Alena Eckhardt

Alena A. Eckhardt brings more than a decade of wide-ranging litigation experience to her practice. Her expansive admiralty and maritime practice includes defending vessel owners and their underwriters in personal injury and property damage claims, maritime liens and replevin, cargo claims and subrogation.

Alena has also represented clients in matters involving fires in marinas and aboard vessels, salvage claims and pleasure boat accidents, maritime and environmental casualties, as well as insurance coverage, transportation law, product liability matters, and a wide-range of commercial disputes.

Having defended and prosecuted matters in both state and federal courts at pre-trial, trial and appellate levels, Alena provides her clients with a wealth of knowledge, ensuring they’re prepared for each phase of litigation.

Prior to joining Hinshaw, Alena practiced at a Los Angeles-based maritime law firm. She also worked at maritime firms in Florida, where she began her legal career.

While pursuing her LL.M., Alena was a recipient of the Richard J. Peppin Scholarship. She also served as an Administrative Law Judge for the City of Portland and spent a semester as a research fellow in Zürich, Switzerland.

Professional Affiliations : Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association, Member, 2017

Representative Matters :

• Subrogation representation of insurer for extensive damage to luxury yachts in maritime negligence matter
• Representation of an international freight forwarder in a contractual dispute involving high-valued cargo
• Representation of vessel owner in limitation action involving wrongful death/survivorship lawsuits following a two-boat collision with multiple casualties
• Representation of an international ocean carrier in a high-dollar commercial dispute
• Representation of the interests of Jones Act employer/vessel owner in connection with seaman’s personal injury claims

Education :

• LL.M., cum laude,  Environmental and Animal Law, Northwestern School of Law of Lewis and Clark College, 2014
• J.D., magna cum laude, University of Florida Levin College of Law, 2004
• B.B.A., with high honors, Marketing, University of Michigan, 2001

Admissions : Arizona, California, Florida, North Carolina