Find Lawyers in America for Admiralty and Maritime Law
Select a location from the list below to find the best legal talent for your needs.
State
Scott Andrews is licensed to practice law in Louisiana (since 1996) and Texas (since 2006), and is admitted to practice in all Federal Courts in Louisiana, and before the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. Since 2010, Scott has been an Adjunct Professor of Law at the Southern University Law Center teaching Advanced Louisiana Torts, Insurance Law, and Products Liability. Scott Andrews enjoys an AV peer review rating from Martindale-Hubbell and was...
Kurt Arnold is a relentless advocate for his clients, having obtained billions of dollars in verdicts and settlements. One of the nation’s most accomplished trial lawyers, Kurt prepares every case for trial. Of course, many cases resolve before trial, but defendants and insurance companies only pay the largest settlements when he gives them no alternative. Kurt finds helping individuals defeat companies that have continuously denied his clients justice to be one of the most rewarding pa...
James Bailey is a partner in SBSB Eastham’s Houston office whose practice focuses primarily on litigation and arbitration related to all matters of maritime law. He regularly represents vessel owners, managers, operators, P&I clubs and marine insurers in marine casualty losses and contract disputes including collisions, allisions, cargo damage and loss, charter party disputes, regulatory and environmental matters, oil and hazardous materials pollution and personal injury. Additional...
Etienne Balart is a partner in the Maritime and Litigation practice groups, in the Construction Industry Team, and co-leads the firm's Latin America working group. He provides transactional and litigation counsel to clients in the energy and maritime industries. Etienne helps clients identify and quantify financial, compliance, and other risks associated with disputes and litigated matters, negotiate, and, where necessary, bring to trial commercial and other disputes. Relying upon this deep e...
Will Baldwin is co-leader of the firm’s Maritime Industry Group and leader of the firm’s maritime transactional team, where he focuses on maritime transactions and marine finance. Will also serves as co-chair of the firm’s offshore wind initiative. Will advises and represents clients on a wide range of complex marine transactional matters, including financings, ship mortgages, the purchase and sale of marine assets, Jones Act compliance, and governmental approval for maritim...
Frank Barry is an experienced maritime and energy litigator with successes involving maritime property damage, marine insurance indemnity and coverage claims. Frank also has achieved successful outcomes in insurance broker E&O claims, and in oil and gas claims such as Legacy Oil, on shore blowouts, and operating agreement litigation. With over 30 years of experience, his reported cases include seminal Louisiana caselaw on gas balancing and preferential rights in mineral law (Fina Oil &...
Limor Ben-Maier is a founding member of SBSB Eastham and is one of the managing partners of the firm. An extensive career in law led her to help facilitate the creation of the firm in February 2015. While she has worked every job in a law firm, her time as a lawyer started as a Federal Court clerk. In that time, she assisted the Court in writing decisions for cases under Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, Defense Base Act, consumer protection, and immigration visas. Amongst...
Richard Bertram is a partner in the Maritime Practice Group. Richard has more than 30 years of experience in admiralty and maritime law. He handles a wide range of domestic and international admiralty and maritime matters, including transactions, litigation, arbitration, appellate, regulatory, and administrative law, marine casualty investigations, regulatory compliance, and marine pollution and environmental matters.
Derick W. Betts, Jr. is a member of Seward & Kissel’s Corporate Finance and Tax Groups. Derick has practiced law since 1970. Derick specializes in international corporate law, limited liability company, tax and ship finance matters principally related to mergers and acquisitions, capital markets and joint venture shipping transactions. He has particular expertise in taxation of the shipping industry, specifically the U.S. taxation of foreign shipping and joint venture shipping trans...
Senior Counsel Will Bland, III, one of the founding members of the firm, has more than 49 years of experience as a litigator. Will’s practice focuses on maritime personal injury defense, maritime collision and property damage insurance coverage, contractual indemnity, longshore matters, transportation defense, and general litigation. His clients have included both Fortune 500 and local one-boat companies, and he regularly represents vessel operators, shipyards, both brown water and offs...
