University of Texas Law logo Update your account
  • Sign in or Join Account and Briefcase
    Not a member yet? Sign up Forgot password?
  • Accredited CLE
    Live Conferences Studio Webcasts eConferences eCourses Hooked on CLE Answer Bar
  • Research & Self-Study
    Materials eLibrary
  • Subscriptions
    MCLE On-Demand and eLibrary
  • Browse by Practice Area
    Administrative Admiralty and Maritime Alternative Dispute Resolution Appellate - Civil and Criminal Bankruptcy Business Entities Civil Rights Construction Corporate Counsel Criminal Cybersecurity Elder Law and Guardianship Employment Entertainment and Sports Law Environmental Essentials Ethics Exempt Organizations / Nonprofits Family Government Enforcement / White Collar Crime Healthcare Immigration Insurance Intellectual Property / Patent Law International Law Practice Management Litigation M&A and Securities Oil, Gas and Energy Practice Skills Real Estate Renewable Energy School Self-Care Taxation Technology Technology for Lawyers Trusts and Estates / Probate Water
  • Search
  • Shopping Cart

What are you searching for?

Skip to main content
UT Law CLE logo
  • Overview /
  • Schedule /
  • Faculty /
  • Credit Info /
  • Key Dates /
  • Venue /
  • Sponsors
Register or Buy ticket icon Buy
Conference art

27th Annual

Admiralty and Maritime Law Conference

Houston Sep 21, 2018 South Texas College of Law Houston
Conference Concluded
Buy
Related products: eConference Materials
SPONSOR
Brice Mediation
Brochure thumbnail
Download Brochure (PDF)

Overview

Join UT Law Continuing Legal Education for the 27th Annual Admiralty and Maritime Law Conference – the leading annual Texas CLE event that focuses on legal developments in the specialized areas of admiralty and maritime law. The conference offers a unique opportunity for practitioners to stay abreast of global and national developments affecting case law, contracts, and civil procedure.

This year’s highlights include:

  • The always popular overview of recent developments at the national level and in the Fifth and Eleventh Circuits with Texas Law Professors David Robertson and Michael Sturley, along with Matthew Ammerman of Houston, TX
  • A deep dive into Criminal Prosecution of Pollution Cases featuring perspectives from the U.S. Coast Guard and the Department of Justice
  • The Hon. W. Eugene Davis discussing the Fifth Circuit’s unanimous, landmark en banc decision in In re Larry Dorion, Inc.
  • An exploration of Ethical Issues When Insurers Won’t Fund the Defense, with a focus on how insured and their counsel fill the gap between applicable requirements and permissions
  • The opportunity to stump ethics gurus Bradley J. Jackson and William J. Chriss with your toughest ethical dilemmas in What to Do if Your Client is Misbehaving, Part VIII
Don't miss this opportunity to learn from and interact with admiralty and maritime law experts.

  • Buy

Event Schedule

Program is subject to change.
All times are Central Time Zone.

  • Time
    Credit
    Subject
    Speaker
  • Friday Morning, Sep. 21, 2018
    Presiding Officer:
    W. Robins Brice, Brice Mediation - Houston, TX
  • 7:45 am
    Registration Opens
    Includes continental breakfast.

  • 8:25 am
    Welcoming Remarks

  • 8:30 am
    1.50 hrs
    Recent Developments in Admiralty and Maritime Law at the National Level and in the Fifth and Eleventh Circuits
    The eighteenth annual installment of the seminal paper surveys developments, identifies issues of genuine national importance, and discusses items of significant interest from the Fifth and Eleventh Circuits.

    David W. Robertson, The University of Texas School of Law - Austin, TX
    Michael F. Sturley, The University of Texas School of Law - Austin, TX
    Matthew H. Ammerman, Law Office of Matthew H. Ammerman, P.C. - Houston, TX

  • 10:00 am
    Break

  • 10:15 am
    0.75 hr
    Judicial Perspective: Doiron and Maritime Contracts
    The author of the unanimous en banc decision of the Fifth Circuit in In re Larry Doiron, Inc. discusses the difficulty with the previous test for determining whether a contract is a maritime contract, the confusion and conflict in the application of the test to contracts involving drilling and production of oil and gas on navigable waters, and the development of a simpler and more straightforward method to determine whether oilfield contracts are maritime.

