Overview
Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell’s maritime lawyers are recognized locally, nationally and internationally as being among the best in their profession. In 2007, two of the five “Go To Lawyers” named in a poll by The Texas Lawyer as the best maritime lawyers in the state were Locke Lord partners. Our maritime partners are also listed in the Best Lawyers in America in the field of maritime law, and have selected by their peers in the maritime bar to serve as directors and committee chairs of the Maritime Law Association and the International Association of Defense Counsel. On an international basis, our lawyers have been selected to help draft international maritime conventions and advise the United States State Department on issues of international maritime law, and are perennially selected to speak to international audiences on maritime legal subjects.
Maritime Casualties
Locke Lord maritime lawyers have significant expertise in handling major maritime casualties. In 2007, the Firm tried a case involving an allision of an integrated tug/barge unit with a sunken offshore production platform that resulted in the sinking of the barge and tens of millions of dollars of costs arising from the resultant pollution. Our past experience includes major ship collisions, offshore blowouts, and similar maritime disasters.
Marine Insurance
In 2007, a Locke Lord partner recognized by The Texas Lawyer as being one of the five “Go To” maritime lawyers in Texas was singled out in that group for his inventive approach to marine insurance problems, and in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Locke Lord was selected by the world insurance market to advise and coordinate the handling of the immense removal of wreck claims arising from those disasters. The Firm has particular strength and experience in the area of offshore energy insurance coverage.
Maritime Personal Injury
In 2006, a Locke Lord partner obtained defense judgments in two maritime personal injury cases in the Galveston Division of the Southern District of Texas, a court that at the time was generally recognized as being one of the most unfavorable venues in the country for defendants in cases of this nature. Locke Lord partners have extensive experience in maritime personal injury claims arising out of offshore oil operations, and have represented drilling contractors, oil companies, boat companies and other service contractors. We have also handled a variety of toxic tort claims arising out maritime activities, including asbestos, silicosis, and benzene exposure cases.
Commercial Maritime Litigation
Locke Lord maritime lawyers are experienced in handling maritime commercial disputes, and have represented banks, suppliers, insurers, shippers, shipowners and charterers in charter party and other contractual disputes, vessel arrests, attachments of bank accounts and other intangible property.
Maritime Transactional Work
Locke Lord maritime lawyers frequently advise clients and assist in the negotiation of vessel charters, offshore drilling contracts, vessel purchases, contracts of affreightment, ship mortgages, and other maritime commercial transactions.
Clients
Locke Lord’s maritime clients include major offshore drilling contractors, large and small oil companies, diving contractors, and most of the world’s major offshore energy insurers. We also represent many companies that have occasional maritime legal problems, such as banks and shippers of cargo.