Burlingham Underwood LLP.

The New York City admiralty firm of Burlingham Underwood LLP was originally formed as Rice & Hill in 1858 by James King Hill and James Clay Rice. Charles Culp Burlingham joined the firm in the late 19th century, shortly after graduating from Columbia Law School and being admitted to the New York bar, and in 1898 the firm became Wing, Putnam & Burlingham. Though the firm underwent numerous name changes over the years, the name Burlingham remained a constant from that point on. Some of the companies represented by the firm included Anchor Line, Holland America Line, Nippon Yusen Kaisha, and other European and South American lines, as well as some Atlantic Coast lines. After the 1912 sinking of the Titanic, the firm represented the White Star Line in a Supreme Court case that resulted in a landmark ruling in which American laws were judged applicable to foreign shipping firms. The result was, according to a history of the firm found in the collection, "a signal victory for the White Star Line and all other foreign ship owners who need to have recourse to our courts in cases appropriate for limitation of liability." The firm remained one of New York City's major admiralty firms throughout the twentieth century. It closed its doors in 2002.

From the description of Records, 1876-2002. (Harvard Law School Library). WorldCat record id: 237394831

The New York City admiralty firm of Burlingham Underwood LLP was originally formed as Rice and Hill in 1858 by James King Hill and James Clay Rice. Charles Culp Burlingham joined the firm in the late 19th century, shortly after graduating from Columbia Law School and being admitted to the New York bar, and in 1898 the firm became Wing, Putnam and Burlingham. Though the firm underwent numerous name changes over the years, the name Burlingham remained a constant from that point on.

Some of the companies represented by the firm included Anchor Line, Holland America Line, Nippon Yusen Kaisha, and other European and South American lines, as well as some Atlantic Coast lines. After the 1912 sinking of the Titanic, the firm represented the White Star Line in a Supreme Court case that resulted in a landmark ruling in which American laws were judged applicable to foreign shipping firms. The result was, according to a history of the firm found in the collection, "a signal victory for the White Star Line and all other foreign ship owners who need to have recourse to our courts in cases appropriate for limitation of liability."

The firm remained one of New York City's major admiralty firms throughout the twentieth century. It closed its doors in 2002.

From the guide to the Records, 1876-2002, (Harvard Law School Library, Harvard University)