Sarah Yantakosol Gayer

 
 

Of Counsel

Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn
Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn

Admiralty Litigator | Author & Speaker on Maritime Law

Current Role & Practice

Sarah serves as Of Counsel to Link Martyn PLLC, providing litigation support and day‑to‑day advice to maritime clients. She has represented shipowners, ocean carriers, ferry operators, tug and tow companies, maritime pilots, vessel manufacturers, marine construction firms, underwriters, boatyards, and marinas in all aspects of admiralty and maritime law.

Her practice spans service contract review and advice, Safer Seas Act compliance, cargo claim defense, vessel arrest, maritime liens, Jones Act and unseaworthiness claims, Coast Guard investigations, marine construction disputes, vessel construction contracts, and marine insurance coverage. She is known for delivering practical, client‑focused solutions to complex maritime challenges.

Expertise Snapshot

  • Admiralty litigation and casualty response

  • Service contract review and negotiation

  • Cargo and personal injury defense

  • Jones Act and unseaworthiness claims

  • Marine insurance and coverage disputes

  • Coast Guard investigations and regulatory compliance

Leadership & Professional Service

Sarah is a former Chair of the Admiralty and Maritime Law Committee of the American Bar Association’s Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section.

Speaking & Writing

Sarah is a recognized thought leader and frequent speaker at national and international maritime conferences, including:

  • American Bar Association – Admiralty Disruption Conference (2025)

  • Tulane Admiralty Law Institute – Offshore Jurisdiction & Choice of Law (2018)

  • Federal Bar Association – Admiralty Law Symposium, Vessel Arrest & Attachment (2016)

  • American Conference Institute – Punitive Damages in Maritime Claims (2017)

  • Maritime Law Association of the U.S. – Recreational Boating Committee (2017)

  • Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association (WISTA) – Hot Maritime Topics (2017)

She has spoken on admiralty and maritime law in Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Diego, San Francisco, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, the Maine State Bar Association, and other professional fora, reinforcing her reputation as a trusted voice in maritime law.

She has authored numerous articles on admiralty and maritime law including co-authoring “Recent Developments in Admiralty and Maritime Law” in the American Bar Association TIPS Law Journal and authoring the chapter on punitive damages under General Maritime Law in the Second Edition of Damages Recoverable in Maritime Matters.

Professional Background

  • Of Counsel, Link Martyn PLLC (2023–present) – Outside counsel for maritime businesses, insurers, and law firms.

  • Attorney, Thompson Bowie & Hatch LLC (2016–2023) – Represented maritime clients in litigation and regulatory matters.

  • Attorney, Thompson & Bowie LLP (2009–2016) – Focused on admiralty litigation and insurance defense.

  • Law Clerk, Thompson & Bowie LLP (2006–2008)

Education

  • University of Maine School of Law (J.D., 2008)

  • Bowdoin College (B.A., Government & Legal Studies; Russian, 2005)

    - Semester study in Government and Legal Studies in London, United Kingdom (2004);

    - Semester study in Russian at the Nevsky Institute of Language and Culture in St. Petersburg, Russia (2003).

Personal Note

Sarah is admitted to practice in Maine, where she lives with her husband and four children. She enjoys traveling, boating, fishing, and lobstering. These passions keep her connected to the maritime world outside the courtroom.