Caj Boatright has made a habit of winning exceptional verdicts and settlements for his clients. In fact, in the last couple of years, it would be difficult to find another trial lawyer who has tried more cases to verdict and obtained more multimillion-dollar settlements even though Mr. Boatright has spent only five years of his 15-year legal career representing plaintiffs. His winning formula rests on his strong sense of justice and a belief that the American jury system is the best way to he...
Member Alan G. Brackett, who is one of the firm founders, leads the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act defense team, which also handles claims arising under the Defense Base Act and War Hazards Compensation Act. Alan litigates claims nationwide for large corporations and insurance companies, including Chubb and American Longshore Mutual Association. As supported by the many peer honors he has received, including The Best Lawyers in America and Super Lawyers, Alan has develop...
"Helping people regain their lives after catastrophic injury or wrongful death of a family member is not work. It is a noble and rewarding challenge to right a wrong and brings with it great personal satisfaction." Having graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Engineering from Massachusetts Maritime Academy, acquired three U.S. Coast Guard licenses and worked on offshore drilling platforms for more than seven years, Keith Brais brings an uncommon degree of real world experience...
Mike Butterworth practices in the areas of admiralty and tort litigation and alternative dispute resolution, which includes collision, repair yard, machinery, cargo, pollution and longshoreman personal injury litigation at the trial and appellate level as well as mediation where appropriate. He is a registered civil mediator with the Louisiana State Bar Association. In addition to litigation, he teaches in the maritime law program at Tulane University Law School.
Colin Cambre practices in the area of admiralty law. He specializes in the areas of maritime personal injury defense and litigation, Jones Act and Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act claims, and maritime collision and property damage defense and litigation. He has experience conducting shipboard investigations for vessel collisions, personal injury and cargo damage. Colin has represented clients in state and federal courts in all aspects of litigation. He has handled numerous...
Bert M. Cass Jr., is a jury trial litigator concentrating in the defense of bodily injury and death cases particularly in marine and offshore litigation claims. His practice focuses on representing vessel owners, oil and gas producers, exploration and drilling companies, facility operators, distributors, and offshore service contractors and their insurers against personal injury, wrongful death and survival claims. He is also experienced in energy-related claims, including interpretation of i...
Jim is Chairman of the firm’s Litigation Practice Group. His primary practice areas include admiralty, business, cybersecurity, data privacy, railroad/transit, and unmanned systems. Jim has tried over 100 cases to jury verdicts for clients involving a broad range of legal disputes. Jim advises governing boards and senior leadership regarding risks and resolution strategies in high-profile cases. His service as general counsel to companies, and as a director and officer of several non-pr...
With more than 25 years’ experience counseling, representing, and advocating for employer and contractor clients, Kathleen Charvet’s knowledge of the intricacies of the laws and regulations governing her clients enables her to quickly determine the best strategies for defending their interests. Kathleen engages in a collaborative practice with clients; medical, engineering, safety, and vocational expert witnesses; mediators; the bench; and other attorneys to attain optimum results...
Miles Clements is a recognized trial attorney having tried 100 cases to judgment. He practices at the trial and appellate levels in both state and federal court as well as in specialized jurisdictions throughout the country. His reputation spans from the marine and energy sector to defending the business and commercial needs of privately held and publicly traded companies. Miles is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, the highest distinction of trial lawyers in the United States...
Attorney John Coletti is a personal injury lawyer based out of Portland who represents clients throughout both Oregon and Washington. Throughout his career, he has won several million-dollar verdicts for his clients. Some of those include a $12 million defective product case and a $5 million defective pain medication pump case. Not only has John obtained large verdicts, but he also has obtained record-breaking and rule-changing verdicts. The Inner Circle of Advocates has selected John as one ...