    Hon. W. Eugene Davis, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit - New Orleans, LA
    Kenneth G. Engerrand, Brown Sims, P.C. - Houston, TX

  • 11:00 am
    0.50 hr ethics
    Ethical Issues When Insurers Won't Fund the Defense
    There's a gap between Hamel's "fully adversarial trial" requirement and Lyda Swinerton Builders' permission for insureds to "settle or litigate, at [the insured's] option." How insureds and their counsel fill that gap when insurers refuse to defend raises issues from legal creativity to outright chicanery.

    Samantha Trahan, Trahan Kornegay Payne LLP - Houston, TX

  • 11:30 am
    0.75 hr
    FMC Primer: The Shipping Act and Regulatory Matters
    The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) is the federal agency tasked with regulating international ocean transportation in the U.S. foreign commerce. Review the basic jurisdiction of the FMC and potential issues involving marine terminal operators and ocean common carriers, and survey potential legislative and policy changes affecting the shipping community.

    Rachel Anne de Cordova, Phelps Dunbar LLP - Houston, TX

  • 12:15 pm
    Pick Up Lunch
    Included in registration.

  • Friday Afternoon, Sep. 21, 2018
    Presiding Officer:
    Harold K. Watson, Chaffe McCall LLP - Houston, TX
  • LUNCHEON PRESENTATION
  • 12:35 pm
    0.50 hr
    US LNG Gold Rush—Where are the Shovels?
    A closer look at where maritime lawyers may benefit and be of service to the proliferation of US LNG export projects.

    Stuart P. Sperling, Poten & Partners - Houston, TX

  • 1:05 pm
    Break

  • 1:20 pm
    1.00 hr
    Criminal Prosecution of Pollution Cases
    Hear from the experts how pollution is being investigated, and explore the implications of recent cases.

    Anthony M. DeStefano, LCDR, U.S. Coast Guard, Office of Maritime and International Law - Washington, DC
    Marla Poirot, Foley & Lardner LLP - Washington, DC

  • 2:20 pm
    0.50 hr
    Sanctions on Imports and Exports and Their Impact on the Shipping Industry
    International trade grows more complex by the day, creating new risks for those seeking to import and export goods. Explore the current state of sanctions on imports and exports, and examine the implications this rapidly changing environment is having on the shipping industry.

    Jonathan Epstein, Holland & Knight - Washington, DC

  • 2:50 pm
    0.75 hr
    Drafting Effective Arbitration Clauses
    Drafting effective arbitration clauses is more complicated than it may appear, and the selection of what rules and procedures will apply can make or break your case. Explore the available options, and learn how to make the most of this pivotal set of provisions.

    Katharine Fleischer Newman, ConocoPhillips - Houston, TX
    Douglas J. Shoemaker, Blank Rome LLP - Houston, TX

  • 3:35 pm
    Break

  • 3:45 pm
    0.75 hr
    Maintenance and Cure: Experimental and Speculative Medical Procedures
    Examine the law regarding maintenance and cure, including when maintenance and cure may be owed for experimental medical procedures and long-term care.  

    Brandon K. Best, The Bale Law Firm, PLLC - Sugar Land, TX
    Cory D. Itkin, Arnold & Itkin LLP - Houston, TX

  • 4:30 pm
    1.00 hr ethics
    What To Do If Your Client Is Misbehaving, Part VIII
    Real-world questions and answers regarding ethics, the law, and what your client has asked you to do—or hide. Stump our experts with your hardest questions!

    Please submit your questions in advance to ConferenceQA@utcle.org or on-site at the conference registration desk.

