Luke is a former U.S. Coast Guard officer and attorney, having attained the rank of commander. He now advises and represents clients throughout the United States and globally in connection with government investigations, maritime regulatory compliance, criminal and civil litigation, defense of maritime regulatory enforcement actions, and international law.
Since entering private practice, he has represented numerous maritime corporations and individuals in a variety of civil and criminal matters, including matters before the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and other government enforcement and regulatory agencies.
Among other major marine incidents, Luke represented the owner and operator of the SS EL FARO, a Ro-Ro/Container vessel that sank in 2015 in Hurricane Joaquin in the Caribbean, resulting in a complete loss of the vessel, all cargo, and all 33 persons on board. This included the lead representation in the U.S. Coast Guard’s Marine Board of Investigation (“USCG MBI”) and co-counsel roles in connection with the National Transportation Safety Board (“NTSB”) investigation and the civil limitation of liability suit in federal court. He also represented the owner and operator of the STRETCH DUCK 7, a passenger vessel that sank on Table Rock Lake in Branson Missouri in 2018, resulting in the loss of 17 lives, in the NTSB investigation, the USCG MBI, and resulting civil litigation.
In addition to representing clients in litigation and investigations by government agencies, Luke counsels maritime clients on compliance with all aspects of international and domestic regulatory requirements, with an emphasis on maritime safety, environmental protection, maritime security, vessel emissions and the decarbonization of shipping, fisheries, vessel documentation, application of the coastwise laws (i.e., the Jones Act), the development of offshore energy, and a range of other maritime laws and regulations.
Prior to joining Blank Rome, Luke was a partner in the maritime practice of a large international law firm.
While serving on active duty with the U.S. Coast Guard, Luke was a military prosecutor, defense counsel, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, and investigated and litigated a wide variety of criminal matters. During his career in government, Luke participated in numerous complex civil and criminal investigations of individuals and corporations for violations of MARPOL and other environmental crimes, seaman’s manslaughter, fraud, and obstruction of justice. As legal counsel to senior managers of the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund, he also assisted in the adjudication and payment of more than $200 million in pollution claims under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, and assisted the DOJ in civil cost recovery litigation from responsible parties. While an active-duty attorney, Luke also led numerous missions in more than 20 European, African, and Asian nations in furtherance of various U.S. national security and foreign policy objectives. These missions included providing overseas training and assistance to foreign nations in rule of law development, combating transnational crime, counter-piracy operations, drug and human smuggling interdiction, the legal aspects of counterterrorism, border security, anti-corruption, human rights, and war crimes.
He was the recipient of numerous awards from the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Department of Justice during his active-duty service in the Coast Guard.
Outside the Firm
Luke enjoys hiking, biking, and spending time with his family in the outdoors, along with their two Labrador Retrievers. He is an avid, lifelong soccer player who plays year round.