Best Lawyers in Texas, United States for Admiralty and Maritime Law
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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.
Sarah Clinton Jones is a partner in SBSB’s Houston office and boasts more than 20 years of courtroom experience as a trial attorney. With clients ranging from locally owned private businesses to Fortune 100 and 500 corporations with a national presence, her book is vast and diverse. As first chair or solo trial counsel, she has tried numerous lawsuits to verdict in state and federal court, with cases ranging from catastrophic injury to employment disputes. Sarah joined SBSB in February ...
James Bailey is a partner in SBSB’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 i...
Tim Strickland is a trial partner in the Houston office of Kean Miller , where he represents clients in Admiralty and Maritime Law and Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants. Based in Houston, Texas, he has practiced law for more than 33 years across Texas and the Gulf Coast. His background includes service as managing partner of the Houston office of a multi-state maritime litigation firm before joining Kean Miller in 2021. His practice focuses on offshore energy and marine litigation...
Allen D. Hemphill is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Admiralty and Maritime Law. Allen D., who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Allen D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
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...
Robert Vining is a partner in SBSB’s Houston office. A seasoned attorney with expertise spanning more than a dozen practice areas, he is a respected figure in his field who is admitted to the State Bar of Texas, the Louisiana State Bar Association, The Mississippi Bar and in nine U.S. District Courts across the Gulf Coast. Mr. Vining arrived to SBSB in February 2018 and has overseen a prolific law career of more than 28 years. He primarily splits his practice between litigation and tran...
Susan Noe Wilson is a partner in SBSB’s office. A member of the firm’s bench since September 2016, she boasts a legal career spanning more than 30 years and a dozen practice areas, ranging from construction and maritime to energy and insurance, trucking, business transactions and more. Ms. Noe Wilson has handled and tried Jones Act cases, 905(b) claims, coverage disputes, commercial matters and land-based and offshore drilling-related disputes in courts throughout the Gulf Coast r...
Ms. Schovajsa joined the firm in 1998 and became a partner in 2003. Her practice focuses on the firm’s major casualty, personal injury and appellate dockets. Ms. Schovajsa is an experienced advocate with substantial experience in both Texas state court and federal court. She guides her clients through every stage of the legal process, from pre-litigation incident investigation, risk analysis and case evaluation to motion practice, discovery, mediation and, if necessary, trial. These cli...
John Schwambach focuses his practice on the trial and appeal of complex commercial disputes. Mr. Schwambach handles complex civil matters in both state and federal courts. He has briefed and argued many appeals and original proceedings in mandamus before Texas appellate courts, including the Texas Supreme Court and the First, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, Thirteenth, and Fourteenth Courts of Appeals. Mr. Schwambach has also briefed and argued numerous pre-trial motions in...
Thomas J. Smith represents clients in complex civil litigation with a focus on insurance defense, personal injury, and construction matters. He brings strategic insight to each case, guiding clients through litigation with precision and responsiveness from pre-suit through appeal. See how Tommy protects client interests in high-stakes matters: gallowaylawfirm.com
Kelly Hartmann focuses on resolving client issues through innovative, cost-effective strategies that align with business goals—balancing aggressive litigation with practical resolution. He represents energy, maritime, and construction firms, their underwriters, and insurers, and handles complex litigation including wrongful death, Jones Act, drilling operations, health care, and trucking liability cases. Kelly also advises clients on contracts and commercial documents, including master ...
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.