    William J. Chriss, The Snapka Law Firm - Corpus Christi, TX
    Bradley A. Jackson, Retired Admiralty and Maritime Lawyer - Houston, TX

  • 5:30 pm
    Adjourn

Download Schedule

Conference Faculty

Matthew H. Ammerman

Law Office of Matthew H. Ammerman, P.C.
Houston, TX

Brandon K. Best

The Bale Law Firm, PLLC
Sugar Land, TX

William J. Chriss

The Snapka Law Firm
Corpus Christi, TX

Hon. W. Eugene Davis

U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
New Orleans, LA

Rachel Anne de Cordova

Phelps Dunbar LLP
Houston, TX

Anthony M. DeStefano

LCDR, U.S. Coast Guard, Office of Maritime and International Law
Washington, DC

Kenneth G. Engerrand

Brown Sims, P.C.
Houston, TX

Jonathan Epstein

Holland & Knight
Washington, DC

Cory D. Itkin

Arnold & Itkin LLP
Houston, TX

Bradley A. Jackson

Retired Admiralty and Maritime Lawyer
Houston, TX

Katharine Fleischer Newman

ConocoPhillips
Houston, TX

Marla Poirot

Foley & Lardner LLP
Washington, DC

David W. Robertson

The University of Texas School of Law
Austin, TX

Douglas J. Shoemaker

Blank Rome LLP
Houston, TX

Stuart P. Sperling

Poten & Partners
Houston, TX

Michael F. Sturley

The University of Texas School of Law
Austin, TX

Samantha Trahan

Trahan Kornegay Payne LLP
Houston, TX

Planning Committee

David W. Robertson—Co-Chair

The University of Texas School of Law
Austin, TX

Michael F. Sturley—Co-Chair

The University of Texas School of Law
Austin, TX

Matthew H. Ammerman

Law Office of Matthew H. Ammerman, P.C.
Houston, TX

Michael K. Bell

Blank Rome LLP
Houston, TX

W. Robins Brice

Brice Mediation
Houston, TX

Rachel Anne de Cordova

Phelps Dunbar LLP
Houston, TX

Nicholas W. Earles

Schouest, Bamdas, Soshea & BenMaier, PLLC
Houston, TX

Kenneth G. Engerrand

Brown Sims, P.C.
Houston, TX

Thomas C. Fitzhugh III

Schouest, Bamdas, Soshea & BenMaier PLLC
Houston, TX

Julia Haines

Holland & Knight LLP
Houston, TX

Bradley A. Jackson

Retired Admiralty and Maritime Lawyer
Houston, TX

Peter A. McLauchlan

Foley Gardere
Houston, TX

Robert H. Nicholas Jr.

Phelps Dunbar LLP
Houston, TX

John R. Pearson

Trahan Kornegay Payne LLP
Houston, TX

Steven L. Roberts

Eversheds Sutherland
Houston, TX

John C. Schwambach Jr.

Pierce & O'Neill, LLP
Houston, TX

Eugene J. Silva Sr.

