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Thank you for your patience regarding UT Law CLE’s 2019 David W. Robertson Admiralty and Maritime Law Conference, originally scheduled for September 20. We’re delighted to inform you that the program has been rescheduled to Friday, November 22, 2019 and will remain at the South Texas College of Law in Houston, TX.

Again, we appreciate your patience and understanding as we coordinated with our conference faculty and venue for the rescheduled conference date.
Conference art

28th Annual David W. Robertson

Admiralty and Maritime Law Conference

Houston Nov 22, 2019 South Texas College of Law Houston
Conference Concluded
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Overview

Join UT Law Continuing Legal Education for the 28th Annual David W. Robertson 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.
 
In remembrance of Professor David W. Robertson, whose extensive career included the development and co-chairmanship of this program, UT Law CLE is pleased to announce the naming of this conference in his honor. 
 
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 Professor Michael Sturley, along with Matthew Ammerman of Houston, TX.
  • Hear observations and guidance from Hon. Gregg Costa, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, Houston, TX.
  • A celebration of David W. Robertson, his lessons, and his impact on the practice.
  • A primer on vessel and cargo seizures from the perspective of a federal judge, a U.S. Marshal, and a maritime lawyer.
  • 2.25 hours of Ethics, including presentations on Mediation and Ethics, Greed is[n't] Good, and the newly added opportunity to stump ethics gurus Bradley J. Jackson and Kevin Dubose with your toughest ethical dilemmas in What to Do if Your Client is Misbehaving, Part IX.
Don't miss this opportunity to learn from and interact with admiralty and maritime law experts.

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Event Schedule

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

  • Time
    Credit
    Subject
    Speaker
  • Friday Morning, Nov. 22, 2019
    Presiding Officer:
    Kenneth G. Engerrand, Brown Sims, P.C. - Houston, TX
  • 7:45 am
    Registration Opens
    Includes continental breakfast.

  • 8:20 am
    Welcoming Remarks

  • 8:30 am
    1.25 hrs
    Recent Developments in Admiralty and Maritime Law at the National Level and in the Fifth and Eleventh Circuits
    The nineteenth 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.

    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

  • 9:45 am
    Break

  • 10:00 am
    1.00 hr
    ​Admiralty Practice in the Fifth Circuit
    Judge Costa discusses trends in admiralty practice, including the perceived decline in federal maritime cases.

    Hon. Gregg Costa, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit - Houston, TX

  • 11:00 am
    0.75 hr
    Naval Collisions: The Importance of Training and Looking Out the Window
    In 2017, two at-sea collisions involving commercial vessels and U.S. Navy destroyers led to the deaths of 17 sailors. Both collisions were entirely preventable, and this panel presents an in-depth examination of the findings, the importance of pre-deployment crew training and optimal manning, and the lessons learned.

    Moderator:
    Michael K. Bell, Blank Rome LLP - Houston, TX
    Panelists:
    Raymond J. Burke Jr., Burke & Parsons - New York, NY
    Raymond T. Waid, Liskow & Lewis - New Orleans, LA
    Alan M. Weigel, Blank Rome LLP - New York, NY

  • 11:45 am
    0.50 hr
    0.25 hr ethics
    ​Mediation and Ethics
    What the parties, their counsel, and mediators can and should expect from themselves and from each other.

    W. Robins Brice, Brice Mediation - Houston, TX

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

  • Friday Afternoon, Nov. 22, 2019
    Presiding Officer:
    Michael K. Bell, Blank Rome LLP - Houston, TX
  • LUNCHEON PRESENTATION
  • 12:30 pm
    Presentation Introduction

    Commentator:
    Michael F. Sturley, The University of Texas School of Law - Austin, TX

  • 12:35 pm
    0.50 hr
    Lessons from Professor David W. Robertson
    Three of Professor Robertson’s students and friends share brief lessons learned from the professor, noting how his teaching contributed to their professional development.

    W. Robins Brice, Brice Mediation - Houston, TX
    Thomas C. Fitzhugh III, Schouest, Bamdas, Soshea & BenMaier PLLC - Houston, TX
    Bradley A. Jackson, The University of Texas School of Law - Houston, TX

  • 1:05 pm
    Break

  • 1:20 pm
    1.00 hr
    So Your Client Wants to Seize a Vessel (or its Cargo): A Primer on How its Done
    This panel, comprised of a Federal Judge, a U.S. Marshal, and a maritime lawyer, offers a "how to" primer on vessel or cargo seizure and how lawyers for the vessel owner may respond.

