About the Council


John W. Butler

John W. Butler

General Counsel

John Butler joined the World Shipping Council (WSC) in 2010 to serve as the association’s General Counsel. Prior to assuming his current role, John was a Partner in the Washington, D.C. law firm of Sher & Blackwell, where he served as outside counsel to the WSC. For almost two decades, he advised liner shipping companies and trade associations on regulatory, commercial, security, hazardous materials, environmental, contract and anti-trust issues. He has represented the liner shipping industry in federal agency rulemakings, legislative activities, and federal court litigation on a broad range of security, environmental, regulatory and commercial matters.

John has been admitted to the bar in Maryland and the District of Columbia, as well as the U.S. Supreme Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C., Ninth, and Third Circuits.  He is a former President of the Maritime Administrative Bar Association.

 
John began his legal career as a Law Clerk in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Administrative Law Judges. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Colorado College and a Juris Doctor, with honors, from George Washington University Law School.