
Jim is a member of the Insurance Recovery and Shipping groups in Reed Smith’s Houston office. He has more than 30 years of experience handling multimillion-dollar insurance coverage disputes through litigation or arbitration, many involving the construction, energy or chemical sectors. He also handles complex commercial litigation in the shipping industry, including charter party disputes, damage to international shipments of cargo, vessel arrests and claims involving maritime liens. He has extensive experience prosecuting and defending maritime arrest and attachment claims under U.S. Admiralty Rules B, C and D.
Credentials
Awards & Recognition
- Ranked in Chambers USA for Texas Insurance, 2005-2020
- Fellow, American College of Coverage and Extracontractual Counsel (ACCEC) (2016)
- Received the Best Lawyers™ 2019 Insurance Law "Lawyer of the Year" award in Houston
- Selected through peer review for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© for Insurance Law, 2014-2021
- Selected for inclusion in the Texas Super Lawyers list for Insurance Coverage (2006-2019)
- Who's Who Legal: Insurance & Reinsurance (2016)
- Guide to the World's Leading Insurance & Reinsurance Lawyers (2007 - 2015)
- AV® Preeminent™ 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell® PEER REVIEW RATINGS™ (1995 - 2015)
- Texas Lawyer Insurance Section of the Year (2014)
- Garland Walker American Inn of Court Outstanding Service Award (2015)
- National Program Awards, American Inns of Court (2004, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015)
- President’s Award recognizing outstanding service as Chair of Houston Bar Association’s Historical Committee (2013)
- Jim D. Bowmer Professionalism Award from the College of the State Bar of Texas (2012) (highest professionalism award from the Texas State Bar)
- President’s Award recognizing outstanding service as Chair of Houston Bar Association’s Professionalism Committee (2010)
Civic Involvement
- 2013 - present - Deacon, West University Baptist Church
- 2014 - 2015 - Board Member, Casa El Buen Samaritano
In the News
- 10 August 2017 "Excess Director Pay Claims Are Insurable, 5th Circ. Told" Law360
Notable Quotes
- 5 September 2017 "Saturated: Claims Flood in After Harvey Exits" Risk & Insurance
- 29 August 2017 "New Texas Law Presents Another Burden for Harvey Victims" Wall Street Journal
- 5 October 2015 "Reed Smith Adds Gardere Insurance Recovery Duo In Houston" Law360
- 7 December 2015 "Texas Justices' Exxon Ruling Comes With Catch For Insurers" Law360