Robert B. Parrish Attorney At Law

More than forty-five years of trial-tested advocacy in maritime, environmental, and complex civil litigation. Bringing informed strategy and proven results for shipowners, insurers, manufacturers, and businesses in high-stakes disputes.

Bob Parrish is a veteran trial lawyer with over four decades of experience handling complex civil litigation across Florida and nationally. His practice centers on maritime law, environmental litigation, and class action defense, where he has served as lead counsel in high-stakes cases for shipowners, operators, their insurers, and major corporations. In addition to his maritime and class action work, Bob has acted as lead local trial counsel in tobacco litigation for the second-largest tobacco company in the U.S., and guides clients through high-profile product liability and environmental disputes.

A significant portion of Bob’s practice involves representing clients in federal and state courts on matters with substantial financial and reputational consequences. He has overseen all phases of pollution litigation, including natural resource damage assessments related to oil spills and coral reef damage, and has served as lead counsel in oil spill and casualty response networks. He also regularly advises on calamitous personal injury and death cases, vessel collisions, and marine insurance coverage. His practical, trial-tested approach makes him a trusted advocate in industries where regulatory, environmental, and commercial risks intersect.

In addition to his active practice, Bob has been recognized nationally for his leadership in maritime law. He is a past president of the Maritime Law Association of the United States and a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. A frequent author and international speaker on maritime and environmental litigation issues, he brings both courtroom experience and thought leadership to clients facing multifaceted disputes.
 

• Notable Work
  • Served as lead local counsel for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company in multiple Florida Engle progeny cases, defending against smoker suits with multimillion-dollar compensatory and punitive damages exposure in federal and state courts.
  • Directed litigation strategy as lead counsel in a regional oil spill and casualty response network, overseeing claims management and coordination across multiple jurisdictions in coordination with shipowners and their international insurers.
  • Represented shipowners and marine insurers in catastrophic vessel collision litigation, including cargo loss, environmental damage, and marine insurance coverage disputes.
  • Guided clients through natural resource damage assessments for both oil spill incidents and coral reef damage claims, handling all phases from investigation through litigation.
  • Received the U.S. Coast Guard Meritorious Public Service Award for leadership as president of the Maritime Law Association of the United States (2012–2014), where he advanced communications between industry and government and worked with federal agencies and the International Maritime Organization of the United Nations to develop policies on seafarer protections, piracy, environmental pollution compensation, cruise vessel safety, and evidentiary standards for crimes at sea.
  • Three-year starter as a Duke University scholarship football player and was later drafted by the New York Jets, a foundation for his career discipline and resilience.
• Recognition
  • Best Lawyers in America, 1995-2026
    • Admiralty and Maritime Law
  • Chambers USA, National, Transportation: Shipping/Maritime: Litigation, 2007-2025
  • Martindale-Hubbell, AV® Preeminent Rating
  • Florida Super Lawyers, Transportation and Maritime, Personal Injury, 2006, 2011, 2021-2023
  • U.S. Coast Guard Meritorious Public Service Award, 2014
• Insights
  • “Marine Pollution,” Moore’s Federal Practice, § 707.06 (2013 ed.)
• Affiliations
  • American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow
  • Comité Maritime International
    • Titulary Member
  • Federal Bar Association, Jacksonville Chapter
    • President, 1984-1985
  • Instituto Iberoamericano de Derecho Marítimo
    • Honorary Member
  • Maritime Law Association of the United States
    • President, 2010-2012
  • U.S. Delegation to the International Maritime Organization
    • Legal Committee, 2012-2014
• Credentials
  • J.D., Duke University School of Law, 1978
    • Duke Law Journal, Editorial Board
  • A.B., Duke University, 1973
• Admissions
  • Florida
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern, Middle, and Northern Districts of Florida
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit (inactive)
  • U.S. Supreme Court (inactive)