firm's presence in the Northeast as it competes for specialized fisheries litigation work against other regional legal practices.
Local maritime businesses and fishing industry operators in the New Bedford area now have direct access to a national firm specializing in complex casualty response. The increased availability of specialized legal counsel may influence how regional players manage insurance and regulatory filings related to maritime accidents.
The takeaway
Liskow's expansion highlights the growing demand for specialized legal services in high-traffic maritime hubs. Businesses operating in similar high-revenue ports should expect increased legal industry activity as firms move to embed experts directly within regional infrastructure.
Further reading
For more information on the regional business climate, visit the Openings & Closings section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by MarineLink.
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