Sean T. Pribyl, Esq. is a business attorney in Holland & Knight's Washington, D.C., office. Sean focuses his practice on maritime regulatory compliance matters, international law and trade, autonomous transportation, sanctions, offshore wind, Jones Act trade, energy infrastructure, marine claims, dispute resolution, and white collar criminal law. He has more than 25 years of combined experience in the transportation sector as a commercial marine operator, federal regulator, international maritime and trade attorney, active duty military attorney, federal prosecutor, and most recently, as an international protection and indemnity (P&I) club lawyer and senior claims executive while based in Arendal, Norway.

Sean is also an internationally recognized thought leader on “Shipping 4.0” and the use of novel and emerging technologies to support sustainable operations in the maritime industry. He is a widely published author and regular speaker at international conferences and seminars on topics related to maritime law and advanced automation in the transportation sector, including having served as a committee member for the National Academies of Sciences Consensus Report Leveraging Unmanned Systems for Coast Guard Missions.

Sean served for six years as a U.S. Coast Guard officer and judge advocate (“JAG”) advising on legal and policy matters related to international and maritime law, regulatory compliance, unmanned systems, and environmental crimes, and was appointed a Department of Justice Special U.S. Attorney. Prior to transferring his commission to the Coast Guard, he served for twelve years as a Naval Reserve Officer in the Strategic Sealift Command. Before law school, Sean served for eight years as a merchant mariner deck officer aboard offshore supply vessels, oceangoing cargo ships, and fiber-optic cable ships.

Sean holds a M.A. degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College, a J.D. from Washburn University School of Law, and a B.S. from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.