    Moderator:
    Bradley A. Jackson, The University of Texas School of Law - Houston, TX
    Panelists:
    Joseph Castro, USDOJ-United States Marshals Service - Houston, TX
    Phillip B. Dye Jr., Vinson & Elkins LLP - Houston, TX
    Kelly M. Haas, Schouest, Bamdas, Soshea & BenMaier PLLC - Houston, TX
    Hon. Nancy K. Johnson, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas - Houston, TX

  • 2:20 pm
    1.00 hr ethics
    Greed...for Lack of a Better Word...is[n't] Good
    Using a series of case studies, explore the ethical obligations and fiduciary duties owed by lawyers to clients and how the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct, the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure are implicated in each.

    F. Daniel Knight, Chamberlain, Hrdlicka, White, Williams & Aughtry - Houston, TX

  • 3:20 pm
    Break

  • 3:30 pm
    0.50 hr
    Cybersecurity Insurance
    Examine key insurance provisions and hear thoughts on evolving exposures impacting privacy and cyber insurance.

    Leslie C. Thorne, Haynes and Boone, LLP - Austin, TX

  • 4:00 pm
    1.00 hr ethics
    What To Do If Your Client Is Misbehaving, Part IX
    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.
    This presentation is a new addition to the rescheduled conference.

    Kevin Dubose, Alexander Dubose & Jefferson LLP - Houston, TX
    Bradley A. Jackson, The University of Texas School of Law - Houston, TX

  • 5:00 pm
    0.50 hr
    David W. Robertson's Last Case
    The last case that Professor Robertson argued before his death was Batterton v. Dutra Group in the Ninth Circuit. That court held that an injured seaman may seek punitive damages in a general maritime law action for unseaworthiness. Three weeks before Professor Robertson died, the Supreme Court granted cert to review that judgment. Professor Sturley will discuss and analyze the Supreme Court’s decision reversing the Ninth Circuit.

    Michael F. Sturley, The University of Texas School of Law - Austin, TX

  • 5:30 pm
    Adjourn

Download Schedule

Conference Faculty

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

Raymond J. Burke Jr.

Burke & Parsons
New York, NY

Joseph Castro

USDOJ-United States Marshals Service
Houston, TX

Hon. Gregg Costa

U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
Houston, TX

Kevin Dubose

Alexander Dubose & Jefferson LLP
Houston, TX

Phillip B. Dye Jr.

Vinson & Elkins LLP
Houston, TX

Thomas C. Fitzhugh III

Schouest, Bamdas, Soshea & BenMaier PLLC
Houston, TX

Kelly M. Haas

Schouest, Bamdas, Soshea & BenMaier PLLC
Houston, TX

Bradley A. Jackson

The University of Texas School of Law
Houston, TX

Hon. Nancy K. Johnson

U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
Houston, TX

F. Daniel Knight

Chamberlain, Hrdlicka, White, Williams & Aughtry
Houston, TX

Michael F. Sturley

The University of Texas School of Law
Austin, TX

Leslie C. Thorne

Haynes and Boone, LLP
Austin, TX

Raymond T. Waid

Liskow & Lewis
New Orleans, LA

Alan M. Weigel

Blank Rome LLP
New York, NY

Planning Committee

Michael F. Sturley—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

Law Offices of Rachel de Cordova, PLLC
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

The University of Texas School of Law
Houston, TX

F. Daniel Knight

Chamberlain, Hrdlicka, White, Williams & Aughtry
Houston, TX

Peter A. McLauchlan

Foley Gardere
Houston, TX

John J. Michael

Vinson & Elkins LLP
Houston, TX

John R. Pearson

Trahan Kornegay Partners LLP
Houston, TX

Steven L. Roberts

Eversheds Sutherland
Houston, TX

Eugene J. Silva Sr.

Vinson & Elkins LLP
Houston, TX

Claude L. Stuart III

Hall Maines Lugrin, P.C.
Houston, TX

Harold K. Watson

Chaffe McCall LLP
Houston, TX

Credit Info

  • Houston
MCLE Credit
Toggle view Texas – 8.00 hrs  |  2.25 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  |  2.25 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  |  2.25 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  |  2.50 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 – Nov 22, 2019 – South Texas College of Law Houston
Conference Concluded
Buy
  • Houston
Individual
Group (5 registrants minimum)
Group (10 registrants minimum)
Last day for cancellation (full refund): Nov 15, 2019

$0 processing fee applied after this date

Last day for cancellation: Nov 18, 2019

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

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