Wayne R. Rohde's  practice focuses on the representation of companies involved in the international ocean transportation industry. He regularly represents clients before the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) in connection with regulatory requirements (including OTI licensing), adjudicatory proceedings, and fact-finding investigations.

Wayne has extensive experience drafting and filing carrier discussion agreements, vessel sharing agreements, space charter agreements, various types of marine terminal operator agreements, and other forms of cooperative working agreements. He has represented clients in connection with FMC service contract and negotiated rate agreement audits. He has trial experience before administrative law judges at the FMC and has negotiated the settlement of civil penalty demands by the FMC. Wayne is also experienced in drafting and interpreting service contracts as well as advising clients on substantive and procedural issues relating to FMC tariff publication.

Wayne also represents clients in matters involving other government departments and agencies including the U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, the Office of Foreign Assets Control in the Department of the Treasury, and the U.S. Department of Transportation. In addition to his regulatory practice, Wayne advises clients on a wide variety of commercial and contractual issues.

Wayne graduated magna cum laude from Lake Forest College (Illinois) in 1984, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Spanish. He received a Master of Arts (in Spanish) from Middlebury College in 1985 and, in 1989 he was awarded a Master of Science (in Foreign Service) and his J.D. (cum laude) from Georgetown University.

Experience

News

Nearly 100 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 27 Practices Earn Top Recognition in Chambers USA 2024 Guide

June 10, 2024

Chambers USA rankings are based on an “assessment of a firm’s work and opinions from external market sources, with an emphasis on client feedback.” In order to be ranked in the guide, lawyers and firms must demonstrate “sustained excellence.”

Legal 500 Recognizes Six Cozen O’Connor Practice Areas and 16 Attorneys in its 2023 Guide

July 10, 2023

Cozen O'Connor's Aviation (Litigation/Regulation), Construction, L&E, M&A (Midmarket), Shipping (Finance and Litigation/Regulation) practices were ranked by the Legal 500.

Eighty-eight Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 23 Practices Earn Top Recognition in Chambers USA 2023 Guide

June 05, 2023

Of the 88 lawyers ranked, 17 lawyers have been recognized nationally, and eighteen were recognized in Band 1. Eight of the firm's practice areas have been recognized nationally, and nine were ranked Band 1.

Chambers Ranks 86 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 22 Practice Areas in Chambers USA 2022 Guide

June 02, 2022

Chambers USA, the leading annual guide to the top lawyers and law firms in the United States, has ranked 86 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields in the guide’s 2022 edition.

82 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 19 Practices Earn Top Recognition in Chambers USA 2021 Guide

May 26, 2021

Chambers USA, the leading annual guide to the top lawyers and law firms in the United States, has ranked 82 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields in the guide’s 2021 edition; of those, 15 lawyers have been recognized nationally.

63 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 16 Practices Earn Top Recognition in Chambers USA 2020 Guide

May 14, 2020

Chambers USA, the leading annual guide to the top lawyers and law firms in the United States, has ranked 63 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields in the guide’s 2020 edition.

Publications

Federal Maritime Commission Charges Forward with Interim Procedures for OSRA 22 Complaints [Alert]

December 05, 2022

The FMC released “Interim Procedures for Processing Charge Complaints” filed with the Commission under the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022.

California Steams Past FMC on Detention and Demurrage Prohibitions [Alert]

October 06, 2022

The new bill marks an inflection point in an era of increased regulatory scrutiny of maritime practices, particularly detention and demurrage (D&D) charges.

U.S. Responds to Russian Invasion of Ukraine with Costly Sanctions [Alert]

March 07, 2022

Bob Magovern, Wayne Rohde, and Rachel Welford discuss the series of unprecedented economic sanctions and export controls designed to prevent President Vladimir Putin from raising capital to fund its invasion of Ukraine.

The Operational Impact of Covid-19 on the International Ocean Supply Chain and the Legal Issues Presented by Supply Chain Congestion

March 01, 2022

Wayne Rohde published an article in the Journal of Transportation Law, Logistics and Policy discussing the global COVID-19 pandemic and the significant operational impacts on the international ocean supply chain, including the inland components of that supply chain.

OFAC Amends and Reissues More Comprehensive Somalia Sanctions Regulations [Alert]

May 03, 2021

Rachel Welford, Robert Magovern and Wayne Rohde discuss OFAC's reissued Somalia Sanctions Regulations, which incorporate executive orders from 2010.

U.S. Announces Sweeping New Sanctions Targeting Russia [Alert]

April 21, 2021

Wayne Rohde, Robert Magovern and Matthew Howell discuss Executive Order 14024 imposing new sanctions on the Russian Federation in response to foreign election interference in the 2020 U.S. federal election and the SolarWinds cyberattack aimed at various U.S. federal agencies.

Congress Takes First Step Toward FMC Advisory Committee [Alert]

May 26, 2020

Wayne Rohde discusses the Federal Maritime Commission National Shipper Advisory Committee Act of 2019 and the establishment of an advisory committee to the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) for policy matters relating to the competitiveness, reliability, integrity, and fairness of the international ocean freight delivery system.

FEMA Issues Further Guidance on PPE Exports [Alert]

April 22, 2020

Don Kassilke and Wayne Rohde discuss FEMA's additional guidance about the 10 categories of PPE exports that would be exempt from the recent, temporary ban.

OFAC Publishes Fact Sheet on Humanitarian Assistance to Sanctioned Countries [Alert]

April 20, 2020

Don Kassilke, Wayne Rohde, and Kathryn Sobotta discuss OFAC's recently release Fact Sheet detailing regulatory requirements relevant to export humanitarian goods to sanctioned countries such as Iran, Venezuela, North Korea, Syria, Cuba, Ukraine, and Russia.

FMC Expands Use of Innovation Teams to Respond to COVID-19 Supply Chain Concerns

April 16, 2020

Bob Magovern and Wayne Rohde discuss the FMC's order aimed at developing improvements to the U.S. ocean transportation supply chain through the use innovation teams.

U.S. to Prohibit the Export of Certain Personal Protective Equipment

April 10, 2020

Don Kassilke and Wayne Rohde discuss FEMA's anticipated temporary final rule prohibiting certain exportation of PPE, including N95 respirators, surgical masks, and exam and surgical gloves.

Events & Seminars

Past Events

The Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022

November 02, 2022 - Washington, D.C.

The Health & Personal Care Logistics Conference

October 09, 2017 - Chicago, IL

HPCLC Fall 2016 Conference

September 19, 2016 - Chicago, IL

2015 Marine Terminal Management Training Program

September 14, 2015 - Long Beach, CA

Industry Sectors

Education

  • Georgetown University Law Center, J.D., cum laude, 1989
  • Georgetown University, M.S., 1989
  • Middlebury College, M.A., 1985
  • Lake Forest College, B.A., magna cum laude, 1984

Awards & Honors

Chambers & Partners USA: Nationwide, Transportation: Shipping/Maritime: Regulatory 2013-2024

Expert Guides: Shipping

2021 Best of the Best USA Expert Guide: Shipping and maritime

  • District of Columbia
  • U.S. District Court -- District of Columbia
  • Maritime Administrative Bar Association
  • Association of Transportation Law Professionals