Hal Watson's practice involves the representation of energy and marine insurers and oil and gas operators and contractors in Texas, Louisiana, and elsewhere in the United States and around the world. Mr. Watson is a frequent lecturer on topics related to onshore and offshore energy risk management and insurance. He is currently serving as Secretary of the Maritime Law Association of the United States and is the chairman of the Insurance and Risk Management Subcommittee of the Offshore Industries Committee of the MLA. Mr. Watson is also a past chairman of the Energy and Maritime Law Committee of the International Association of Defense Counsel.
Education
- LL.M., Yale Law School, 1977
- J.D., Louisiana State University Law Center, 1974
Order of the Coif
Associate Editor, Louisiana Law Review - B.A., Louisiana State University, 1971
Bar Admissions
- Texas, 1978
- Louisiana, 1975
Admitted To Practice
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
Publications & Presentations
- Forum Selection Clauses in Maritime Contracts, 33 LA.L.REV. 481 (1973).
- Broadened Coverage Under the LHWCA, 33 LA.L.REV. 683 (1973), cited in GRANT GILMORE AND CHARLES BLACK, LAW OF ADMIRALTY (2d ed. 1975), as “an admirable review” of the 1972 amendments to the LHWCA; also cited by United States Supreme Court in Director, Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs v. Perini North River Associates, 103 S.Ct. 634, 651 (1983); and Northeast Marine Terminal Co. v. Caputo, 97 S.Ct. 2348, 2365 (1977).
- Case note on Nations v. Morris, 5 J. MAR. L. & C. 135 (1973).
- 1976 IMCO Limitation Convention: A Comparative View, 15 Hous.L.Rev. 249 (1978).
- Applicable Law in Suits by Foreign Offshore Oil Workers, 41 LA.L.REV. 827 (1981).
- Selected Problems in Transnational Maritime Litigation, 8 MARITIME LAWYER 87 (1983).
- A Primer on Maritime Contracts on the River (monograph 1983).
- Control-of-well Insurance: The Environment in Which It Operates and Selected Legal Problems (monograph 1984).
- Course Change to Starboard: New Directions in Maritime Conflicts Resolution in the United States, NEW DIRECTIONS IN MARITIME LAW (1984).
- Modern Practice Considerations in Maritime Personal Injury Litigation: Procedural Weapons for Venue Battles, 68 TUL.L.REV. 473 (1994).
- Admiralty Law, 25 TEX. TECH L. REV. 439 (1994).
- Admiralty Law, 26 TEX. TECH L. REV. 321 (1995).
- Admiralty Law, 27 TEX. TECH L. REV. 485 (1996).
- Admiralty Law, 28 TEX. TECH L. REV. 257 (1997).
- Exercising Subrogation Rights Against Subcontractors Isn’t Easy, but It’s Not Impossible, 68 DEFENSE COUNSEL JOURNAL 458 (2001).
Mr. Watson has made numerous presentations to legal and industry groups, including multiple presentations to the Houston Marine Insurance Seminar, the Alvin B. Rubin Maritime Personal Injury Seminar, the University of Texas Admiralty Law Seminar, the Tulane Admiralty Law Institute, the Lillehammer Energy Claims Conference, the International Association of Defense Counsel, and the Association of Average Adjusters, the International Association of Drilling Contractors, and the Texas Bar Association.
Professional History
- Partner, Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell LLP
- Former Associate, Vinson & Elkins
- Former Law Clerk to Hon. Alvin B. Rubin, U.S. District Court, Eastern Division of Louisiana
- Adjunct Lecturer, Loyola University, New Orleans (1976)
Professional Affiliations
- Member, Maritime Law Association of the U.S.
- Secretary (2008 - Present)
- Board of Directors (2004 - 2007)
- Chairman, Maritime Legislation Committee (1998 - 2002)
- Vice Chairman, Ad Hoc Committee on Revision of Title 46
- Member, Association of Average Adjusters of the United States
- Member, International Association of Defense Counsel
- Former Chairman, Maritime and Energy Law Committee
- Industry Advisor to United States Coast Guard and State Department Delegation to International Maritime Organization
- Member, U.S. delegation to Comite Maritime International (1997)
- Listed, The Best Lawyers in America - Maritime Law
- Selected, Texas Lawyer, one of five “Go To” Maritime Lawyers in the state of Texas
- Planning Committee, Houston Marine Insurance Committee
- Planning Committee, Tulane Admiralty Law Institute
Community Leadership
- Former President, Prisoner Services Committee of Houston Metropolitan Ministries
- Former Director, Annunciation of Orthodox School
- Former Vestryman, Christ Church Cathedral
- Director, Episcopal Foundation of Texas
|
Practice Areas
Board Certifications
- Civil Appellate Law by Texas Board of Legal Specialization
|