34^th Annual David W. Robertson

Admiralty and Maritime Law Conference

Houston Feb 6, 2026 Holland & Knight, Houston
Conference Concluded

Overview

UT Law CLE's 34th Annual David W. Robertson Admiralty and Maritime Law Conference is the leading annual 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. Join us in-person only in Houston.

Event Schedule

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

Time

Credit

Subject

Speaker
Friday Morning, Feb. 6, 2026
Presiding Officer:
Julia M. Haines, Houston, TX
7:30 am

Conference Room 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 twenty-fifth 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.

Matthew H. Ammerman, Law Office of Matthew H. Ammerman, P.C. - Houston, 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
Michael F. Sturley, The University of Texas School of Law - Austin, TX
9:45 am

0.50 hr

A Primer on Rule D

An overview and discussion of a lesser known admiralty rule, its similarities and differences to Rule C arrest, and some of the unique challenges that may arise with this area of law.

Andrew R. Nash, Phelps Dunbar LLP - Houston, TX

Andrew R. Nash, Phelps Dunbar LLP - Houston, TX
10:15 am

15-Minute Break
10:30 am

0.75 hr

Cybersecurity Litigation and Enforcement Trends

Data breaches continue to plague businesses and other organizations. Further, those incidents are often followed by litigation and regulatory investigations. Explore the most common claims and other latest developments and gain practical suggestions for how to prepare and lessen risk.

This pre-recorded presentation has been added to the agenda due to the cancelation of "Possible Changes to the Jones Act."

The speaker will not be available in real-time to answer any questions.

Joseph W. Swanson, Foley & Lardner LLP - Tampa, FL

Joseph W. Swanson, Foley & Lardner LLP - Tampa, FL
11:15 am

1.00 hr

A View from the Bench: Experience and Observations for Recurring Maritime Procedural and Jurisdictional Issues

Perspectives on changes in maritime law from 40 years on the Fifth Circuit.

Kenneth G. Engerrand, Brown Sims, P.C. - Houston, TX
Hon. Charles R. Eskridge III, United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division - Houston, TX

Kenneth G. Engerrand, Brown Sims, P.C. - Houston, TX
Hon. Charles R. Eskridge III, United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division - Houston, TX
12:15 pm

Pick Up Lunch
Friday Afternoon, Feb. 6, 2026
Presiding Officer:
Nicholas W. Earles, Schouest, Bamdas, Soshea, BenMaier & Eastham PLLC - Houston, TX
LUNCHEON PRESENTATION
12:35 pm

0.50 hr

Navigating the Emerging Legal and Maritime Policy Frameworks: Shipbuilding, International Trade, and Regulatory Shifts Under the Current Administration

Examine the evolving legal and policy landscape surrounding developments with the maritime industry, U.S. shipbuilding efforts, and international trade, with a close analysis of legislative efforts such as the SHIPS for America Act, and U.S. Trade Representative fees on Chinese-linked vessels. Gain insight into the most significant regulatory actions impacting the industry under the current administration, and practical guidance for navigating compliance challenges ahead.

Sean T. Pribyl, Holland & Knight LLP - Washington, DC

Sean T. Pribyl, Holland & Knight LLP - Washington, DC
1:05 pm

15-Minute Break
1:20 pm

1.00 hr ethics

Ethics: The AI Revolution

Set sail into the uncharted waters of AI ethics in the maritime industry. This presentation examines real-world cases to help practitioners avoid ethical shipwrecks and provides guidance on the ethical use of AI in practice.

Hon. Greg Buzzard, Markovich Grover PLLC - Philadelphia, PA
Katia Sophia Leiva, Holland & Knight LLP - Houston, TX

Hon. Greg Buzzard, Markovich Grover PLLC - Philadelphia, PA
Katia Sophia Leiva, Holland & Knight LLP - Houston, TX
2:20 pm

0.75 hr

General Average: Risk Sharing on the High Seas and Prudent Insurance Considerations

An exploration of the maritime law concept of General Average, where stakeholders proportionally share losses resulting from a voluntary sacrifice or expenditure made to preserve the property involved in the voyage. The presentation highlights when General Average arises, the applicable rules, exploration of real-world case examples, the role of adjusters, and insurance considerations.

Agnes Doyle, Holland & Knight LLP - Houston, TX
Jonathan S. Spencer, The Spencer Company - White Sulphur Springs, NY

Agnes Doyle, Holland & Knight LLP - Houston, TX
Jonathan S. Spencer, The Spencer Company - White Sulphur Springs, NY
3:05 pm

15-Minute Break
3:20 pm

0.75 hr

Quasi-Contractual, Quasi-Tortious, Totally Confusing

A discussion of the quirky particulars of a maintenance and cure claim in 2025.

Moderator:
Michael A. Hawash, Hawash Houston Mediation LLC - Houston, TX
Panelists:
F. Daniel Knight, Chamberlain, Hrdlicka, White, Williams & Aughtry - Houston, TX
Mike Streich, Greenberg Streich Injury Lawyers - Houston, TX

Moderator:
Michael A. Hawash, Hawash Houston Mediation LLC - Houston, TX
Panelists:
F. Daniel Knight, Chamberlain, Hrdlicka, White, Williams & Aughtry - Houston, TX
Mike Streich, Greenberg Streich Injury Lawyers - Houston, TX
4:05 pm

1.00 hr ethics

What to Do if Your Client is Misbehaving (Part XV)

Real-world questions and answers regarding ethics, the law, and what to do when your client asks you to do something improper. Stump our experts with your hardest questions! Please submit your questions in advance to ConferenceQA@utcle.org.

