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Michael Karcher

Bar Admissions

Florida
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida
U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida

Of Counsel

Michael R. Karcher practices in the areas of admiralty and maritime law, specializing in recreational yachts, marine environmental law and insurance issues. Karcher is a member of the Maritime Law Association of the United States, the Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute and has served as a Special Assistant Attorney General for the Florida Department of Natural Resources. He is the current chairman of the Miami Marine Arbitration Council, the past President of the Marine Council, and continues as the Program and Seminar Chairman. He has lectured at seminars for the Marine Industries Association of South Florida, the Florida Yacht Brokers Association and various boating groups in South Florida. At University of Miami, Karcher teaches Admiralty, a course that studies the problems of the maritime industry, including admiralty jurisdiction in the federal system and rights of seamen and maritime workers. He also teaches a course on Maritime Personal Injury and a seminar on Marine Ecology and Law.

Practice Areas

Yacht Law
- Crew Employment Agreements
- Charter Agreements
- Complex Yacht-Related Litigation
- Admiralty

Education

University of Miami – J.D. 1985

Professional Organizations

International Yacht Brokers Association
Marine Industries Association of South Florida
Maritime Law Association of the United States
Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute

Publications and Speaking Engagements

Salvage 101: Claiming a salvage award, The Triton Magazine. Published April 14, 2023
Legal Aspects of Marine Surveyors, Chapman School of Seamanship – Surveyors Course (2022 – 2023)
Bareboaters, beware!, The Triton Magazine. Published October 12, 2022
Salvage, Hurricanes and the Florida Keys, SEALI Fall Meeting. October 2022
Ethics Panel – Yacht Brokers, International Yacht Brokers Association. October 2020
The IYBA’s New International Yacht Arbitration Council, International Yacht Brokers Association Compass Magazine, February/March 2020.
Distress Sales, International Yacht Brokers Association. October 2019
Maritime Liens and Vessel Arrests, International Yacht Brokers Association. October 2018
Venue, Forum Selection and the Arbitration Clause, Florida Yacht Brokers Association. October 2016
Maritime Arbitration, Marine Council Seminar. September 2016