Goldsmith & Ogrodowski, LLC

09/18/2026

When my partner Rich Ogrodowski and I talk with lawyers and non-lawyers alike about our practice as “admiralty and maritime” lawyers, we are often asked, “what does that mean?”

It means that since we founded our law firm 20 years ago, and for years before we practiced together as G&O, we have worked on lawsuits arising from serious personal injuries, deaths, and collisions which have occurred on rivers in Western PA, West Virginia, and Ohio, including on the Allegheny, Monongahela, Kanawha, and Ohio Rivers. The incident may involve a pleasure vessel, a towboat, a barge, or a combination of different types of vessels.

Admiralty and maritime law, not Pennsylvania or other state law, applies to casualties which occur on our area’s rivers, because most portions of these rivers are “navigable waterways.” “Navigable” is a term of art in admiralty and maritime law. It means a body of water capable of supporting interstate commerce by vessels.

If you, a family member, or another loved one have been involved in a casualty, meaning a serious injury, death, or property damage incident, occurring on an area “navigable waterway,” feel free to contact us, and we will, for no charge, explain to you what your legal rights are under admiralty and maritime law. We both grew up and live in Western PA - Rich in Scenery Hill, myself in Pittsburgh. We both are Proctor Members of the Maritime Law Association of the U.S.

If you decide to hire us and we agree to take on your case, we work on a “contingent fee” basis. This means that you won’t owe us a penny unless and until we are able to recover, through a judgment or settlement, funds for you.

Our contact details and our backgrounds are on our website, www.golawllc.com. You can also call us at 412-281-4340. We office in downtown Pittsburgh along the Monongahela River. 

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Texas & Massachusetts Admiralty & Maritime, Oilfield & Gas Well Explosion & Fire, Insurance Bad Faith, Liquor Liability, Serious Injury & Wrongful Death Lawyers Based in Pittsburgh, PA, our experienced serious injury and wrongful death attorneys represe...

07/16/2026

So Jack is thinking: How can Fred and his partner, Rich, attract an experienced associate to join them and their longtime paralegal & office manager, Heather, in their small but mighty Pittsburgh-based law firm representing working folks and their families — men and women who have typically suffered career-ending injuries, and sometimes death, in maritime, oilfield, and other industrial settings.

Perhaps you’re an associate at an insurance defense firm who wants to put your skills, intellect, passion, and work ethic to use helping people who deserve excellent legal counsel?

We are not a high-volume practice. We take on only a few important cases at a time. We litigate strategically, tenaciously, and with the utmost integrity - ask our opponents.

If you’re intrigued and considering a move, please reach out, to us or Jack.

06/03/2026

G&O's Fred Goldsmith and Rich Ogrodowski are honored to be included in the recently published online guide, "The 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in Maritime, Admiralty & The High Seas," the inaugural edition of this guide:

Rich:

https://www.lawdragon.com/lawyers/goldsmith-ogrodowski/e-richard-ogrodowski

Fred:

https://www.lawdragon.com/lawyers/goldsmith-ogrodowski/frecderik-b-goldsmith

The Lawdragon website explains:

"This is the inaugural edition of our guide honoring the lawyers whose expertise ranges from piracy to international disputes, offshore energy and superyachts, cruise ship injuries to ship finance. They advise those who navigate the 71 percent of the Earth covered in water from Monaco and Galveston, London and Athens’ port area of Piraeus, Seattle and Dubai, and New Orleans and Hong Kong. Our research for this maiden voyage inspired us with the range of backgrounds and knowledge embodied in this remarkable group of lawyers. ... We selected the lawyers included through a robust nomination process. A special salute to all of you who nominated lawyers for this edition! We also conduct independent research and vetting through clients and peers."

Lawdragon is a legal media company that provides free online news and editorial features – including our well-known guides to the nation’s leading lawyers – as well as content, marketing and branding services for lawyers and firms. Our Lawdragon Storyteller tool (lawdragon.com/storyteller) ena...

06/03/2026

Fred Goldsmith and Rich Ogrodowski are humbled to be nominated again by their peers and listed as 2026 Pennsylvania SuperLawyers:

Rich in Admiralty & Maritime and Personal Injury, Plaintiff:

https://profiles.superlawyers.com/pennsylvania/pittsburgh/lawyer/e-richard-ogrodowski/b07b6931-1356-44c5-8ec9-cd4c25a74282.html

Fred in Admiralty & Maritime and ADR:

https://profiles.superlawyers.com/pennsylvania/pittsburgh/lawyer/frederick-b-goldsmith/3a9b85fc-a9e7-4c75-a8fa-b90f72aaf538.html

Frederick Goldsmith is one of the top rated Transportation & Maritime attorneys in Pittsburgh, PA. He has met the stringent Super Lawyers selection criteria.

04/17/2026

We were so happy to welcome so many colleagues, friends, business partners, family members, lawyers, and judges to Goldsmith & Ogrodowski’s 20th Anniversary Celebration last evening.

It was so heartwarming to see everyone and look back on how it all began when Rich and Fred had burgers at Pittsburgh’s Union Grill so many years ago and shared what they’d really like to do one day if they had their druthers.

We are so thankful to our wonderful legal assistant and office manager, Heather Trainer, who has been with us from the start and has always been able to locate the witness no one else could, to find the records that made the difference, to always balance the books, and who has always shown such empathy to our clients.

And we thank our clients who have placed their trust in us and whom we have had the honor of representing.

We shall carry on with humility and the same integrity and hard work you have known us for.