James Bailey

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. Additionally, he is experienced in handling vessel arrests and attachments.

A member of the firm since February 2022, James has a significant role in its emergency response and incident investigation practice. He has directed, coordinated and managed the response to federal and local agency investigations into notable marine casualty events including the following:

— Pollution following allision with bridge (2024)
— CBP investigation into absconders (2024)
— Crewmember fatality and resulting U.S. Coast Guard investigation (2023)
— Allision during outbound transit Houston Ship Channel (2023)
— Collision with tug assist while entering Barbours Cut Terminal (2022)
— Allision where vessel was set-down in heavy winds (2022)
— Removal of Master under psychological distress (2022)
— Over-pressurization in engine room causing serious injury (2021)
— Collision with vessel in zero visibility with fatalities (2020)
— Over-pressurization of vessel’s cargo tanks during discharge (2019)
— Collision involving alleged embarrassment to navigation (2019)
— Investigation into discovery of stowaways (2018)
— Stevedore fatality arising from shifting steel cargo aboard a bulk carrier (2018)
— U.S. Coast investigation into alleged MARPOL violations (2017)
— Allision and fire aboard a chemical tanker near ITC Terminal (2016)
— Release of caustic soda from a chemical tanker at Port of Lake Charles, Louisiana (2016)
— Explosion and fire aboard a LPG tanker during cargo transfer (2015)
— Collision between a chemical tanker and bulk carrier causing pollution event (2015)
— Crane failure aboard general cargo vessel and damage to cargo of LNG equipment (2014)

James has successfully tried numerous maritime cases in both Texas state and federal courts and has significant appellate experience in the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Texas Supreme Court and the intermediate Texas Court of Appeals. A graduate of Trinity University and South Texas College of Law, he is admitted to the State Bar of Texas, the Texas Supreme Court and all lower state courts, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and the U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of Texas. His commitment to his work has garnered national acclaim, including being named a Texas Rising Star, a Texas Super Lawyer in Maritime and Transportation Law by Thomson Reuters and being named to The Best Lawyers in America in Admiralty and Maritime Law, Product Liability Litigation for Defendants and Transportation Law.