Bill Collier was born in Galveston, Texas in 1952 and attended Rice University where he received a B.A. degree (cum laude) in 1975. While at Rice, he was President of Sid Richardson College and Chairman of the University’s Honor Council. He later obtained a J.D. degree from Tulane University in New Orleans in 1978. He is admitted to practice law in the courts of Texas, Louisiana, and California. Mr. Collier joined Keesal, Young & Logan in 1980 and became a shareholder in 1984. In 20...
Richard Cozad is a partner in SBSB Eastham’s New Orleans office with more than 45 years of experience in private law practice. A member of the firm since August 2018, he has focused his years of practice primarily on admiralty, marine insurance and environmental law. Richard received his bachelor’s degree from Loyola University before going on to earn his law degree from Tulane University. Following graduation, he served as a law clerk for the Honorable Nauman Scott, former Chief ...
Todd G. Crawford has handled a broad scope of complex litigation, ranging from toxic exposures to marine disasters to catastrophic oilfield blowouts. Todd remains busy splitting his time between the firm’s Houston office and New Orleans office, while still managing the Gulfport office allowing him to easily represent his clients all along the Gulf Coast region. Todd's practice includes general maritime law matters, including arrests and attachments, cargo claims, limitation of liability...
Thomas Deen is a partner in SBSB Eastham’s Corpus Christi and Houston offices. Over a career spanning more than 40 years in maritime law, he has developed a reputation for client service. As a litigator, arbitrator and counsel, he represents clients in other areas including construction, energy, transportation, business transactions and more. A member of SBSB Eastham since September 2016, Tom is a certified arbitrator and is a past Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Houston Mari...
After completing his undergraduate degree at the United States Merchant Marine Academy Mr. DeGiulio obtained a U.S. Coast Guard unlimited tonnage Third Officer’s license and a First Class Pilot license for the Great Lakes and served on numerous merchant and naval vessels. He then returned to school and obtained his law degree and a master’s degree in business administration. Throughout his legal career Mr. DeGiulio has handled all types of maritime casualty and commercial disputes...
Kelly Duncan is a partner in the Maritime Practice Group. He serves currently as co-chair of the firm’s Gaming Industry Team and served on Jones Walker’s board of directors from 2006 to 2014. Kelly has 40 years of experience handling admiralty, maritime, and international and customs law matters, including domestic and international matters relating to marine acquisitions, financings, vessel construction, regulatory issues, maritime lien enforcement and foreclosures, contracts of ...
Michael J. Ecuyer is a member of the law firm of Gainsburgh, Benjamin, David, Meunier, & Warshauer, L.L.C. Michael is engaged in a civil litigation practice. He practices with an emphasis on the representation of plaintiffs in medical malpractice claims, admiralty or maritime matters, mass torts, FELA claims and personal injury claims. A member of the Louisiana State Bar Association, the New Orleans Bar Association, the Louisiana Association for Justice (Executive Committee), and the Fede...
As a member of Lugenbuhl's Admiralty & Maritime Group, Adelaida (Adi) Ferchmin focuses on advising clients in a wide variety of maritime, insurance, and energy matters. When working with her clients, Adi uses her knowledge of Spanish, Polish and Croatian to assist clients with international transactions and matters involving foreign entities or witnesses. Growing up in San Juan, Puerto Rico Adi has a thorough understanding of not only the languages, but barriers that can be brought on by ...
Geoffrey serves as the office managing partner of the New York office and is vice chair of the firm's Transportation & Trade Practice. He focuses on U.S. and non-U.S. flag shipping matters, and all aspects of asset-based lending, including ship and aircraft finance and equipment leasing. He routinely advises vessel owners and operators, as well as financial institutions in connection with U.S., Marshall Island, Liberian and Vanuatu maritime and corporate laws. He also provides maritime ad...
Kyle Findley is recognized by colleagues and adversaries alike as one of the top trial lawyers in America. His fearless passion and common-sense approach have resulted in juries delivering record-breaking verdicts across the country for his clients that suffer from life changing injuries. Year after year, Kyle has consistently secured seven and eight figure jury verdicts for his clients in the courtroom – with his jury verdicts totaling well over nine-figures from juries in four differe...