Vinson & Elkins LLP
Houston, TX

Claude L. Stuart III

Hall Maines Lugrin, P.C.
Houston, TX

David R. Walker

Royston, Rayzor, Vickery & Williams LLP
Houston, TX

Harold K. Watson

Chaffe McCall LLP
Houston, TX

Credit Info

  • Houston
MCLE Credit
Toggle view Texas – 8.00 hrs  |  1.50 hrs Ethics
Legal Specialization(s): Civil Appellate Law, Civil Trial Law, Oil, Gas and Mineral Law, Personal Injury Trial Law
You may claim your credit online in Your Briefcase, and UT Law CLE will report credit on your behalf to the State Bar of Texas. A Certificate of Attendance will be provided in Your Briefcase for your records. The system reports Texas CLE credit every Tuesday. If you are claiming credit in the last week of your birth month, self-report your CLE credit directly to the State Bar of Texas at texasbar.com, using the course number  provided on your certificate of attendance.
Toggle view California – 8.00 hrs  |  1.50 hrs Ethics
You must claim your credit online in Your Briefcase, and will then be provided a Certificate of Attendance for your records. UT Law CLE is required to provide the State Bar with electronic attendance records for any MCLE participatory activity within 60 days of completion of the activity. The California licensee is responsible for reporting their compliance/credit hours earned to the State Bar at the end of their reporting period directly to the State Bar of California at calbar.ca.gov.  UT Law CLE will maintain Attendance Records for four years.  
Toggle view Louisiana – 8.00 hrs  |  1.50 hrs Ethics
At the completion of the conference you must claim and certify your credit online in Your Briefcase, and will then be provided a Certificate of Attendance for your records. UT Law CLE will report credit on your behalf to the Supreme Court of Louisiana Continuing Legal Education Committee within 30 days after the conference. 
Toggle view Oklahoma – 9.50 hrs  |  2.00 hrs Ethics
You must claim and certify your credit online in Your Briefcase, then you will then be provided a Certificate of Attendance for your records. UT Law CLE will report credit on your behalf to the Oklahoma Bar Association within 30 days after the conference.
Other Credit
Toggle view TX Accounting CPE – 9.50 hrs
The University of Texas School of Law (Provider #250) live conferences are presumptively approved by The Texas State Board of Public Accountancy for Texas Accounting CPE credit based on a 50-minute credit hour. Approved for general CPE credit only.

At the conference, you are welcome to sign in on the Accounting CPE Record of Attendance form at the registration desk, but we are now reporting all credit online. You will receive a Texas Accounting Certificate of Completion in Your Briefcase. Self-report your CPE credit directly to TSBPA. UT Law CLE will maintain Attendance Records for four years.  

Contact us at accreditation@utcle.org if you have additional questions.

Key Dates

Houston – Sep 21, 2018 – South Texas College of Law Houston
Conference Concluded
Buy
  • Houston
Individual
Last day for $395.00 Regular pricing: Sep 12, 2018

$445.00 for registrations received after this time

Group (5 registrants minimum)
Last day for $356.00 Regular pricing: Sep 12, 2018

$406.00 for registrations received after this time

Last day for cancellation (full refund): Sep 14, 2018

$50 processing fee applied after this date

Last day for cancellation: Sep 17, 2018

Venue

speaker

South Texas College of Law Houston

1303 San Jacinto Street
Houston, TX
713.659.8040
Map

Parking Information

Various parking garages and surface lots in the area

Our Sponsors

Thank you to our sponsors! Click each logo below to learn more.

  • Brice Mediation

    Brice Mediation
    After 34 years of litigation practice with Royston, Rayzor, Vickery & Williams, LLP, in Houston, Robins Brice began a wholly independent alternative dispute resolution practice.  Since 2007, Robins has worked almost exclusively as a provider of neutral services, usually as a mediator but occasionally as an arbitrator or mock-trial arbitration consultant.  As a long-time consumer of mediation services, and more recently as an experienced provider of neutral dispute resolution services, he is committed to providing an impartial forum for dispute resolution, whether by mediated settlement or more formal arbitration. 
    bricemediation.com
Download Sponsor Details Become a Sponsor
Become a Sponsor
Email UT Law CLE for more information on sponsoring an event.

Stay in the loop with UT Law CLE

Sign-Up Now  
Accredited CLE
Live Conferences
Studio Webcasts
eConferences
eCourses
Hooked on CLE
Answer Bar
Research & Self-Study
Materials
eLibrary

Subscriptions
MCLE On-Demand and eLibrary
Your UT Law CLE
Your Briefcase
Your Account
Your Cart
Sign In or Join
About
Scholarships
Sponsorships
Speakers
Texas Law Resources
UT Law CLE
About Us
Our Volunteers
Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Security
Help & Contact
FAQ
Contact Us
Facebook    LinkedIn    Twitter    Youtube

© 2025 The University of Texas School of Law Continuing Legal Education | 512.475.6700 | Version 9.008

Back to top
More Information
Warning
Error
Warning
Please sign in to continue
Forgot Password   |  Create Account
Item has been added to your cart.

Item description

Checkout
Item has been added to your Briefcase.

Item description

Go to your Briefcase