Best Lawyers in America for Admiralty and Maritime Law
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"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...
Kenneth Engerrand is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Admiralty and Maritime Law. Kenneth, who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kenneth is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Wayne Zeringue, a partner in the Maritime Practice Group and Energy, Environmental, and Natural Resources Industry Team, represents marine and energy clients in a broad range of litigation and transactions. Wayne has more than 30 years of experience in admiralty and maritime, oil and gas, construction, products liability, and environmental litigation. He represents oil companies, exploration and production companies, builders, owners, barge lines, towing companies, marine fabricators, shipyar...
Kevin LaVie practices in the area of admiralty and tort. He has a very broad-based practice involving nearly all aspects of maritime law including personal injury and death claims; cargo damage claims; dock damage and collision claims; Limitation of Liability matters; charter party and related commercial disputes (including ship arrests and Rule B attachments); insurance coverage disputes; oilfield indemnity actions; pollution matters; and various Coast Guard and immigration matters. His prac...
Conte Cicala is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Admiralty and Maritime Law. Conte, who practices law in San Francisco, California, has been recognized since 2013. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Conte is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Richard Cozad is a partner in SBSB’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 Judge of...
Doug Muller brings considerable experience in federal and state courts, both at the trial and appellate levels. His maritime clients benefit from the professional judgment he has gained over 20 years as an admiralty lawyer and litigator. For his maritime clients, Doug often works with tight deadlines and on very short notice to respond around the clock to those with urgent needs. His broad-based knowledge informs his general maritime practice, in which he represents ship owners, vessel charte...
Michael D. Williams is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Admiralty and Maritime Law and Litigation - Insurance. Michael D., who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Michael D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Jacqueline Garcell is a partner and trial attorney at Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A. in Miami, Florida. Her practice focuses on Admiralty and Maritime Law and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs, with an emphasis on representing cruise ship passengers, crew members, and individuals injured in maritime and non-maritime accidents. She handles cases involving cruise ship injuries , sexual assault claims , wrongful death matters , shore excursion accidents , and other complex persona...
Paul Sterbcow is the managing member of Lewis, Kullman, Sterbcow & Abramson, LLC. Paul obtained a B.S. from Tulane University and a J.D. from Tulane University School of Law. Paul is licensed to practice in all Louisiana state and federal courts, along with the United States Supreme Court. Paul’s primary practice area is admiralty and maritime law, an area in which he has been recognized as one of the best practitioners in the country. Paul was selected as a member of the Plaintiff&...
Stewart focuses on bankruptcy, restructuring, and creditors’ rights; admiralty and maritime; marine finance and vessel documentation; asset-based finance; litigation, corporate and commercial law; and oil and gas. Stewart has been practicing law in New Orleans for more than 38 years. He is a 1974 graduate of Kenyon College, magna cum laude , where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He graduated top in his class in 1977 from Tulane Law School where he was elected to the Order of the Coif...
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...
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.