André M. Picciurro

Partner

  • Office Contact Info
  • Biography

    The son of a maritime claims adjuster in Miami, Florida, the “Cruise Capital of the World,” André Picciurro attended the University of Miami School of Law, during which time he clerked for a maritime defense firm that hired him out of law school. André was immediately submerged in the defense of cruise lines and other vessel owners in personal injury actions brought by crew and passengers. Now, as a maritime attorney for over two decades, André has piloted his clients through the defense of personal injury claims, domestic and international arbitration of crew member employment disputes and consumer claims, vessel arrests, attachments, cargo claims, oil spill response, limitation of liability actions, and general average claims. As former outside general counsel for the world’s largest cruise line trade association, André provided general corporate advice, drafted internal corporate policies and governance documents, handled labor disputes, reviewed and negotiated contracts, prepared environmental and safety policies, advised on compliance with national and international laws governing advertising, antitrust, and disability issues, and directed outside litigation. André has drafted two amicus curiae briefs filed with the U.S. Supreme Court and is often asked to draft appellate-level briefs in various jurisdictions.

    As a partner in the firm’s Maritime and Environmental/Toxic Tort practice groups, André enjoys defending the firm’s clients against myriad personal injury and property damage claims involving groundwater contamination, exposure to benzene, lead, asbestos, diacetyl, chlorine dioxide, and other chemicals, food poisoning, gastrointestinal illness outbreaks, and defective products. Similarly, he regularly defends premises owners and landlords in suits brought by guests and tenants claiming exposure to mold, rodents, pests, and other substandard conditions.
     

    Admissions

    • California
    • Florida
    • U.S. Supreme Court
    • Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
    • Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit
    • Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
    • U.S. District Court, Southern, Central, Eastern, and Northern Districts of California
    • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida

    Memberships

    • State Bar of California
    • State Bar of Florida

    Community Involvement

    • André and his wife, a Registered Nurse, regularly collect and deliver clothes and magazines for patients in need at local hospitals. 
  • Practice Areas
  • Representative Experience
    • Won an interlocutory appeal before California Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, involving California’s Unfair Competition Law and other consumer remedy statutes in Princess Cruise Lines, Ltd. v. Sup. Ct. (Wang) (2009) 179 Cal.App.4th 36
    • Advised on, drafted, and negotiated language for federal and state legislation including the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act and Florida’s pilotage laws and Administrative Code
  • Publications & Presentations

    Presentations

    • The Current State of the Maritime Labour Convention, Maritime Law Association, Philadelphia, PA (2014)
    • Incident Investigation-Legal Realities, Association of Marine Underwriters of San Francisco & San Francisco Marine Claims Association, San Francisco, CA (November 2014)

    Publications

  • Education

    Education

    J.D., cum laude, University of Miami School of Law

    • University of Miami Inter-American Law Review, Associate Editor
    • Paul B. Anton Merit Scholarship
    • Corpus Juris Secundum Award, Torts
    • CALI Awards in Legal Research & Writing, Torts, and Evidence

    B.A., English, magna cum laude, Florida International University

    • Faculty Scholar’s Award

    Honors

    San Diego Office Top Attorney Recognition, 2017

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