Best Lawyers Near You in Houston, Texas for Admiralty and Maritime Law
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...
Nicholas Earles is a partner in SBSB’s Houston office and has been a knowledgeable resource in the maritime space for more than 20 years. While his practice focuses in admiralty, his experience also extends to general and premises liability, workers’ compensation, subrogation and transportation. Additionally, he has navigated difficult cases for energy companies and overseas defense contractors covered by the Defense Base Act. A member of SBSB’s original roster in February 2...
Thomas Deen is a partner in SBSB’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 Maritime Arb...
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.
Jason is one of the nation's top trial lawyers for one reason: when he represents a client, he's all in. No matter how tough the fight. No matter how big the challenge. When it matters most, he's there for people who have been wronged. He takes every case personally, treating each client like family while he fights to rebuild their lives. When people need to win, they call Jason. He's won several verdicts and settlements worth more than $100 million, dozens of results worth more than $10 mill...
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...
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...
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 ...
G. Byron Sims is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Admiralty and Maritime Law and Commercial Litigation. G. Byron, who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2014. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which G. Byron is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
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...
For more than 25 years, Tim Hassinger has represented companies and insurers in personal injury, commercial, and insurance coverage litigation. He uses a targeted, strategic approach—from early case assessment to trial—to control and efficiently resolve litigation. Tim is AV-Preeminent rated, a Louisiana Super Lawyer®, and serves as Liaison Counsel in complex class actions. He teaches Admiralty at Loyola Law School and presents internationally on injury and contractual claims....
If you had told John Schouest 30 years ago that he would become the leader of a dynamic and multistate law firm, he would have said “no way.” But over time, he realized that providing quality client representation could be achieved in a collegial and respectful environment. He aligned himself with others who felt the same, and SBSB Law was born. John has always been at home on the water. As a young man, he spent summers working at his father’s push-boat company in Louisiana,...
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...
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.