Miami, FL admiralty & maritime attorney Michelle Otero Valdés explains why admiralty and maritime law have become so specialized. She notes that admiralty in maritime law is highly specialized because it originates from English law. In England, courts were structured in multiple ways—the king’s court, the church’s court, and the admiralty courts. The admiralty courts were established because the English realized that if other countries did not recognize and respect their maritime laws, they would avoid English ports. When the United States became a country, it adopted English law and maintained the separation of admiralty law from other legal areas due to its specialized nature. Admiralty law also needs to align with the laws of other countries to ensure consistency. As a result, U.S. maritime law follows international principles to provide assurance to those in the maritime industry that they will be treated fairly, just as they would be in other countries.