Practices

Derick W. Betts, Jr. is a member of Seward & Kissel’s Corporate Finance and Tax Groups. Derick has practiced law since 1970.

Derick specializes in international corporate law, limited liability company, tax and ship finance matters principally related to mergers and acquisitions, capital markets and joint venture shipping transactions. He has particular expertise in taxation of the shipping industry, specifically the U.S. taxation of foreign shipping and joint venture shipping transactions. Derick has written multiple articles on the U.S. taxation of shipping, inclusive of The Section 883 Proposed Regulations: The Ship Is Almost In Port” (Tax Management International Journal 2000) (as co-author), and “The Shipping Provisions of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004” (Benedict’s Maritime Bulletin 2006). In addition, he has spoken on U.S. shipping tax-related issues at seminars sponsored by the Greek Shipping Cooperation Committee (London), the International Ship Registry Review, the Connecticut Maritime Association, the World Trade Institute of Shipping, BIMCO, the International Tax Planning Association, the Association of the Bar of the City of New York (Admiralty Committee), Marine Money and ATLAS.

Derick served as Attorney Advisor to the Honorable William Quealy of the United States Tax Court from 1973 – 1975. He is a member of the American Bar Association and the Maritime Law Association. He also serves on the Board of Directors, respectively, of the Hellenic-American Chamber of Commerce and The Hellenic-American Cultural Foundation, each of New York City. Derick has also been ranked in  The Best Lawyers in America® in the area of Admiralty and Maritime Law, from 2015 to 2025.

Publications