Bradley A. Jackson, The University of Texas School of Law - Houston, TX
Scott Rothenberg, Law Offices of Scott Rothenberg - Bellaire, TX

Bradley A. Jackson, The University of Texas School of Law - Houston, TX
Scott Rothenberg, Law Offices of Scott Rothenberg - Bellaire, TX
5:05 pm

Adjourn

Download Schedule

Conference Faculty

Matthew H. Ammerman

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

Hon. Greg Buzzard

Markovich Grover PLLC
Philadelphia, PA

Agnes Doyle

Holland & Knight LLP
Houston, TX

Kenneth G. Engerrand

Brown Sims, P.C.
Houston, TX

Hon. Charles R. Eskridge III

United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division
Houston, TX

Michael A. Hawash

Hawash Houston Mediation LLC
Houston, TX

Bradley A. Jackson

The University of Texas School of Law
Houston, TX

F. Daniel Knight

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

Katia Sophia Leiva

Holland & Knight LLP
Houston, TX

Andrew R. Nash

Phelps Dunbar LLP
Houston, TX

Sean T. Pribyl

Holland & Knight LLP
Washington, DC

Scott Rothenberg

Law Offices of Scott Rothenberg
Bellaire, TX

Jonathan S. Spencer

The Spencer Company
White Sulphur Springs, NY

Mike Streich

Greenberg Streich Injury Lawyers
Houston, TX

Michael F. Sturley

The University of Texas School of Law
Austin, TX

Joseph W. Swanson

Foley & Lardner LLP
Tampa, FL

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

Agnes Doyle

Holland & Knight LLP
Houston, TX

Nicholas W. Earles

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

Kenneth G. Engerrand

Brown Sims, P.C.
Houston, TX

Thomas C. Fitzhugh III

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

Julia M. Haines

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 Esq.

The McLauchlan Law Group of Texas, PLLC
Houston, TX

John J. Michael

Vinson & Elkins LLP
Houston, TX

Eugene J. Silva Sr.

Vinson & Elkins LLP
Houston, TX

Claude L. Stuart III

Hall Maines Lugrin, P.C.
Houston, TX

Marcus R. Tucker

Phelps Dunbar LLP
Houston, TX

Harold K. Watson

Chaffe McCall LLP
Houston, TX

Credit Info

Houston

MCLE Credit

Texas – 7.50 hrs | 2.00 hrs Ethics
Legal Specialization(s): Administrative Law, 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.

California – 7.50 hrs | 2.00 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.

Louisiana – 7.50 hrs | 2.00 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.

Oklahoma – 9.00 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.

Pennsylvania – 7.50 hrs | 2.00 hrs Ethics

UT Law CLE is an approved provider of Pennsylvania credit, sponsor #236. You must claim your credit online in Your Briefcase, and will then be provided a Certificate of Attendance for your records. Attorney attendance will be reported to Pennsylvania within 2 weeks after credit is claimed . Attorneys are not able to report this credit on their own, and UT Law CLE pays all associated fees for the credit hours. Contact us at accreditation@utcle.org if you have additional questions.

Other States – 7.50 hrs | 2.00 hrs Ethics

Note on Self-Reporting Your Credits in Another State

If you wish to satisfy MCLE or other professional education requirements in another state for a program offered by the University of Texas School of Law, please check with the state bar or other licensing authority in that state to ensure it will qualify for self-reporting your credits.

You must claim and certify your credit online in Your Briefcase, you will then be provided a Certificate of Attendance for your records and to provided to other licensing authorities as needed.

MCLE credit is presented based on a 60-minute credit hour.

Other Credit

TX Accounting CPE – 9.00 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 – Feb 6, 2026 – Holland & Knight, Houston

Conference Concluded

Buy

Houston

Individual
Last day for $395.00 Early Bird pricing: Dec 5, 2025
Last day for $455.00 Regular pricing: Jan 23, 2026
$495.00 for registrations received after this time

Group (5 registrants minimum)
Last day for $370.00 Early Bird pricing: Dec 5, 2025
Last day for $410.00 Regular pricing: Jan 23, 2026
$460.00 for registrations received after this time

Group (10 registrants minimum)
Last day for $290.00 Early Bird pricing: Dec 5, 2025
Last day for $365.00 Regular pricing: Jan 23, 2026
$415.00 for registrations received after this time

Cancellation Policy
Last day for full refund cancellation: Jan 30, 2026
$50 processing fee applied after this date
Last day for cancellation: Feb 2, 2026

Venue

Holland & Knight, Houston

811 Main Street
Suite 2500
Houston, TX 77002
713-821-7000
Map

Parking Information

The 811 Main Parking Garage is attached to the building and the guest/visitor entrance is located off of Fannin St. (closest to the corner of Fannin and Rusk). Click here for daily rates.

Admiralty and Maritime Law Conference

Overview

Event Schedule

Friday Morning, Feb. 6, 2026

Friday Afternoon, Feb. 6, 2026

Conference Faculty

Planning Committee

Credit Info

MCLE Credit

Other Credit

Key Dates

Venue

Holland & Knight, Houston

Parking Information

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