Partner

Sandra L. Knapp

BIOGRAPHY

Named “Female Business Leader of the Year” by the Chester County Chamber of Business and Industry, Sandra L. Knapp practices in the fields of Business Law, Commercial Transactions, Admiralty/Maritime Law, Real Estate Law, and Banking and Finance. She represents clients in a broad range of transactional and general corporate matters, including asset-based lending transactions, mergers and acquisitions, marine finance and vessel documentation, U.S.-based joint ventures for international companies, real estate, sale-leaseback transactions, construction contracts, leases and charters. She is frequently involved in multimillion-dollar financing and acquisition transactions for companies both nationally and internationally. In addition to financing matters, Sandy advises on maritime transportation regulatory matters, particularly on the coastwise trade of the United States and citizenship requirements. She has practiced in the Philadelphia area for over 30 years, representing clients throughout the United States and abroad.

Sandy is a member of the Maritime Law Association of the United States, past Chair of its Marine Finance Committee and formerly a member of its Board of Directors. She is also a member of the Chester County Bar Association and is admitted to the Supreme Court of the United States.

Sandy is active in the port community as well as the local Chester County community. She is on the Board of the YMCA of Greater Brandywine and a member of the International Business Council of the Chester County Economic Development Council. In 2019, Sandy was named by the March of Dimes as a Chester County Woman of Achievement in Business.

Since joining the firm, Sandy has served two, three-year terms as chair of the Gawthrop Greenwood Management Committee. Prior to joining Gawthrop Greenwood, she was the managing partner of Knapp McConomy Merlie LLP.

CREDENTIALS

COURT ADMISSIONS

Pennsylvania, 1986
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of PA, 1986
U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit, 1986
New Jersey, 1987
U.S. Supreme Court, 2007

EDUCATION

Villanova University School of Law, Villanova, Pennsylvania, J.D., 1986
Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, B.S. Finance with High Honors and B.A. International Studies with High Honors, 1981

MEMBERSHIPS & SERVICE

Maritime Law Association of the United States
Maritime Law Association, former board member and past chair of Marine Finance Committee
Chester County Bar Association
YMCA of Greater Brandywine, board member
Chester County Economic Development Council, Global Business Advisor

ADDITIONAL DISTINCTIONS

2022 Female Business Leader of the Year, Chester County Chamber of Business and Industry
The Best Lawyers in America^®2022
Top Lawyers, Main Line Today, 2014-2021
Daily Local News Best Lawyers – 2021 Readers Choice Awards
Who’s Who of Shipping and Maritime Lawyers
March of Dimes – Chester County Woman of Achievement, Business Award 2019
Brava! Women Business Achievement Award 2012
Smart CEO Magazine “2011 Legal Elite”
Women’s International Trade Association – Woman of the Year Award

PRACTICE AREAS

(610) 696-8225

(484) 412-0615

sknapp@gawthrop.com

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