Mr. Flint is a Shareholder in the New Orleans office with a practice that includes both commercial and civil litigation within the maritime and energy fields. His maritime industry experience includes the representation of drilling and service companies, blue and brown water vessel owners, charterers, and insurers. Particularly related to his maritime practice, Mr. Flint has developed a specialty with DBA cases defending burn pit and PTSD claims. His longevity in the practice area and concern...
Vincent J. Foley is a partner in the Holland & Knight Maritime Practice Group. He practices primarily in the area of international shipping litigation and arbitration. He has advised clients in connection with vessel casualties, including property damage, charter party disputes and limitation of liability actions. Mr. Foley has represented marine terminal operators in connection with licensing issues, drafting of terminal service contracts and related agreements. He has also advised clien...
Mr. Force practices in the areas of commercial litigation, admiralty, and complex insurance defense and coverage law and has represented clients at both the trial and appellate levels. Mr. Force is admitted to practice in Louisiana, Texas, and California and has practiced with law firms in each of those states. Mr. Force is an active member of the Maritime Law Association of the United States, having served on its Board of Directors and as Chair of the MLA's Practice and Procedure and Young L...
George J. Fowler, III, is a partner in the Maritime Practice Group, where he focuses on litigation, arbitration, and dispute resolution. George Fowler is an internationally recognized trial lawyer known for his successful record trying hundreds of cases to juries and judges, including numerous high-profile matters, complex litigation, and cases of national concern. George has written and lectured extensively on private international law and world trade and is active in promoting trade and inv...
Michael J. Frevola is a litigator specializing in the areas of admiralty and commercial litigation. He has tried cases, argued motions and briefed and argued appeals before federal and state courts. He has represented clients in federal mediations and maritime and commercial arbitrations and has conducted shipboard and overseas investigations in support of maritime litigation and to perform owners' due diligence. In the admiralty and maritime field, Mr. Frevola focuses on Rule B maritime atta...
Jacqueline Garcell is a senior partner and active trial attorney in maritime law for Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A. She routinely handles passengers’ personal injury, sexual assault and wrongful death claims, as well as non-maritime personal injury claims. Ms. Garcell is the fastest attorney to ever make partner at the firm, having been promoted to the partner position after being with us for a decade. Ms. Garcell has helped settle hundreds of cases on behalf of both cruise shi...
In these complex cases, Jeremy complements his arguments with logical structure and prudent strategy to gain advantages over the opposition. He regularly appears in state and federal courts, and he has litigated and handled appeals involving: Contract and other commercial disputes Business torts Products liability and toxic tort cases Insurance matters Vessel seizures/arrests and other maritime casualty matters Jeremy is also a regular contributor to legal publications and has written numerou...
Teeto Graham represents parties in complex and/or commercial litigation in the Federal and State Courts throughout Mississippi and Alabama. His litigation experience includes business contract litigation, disputes involving trade secrets, non-competition/non-solicitation agreements and unfair trade practices, business torts, defense of state securities law claims, fraud, suppression and misrepresentation claims, product liability cases, warranty claims, construction disputes, construction def...
“It is a great honor to fight on behalf of our clients. They turn things over to us during hard times, and we do what it takes to make things right and force those accountable to take responsibility.” ________________________________________________ Thomas D. Graham is known for taking on challenging and unique cases as he delivers exceptional results for those who need them most. He has significant experience handling all types of personal injury and wrongful death claims, includ...
Kelly M. Haas is a partner in the Houston office. Her practice is focused on the areas of admiralty and maritime law and energy-related litigation matters in both state and federal courts. Her practice consists of defending vessel owners and operators, as well as offshore companies, from claims arising from collisions, property damage, personal injury, maritime pollution, environmental issues, cargo matters and contract disputes, and it regularly includes matters involving the Jones Act, the ...
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.