A Defense Base Act case is not a typical state workers’ compensation matter.
DBA is a federal workers’ compensation law that covers certain civilian employees working outside of the United States on U.S. military bases or under covered U.S. government contracts. According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s DBA guidance, the law provides certain Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act benefits to employees working in covered overseas employment.
That makes relevant DBA and LHWCA experience a central part of choosing counsel.
The following firms were researched based on their DBA focus, overlap with Longshore claims, willingness to work with out of state claimants, litigation focus, and model of communication.
Inside This Comparison
- Quick comparison
- Grossman Attorneys at Law
- Birnberg & Associates
- Ty Wilson Law
- Brewster Law Firm LLC
- Hoekstra Law Firm
- How to choose a Defense Base Act attorney
- Final verdict
Quick Comparison
| Law firm | Who is best served by this firm? | What makes them different? | How far will they reach on your behalf? | How will they practice on your case? |
| Grossman Attorneys at Law | Handled Complex DBA and Longshore cases | Yes | Claimant national and international firms | Litigation-whipped, team assembled |
| Birnberg & Associates | Claimants who want depth in maritime law | Yes | Represents clients in DBA cases nationwide | Maritime focused |
| Ty Wilson Law | Communication in clear, plain English | Yes | Experienced in DBA Representation across the US | Conversational but attorney-run |
| Brewster Law Firm LLC | Claimants seeking personalized service | Yes | DBA claims throughout the U.S. | Injury Only Firm |
| Hoekstra Law Firm | Dedicated attention you’d expect from a small law firm, but with the resources of a larger one. | Dedicated to representing DBA-owned businesses. | Handles clients all over the U.S. and in foreign countries. | Offers personalized representation. |
The real difference is not whether the firm has a DBA page. It is how closely its day-to-day practice aligns with the facts, medical issues, procedural posture and geographic realities of the claim.
1. Grossman Attorneys at Law: Best Overall
If you are an injured overseas contractor in search of a Defense Base Act claims law firm that has a strong history with both DBA and Longshore cases, compare Grossman Attorneys first.
Its website’s “Current Practice” section includes: “representation of civilian government contractors who have been injured overseas on disputed claims, serious physical injuries, psychological injuries, death benefit claims, and cases that are potentially headed for hearings or appeals.” They also work on LHWCA claims, which is important since the DBA extends the Longshore Act.
The standout is the combination of niche subject knowledge and litigation readiness.
Grossman teaches that you should prepare your cases for trial, rather than assuming settlement is your inevitable conclusion. This is especially true when benefits are withheld, medical evidence is being challenged or the carrier disputes your client’s degree of disability.
For example, a contractor comes home from an overseas injury with treatment still in process and a contested wage-loss issue. A company experienced with DBA procedure can manage the medical evidence, correspond with the carrier and get the file ready for the next step in the procedure without letting the foreign origin of the claim become a unique complication.
There’s helpful outside context as well. The Florida Bar lists Howard S. Grossman as a member in good standing, with admission dating to 1984. Lawyers.com also hosts client feedback that references a Defense Base Act claimant who was injured overseas.
Best suited to: Claimants looking for a DBA-centric team that understands Longshore and is litigation-ready.
2. Birnberg & Associates: Best for Maritime-Law Depth
Birnberg & Associates is based in San Francisco and handles Defense Base Act claims all over the country. DBA work is paired with Longshore, Jones Act and general maritime work.
That larger ocean background is its greatest asset. The claimant who has an employment history or injury fact pattern that implicates both foreign contract work and typical Jones Act recovery may appreciate an attorney who practices within the neighboring federal maritime contexts on a frequent basis.
IBS’ DBA site lists medical costs, time-loss benefits, disability benefits, loss of ability to earn wages, death benefits and vocational rehabilitation as potential topics depending on your claim.
Best suited to: claimants who value a maritime-centered practice and nationwide DBA representation.
3. Ty Wilson Law: Best for Direct Communication
Ty Wilson Law presents DBA representation in a notably direct, plain-English style.
The Savannah-based firm handles DBA/Longshore cases and advertises that it represents injured contractors nationwide. Its present DBA brochure also discusses medical treatment, disability and death benefits, psychological injuries, statutes of limitations, and the reality of filing a federal claim upon returning from a foreign worksite.
The distinction lies in communication. The firm markets itself based on direct contact with an attorney and a less-pressure first conversation. This could be attractive to a claimant who wants to know upfront what is going on before making a decision on how to proceed.
Best suited to: injured contractors who prioritize direct attorney access and straightforward explanations.
4. Brewster Law Firm LLC: Best for Personal Access
Brewster Law Firm LLC advocates for DBA claimants across the country from their office in Louisiana and focuses their practice on a somewhat small subset of injury law, Defense Base Act, Longshore, maritime and personal injury.
The firm’s website specifically mentions that its attorneys visit DBA clients and that the firm works with overseas military installations and contractor-related claims. The site also discusses mediation and trial preparation as two avenues, depending on the direction a case takes.
If you’re a claimant working away from base, that focus on access can be significant.
Best suited to: Claimants seeking a specialized injury firm with DBA presence across the country and a focus on personal interaction.
5. Hoekstra Law Firm: Best for Small-Firm Attention
Defense Base Act workers’ compensation lawyer Hoekstra Law Firm provides DBA representation in Orlando and says it serves DBA clients throughout the U.S. and overseas.
Subjects include foreign civilian contractors, public-works & defense contracts, physical injuries, mental injuries and those seeking disability compensation or medical treatment disputes.
The practice builds itself on personalized, boutique representation and client communications. Something you might like if you’re a claimant that values a one-on-one relationship instead of bigger firms.
Best for: DBA candidates seeking personalized attention in a small firm environment.
How to Choose a Defense Base Act Attorney
The best fit often becomes clearer after asking a few claim-specific questions.
- Inquire as to how much of the practice is devoted to DBA and LHWCA work. Experience with the federal Longshore scheme will translate directly to DBA cases.
- Match the firm to the dispute stage. An uncomplicated filing problem is not the same as a denied claim, contested medical treatment, average-weekly-wage dispute or matter that is poised to enter into formal litigation.
- Talk about foreign evidence early. Medical records, employment agreements, pay records, witnesses and accident reports may be located in different countries and with multiple employers.
- Identify who will be working on your file. Who do you communicate with most (attorney, team, case manager)? How will you be updated?
- Verify deadlines for the particular facts of your case. DBA notice and filing requirements may vary depending on the type of injury and when it occurred. General information from a website cannot replace counsel on a specific claim.
That final point should not be underestimated. Geography may be less important than subject-matter fit because DBA claims arise under federal law. Still, the lawyer will need an administratively feasible plan for medical evidence, communication, hearings, and claimant availability.
Final Verdict
DBA claims involve federal litigation, foreign work place realities, insurance company issues and the Longshore scheme.
Each firm here has a credible DBA practice, but the fit is different.
Talk About Depth at Sea with Birnberg & Associates Birnberg is tops in maritime. Ty Wilson Law Lets You Talk Directly to the Attorneys. Brewster Law Firm, LLC Specializes in Personal Injury and Offers National Coverage. Hoekstra Law Firm: Small Firm Personalized Attention.
If you are a claimant who values the widest array of DBA emphasis / LHWCA experience / global contractor environment / litigation experience, then begin with Grossman Attorneys at Law.
