Cheryl A. Morris

Of Counsel

Contact

Locations

San Francisco

Download PDF

Cheryl A. Morris is Of Counsel with GRSM. Her practice emphasizes occupational disease litigation and maritime casualties. She represents numerous shipping lines and their underwriters in asbestos, hearing loss and chemical exposure litigation. She has defended ship owners in matters involving cumulative trauma, orthopedic injury and other claims brought by Jones Act seamen, longshoremen, ship repair workers and cruise line/excursion boat passengers.

Cheryl has represented vessel interests in cargo claims, allision matters and attachments under the Supplemental Admiralty Rules. She has also defended clients in cases involving construction defect, products liability and premises liability claims. Her practice includes all aspects of litigation, including pleading practice, discovery, dispositive motions, settlement analysis and discussions, mediation, trial and appellate work.

Cheryl is active in several professional organizations, including holding several leadership positions within the Pacific Admiralty Seminar. In 2015, she spearheaded the effort to organize the seminar as a 501(c)(6) corporation and obtain tax exempt status for its activities.

Represented vessel owner in Jones Act litigation, including trial of matter involving cumulative trauma injury and breach of employment contract claims
Acted as Second Chair for trial of Jones Act matter for non-Hodkins lymphoma allegedly caused by benzene exposure
Defended vessel owners in hundreds of suits for asbestos exposure under the Jones Act, the general maritime law and the Longshore & Harbor Worker's Compensation Act Section 905(b)
Represented recreational vessel owners in claims relating to passenger and crew injuries
Represented vessel owners in contract disputes leading vessel arrests and other attachment proceedings
Represented repair contractors in personal injury actions relating to repairs to multimillion dollar yacht

"Women in Admiralty – Chasing the Law of the Sea” panelist at Women in Maritime Leadership Conference at California Maritime Academy in Vallejo, CA (2018)
“Maritime Seizures: Not Just Ships — Maritime Seizures of Cargo, Freight, Fuel and Other Tangible and Intangible Items,” University of San Francisco Maritime Law Journal (2006-2007)
“Maritime Vessel Attachments Under Supplemental Admiralty Rule B,” Pacific Admiralty Seminar (2006)

Admissions

California
Pennsylvania
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
U.S. District Court, Central, Eastern, Western and Northern Districts of California

Memberships

Pacific Admiralty Seminar — President and Chair
Pacific Admiralty Seminar, Steering Committee — Member and Officer
Maritime Law Association of the United States — Proctor Member
Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association
Defense Research Institute
Federal Bar Association

Education

J.D., Duquesne University School of Law, 1986

B.A., Business Administration, Duquesne University, 1981

Honors

Best Lawyers in America® distinction in Admiralty and Maritime Law (2021-2025)